New King James Version
Matthew 16:26
26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
- New International Version (NIV)What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
- English Standard Version (ESV)For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
- New Living Translation (NLT)And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Context of Matthew 16:26
24Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28“Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Read all of Matthew 16Matthew 16:26 word by word
Τί γὰρ ὠφεληθήσεται ἄνθρωπος, ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- isὠφελέωōpheleō · to helpG5623
- a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- he shall gainκερδαίνωkerdainō · to gainG2770
- theκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- wholeὅλοςholos · allG3650
- andδέde · thenG1161
- loseζημιόωzēmioō · to loseG2210
- his ownαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- soulψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
- orἤē · orG2228
- shallδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- in exchangeἀντάλλαγμαantallagma · in exchangeG465
- forψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
Cross-references for Matthew 16:26
- Matthew 5:29If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
- Job 2:4So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.
- Mark 8:36For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
- Luke 9:25For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
- Matthew 4:8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
- Job 27:8For what is the hope of the hypocrite, Though he may gain much, If God takes away his life?
- Luke 12:20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
- Luke 16:25But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
- Psalms 49:7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—
- Mark 8:37Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Commentaries on Matthew 16:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Lose his own soul - Or, lose his life, . On what authority many have translated the word , in the 25th verse, life, and in this verse, soul, I know not, but am certain it means life in both places. If a man should gain the whole world, its riches, honors, and pleasures, and lose his life, what would all these profit him, seeing they can only be enjoyed during life? But if the words be applied to the soul, they show the difficulty - the necessity - and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24-28Verses 24-28 This discourse is also recorded in Mark 8:34-38; Mark 9:1; and Luke 9:23-27. Let him, deny himself - That is, let him surrender to God his will, his affections, his body, and his soul. Let him not seek his own happiness as the supreme object, but be willing to renounce all, and lay down his life also, if required. Take up his cross - See the notes at Matthew 10:38. Matthew 16:25 Whosoever will save his life - See the notes at Matthew 10:39…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-28Verses 24-28 A true disciple of Christ is one that does follow him in duty, and shall follow him to glory. He is one that walks in the same way Christ walked in, is led by his Spirit, and treads in his steps, whithersoever he goes. "Let him deny himself." If self-denial be a hard lesson, it is no more than what our Master learned and practised, to redeem us, and to teach us. "Let him take up his cross." The cross is here put for every trouble that befalls…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26His soul: "Soul" and "life" (Matthew 16:25) both translate the same Greek word psuchē. It refers to the essence or being of a person—the self.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul--or forfeit his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?--Instead of these weighty words, which we find in Mr 8:36 also, it is thus expressed in Lu 9:25: "If he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away," or better, "If he gain the whole world, and destroy or forfeit himself." How awful is the stake as here set forth! If a man makes…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 16:26
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries