Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.
Parallel translations
- KJV Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
- BSB Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.
- NKJV Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
- NASB Whoever strives to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will keep it.
- NLT If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses it for Christ's sake preserves it. The way to life is surrender.
Overview
This kingdom paradox reverses worldly logic: grasping to secure one's own life ends in loss, while releasing it in faithful discipleship secures true and lasting life. It echoes Jesus' repeated call to take up the cross. The promise rests on Christ, who himself lost his life to give life to his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Mark 8:35–37For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.
- Matt 10:39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
- John 12:25He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
- Luke 9:24–25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.
- Matt 16:25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
- Rev 2:10Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 17:33 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.