Matthew 16:26

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 King James Version (NKJV)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?

Context of Matthew 16:26

24Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then ‘He will repay everyone according to his deeds.’ 28Amen, I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Matthew 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 5:29And if your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away! It is better for you that one part of your body should be destroyed, than that your whole body be thrown into Gehenna.
• Job 2:4The satan replied to Adonai saying, “Skin for skin! A man will give up all he has for his own life.
• Mark 8:36For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
• Luke 9:25“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?
• Matthew 4:8Again, the devil takes Him to a very high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
• Job 27:8For what hope has the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes his soul?
• Luke 12:20But God said to him, ‘You fool! Tonight your soul is being demanded back from you! And what you have prepared, whose will that be?’
• Luke 16:25“But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your life you received your good things, even as Lazarus received the bad things. But now he is comforted here, and you are tormented.
• Psalms 49:7Or those trusting in their wealth, boasting about their great riches?
• Mark 8:37For what could 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

• Ambition
• Covetousness
• Immortality
• Jesus, the Christ
• Life
• Reward
• Wicked (People)
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Adulterous
• Bind
• Blood
• Gain
• Gate
• Hell
• Leaven
• Loose
• Man
• Profited

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