Profit

Profit - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

PROF'IT, n. [L. profectus, proficio, to profit, literally to proceed forward, to advance; pro and facio. The primary sense of facio is to urge or drive.

1. In commerce, the advance in the price of goods sold beyond the cost of purchase. Net profit is the gain made by selling goods at an advanced price or a price beyond what they had cost the seller, and beyond all costs and charges. The profit of the farmer and the manufacturer is the gain made by the sale of produce or manufactures, after deducting the value of the labor, materials, rents and all expenses, together with the interest of the capital employed, whether land, machinery, buildings, instruments or money.

Let no man anticipate uncertain profits.

2. Any gain or pecuniary advantage; as an office of profit or honor.

3. Any advantage; any accession of good from labor or exertion; an extensive signification, comprehending the acquisition of any thing valuable, corporeal or intellectual, temporal or spiritual. A person may derive profit from exercise, amusements, reading, study, meditation, social intercourse, religious instruction, _c. Every improvement or advance in knowledge is profit to a wise man.

PROF'IT, v.t.

1. To benefit; to advantage; applied to one's self, to derive some pecuniary interest or some accession of good from any thing; as, to profit one's self by a commercial undertaking, or by reading or instruction. In this sense, the verb is generally used intransitively. Applied to others, to communicate good to; to advance the interest of.

Brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues,what shall I profit you? 1 Cor 14.

Whereto might the strength of their hands profit me? Job 30.

2. To improve; to advance.

It is a great means of profiting yourself, to copy diligently excellent pieces and beautiful designs.

PROF'IT, v.i. To gain advantage in percuniary interest; as, to profit by trade or manufactures.

1. To make improvement; to improve; to grow wiser or better; to advance in any thing useful; as, to profit by reading or by experience.

She has profited by your counsel.

2. To be of use or advantage; to bring good to.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath. Prov 11.

Profitable - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

PROF'ITABLE, a. Yielding or bringing profit or gain; gainful; lucrative; as a profitable trade; profitable business; a profitable study or profession.

1. Useful; advantageous.

What was so profitable to the empire, became fatal to the emperor.

Profited - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

PROF'ITED, pp. Benefited; advanced in interest or happiness; improved.

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Mat 16.

Unprofitable - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

UNPROF'ITABLE, a.

1. Bringing no profit; producing no gain beyond the labor, expenses and interest of capital; as unprofitable land; unprofitable stock; unprofitable employment.

2. Producing no improvement or advantage; useless; serving no purpose; as an unprofitable life; unprofitable study. Job 15.

3. Not useful to others.

4. Misimproving talents; bringing no glory to God; as an unprofitable servant. Mat 25.

Definition

Used in this sense, the terms “profit” and “profitable” refer to gaining some material thing through doing certain actions or behaviors.

Something is “profitable” to someone if it enables them to earn or attain good material things.

• More specifically, the term “profit” often refers to money that is gained from doing business. A business is “profitable” if it gains more money than it spends.
• Actions are profitable if they cause material things to be gained for people.

(See also: worthy,profit-spiritual)

Translation Suggestions

• Depending on the context, the term “profit” could also be translated as “benefit” or “help” or “gain.”
• Depending on context, the term “profits” could be translated as “earnings” when referring to wages earned by working.
• The term “profitable” could be translated as “useful” or “beneficial” or “helpful.”
• The term “profited” could be translated as “gained.”
• To “profit from” something could be translated as “benefit from” or “gain money from.”
• In the context of a business, “profit” could be translated with a word or phrase that means “money gained” or “surplus of money” or “extra money.”

Bible References

Word Data

• Strong’s: H1215, H3276, H4195, G12810, G20390, G27700, G27710, G36850, G37860, G48510, G48525, G55390, G56220, G56230, G56240

Definition

When used in the spiritual sense, the terms “profit” and “profitable” refer to gaining something spiritually beneficial through doing (or someone else doing) certain actions or behaviors.

Something is spiritually “profitable” to someone if it brings them spiritual benefits.

• Actions are spiritually profitable if they please God and cause that person and/or others to receive spiritual benefit.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is “profitable” for correcting and training people in righteousness. This means that the Bible’s teachings are helpful and useful for teaching people to live according to God’s will.

The term “unprofitable” in this sense means to not be beneficial or helpful.

• It literally means to not profit anything or to not help someone gain anything beneficial.
• Something that is spiritually unprofitable is not worth doing because it does not please God and does not give any spiritual benefit or reward.
• This could be translated as “unbeneficial” or “not beneficial” or “worthless” or “not useful” or “giving no benefit.”

(See also: worthy,profit-earthly)

Translation Suggestions

• Depending on the context, the term “profit” could also be translated as “benefit” or “help.”
• Depending on the context, the term “profitable” could be translated as “useful” or “beneficial” or “helpful.”
• To “profit from” something could be translated as “benefit from” or “receive help from.”

Bible References

Word Data

• Strong’s: