What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Parallel translations
- WEB For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
- KJV For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
- NKJV For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
- NASB For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
- NLT And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
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
Gaining the whole world profits nothing if one forfeits his soul. Nothing earthly outweighs eternal life.
Overview
Jesus exposes the folly of trading one's eternal soul for temporary worldly gain. The rhetorical question presses every hearer to weigh ultimate priorities. In light of the cross, it calls us to count all earthly treasure as loss compared to knowing and following Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Matt 16:26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Luke 9:25What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?
- Ps 49:17For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
- Jas 1:9–11The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.
- Phil 3:7–9But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
- Luke 12:19–20Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- Heb 11:24–26By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
- Rom 6:21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
- Rev 18:7–8As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’
- Job 2:4“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.
- Mal 3:14You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?
- Ps 73:18–20Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
- Luke 16:19–23Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.
- Matt 4:8–10Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
- Job 22:2“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 8:36 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.