MAT 16:26 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) What help would it be to a person if they gain everything in the world, and yet lose their soul? Or put another way, what could a person give in exchange for their soul?

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For what will a man benefit if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

UST Suppose that some people acquire everything they could possibly want. However, they can no longer truly live. That is not worth it! People cannot acquire anything that is as valuable as truly living.

BSB What 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?

MSB What does it profit[fn] a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what {can} a man give in exchange for his soul?

BLB For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul? Or what will a man give as an exchange for his soul?

AICNT “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

OEB What good will it do a person to gain the whole world, if he forfeits his life? Or what will a person give that is of equal value with his life?

WEBBE For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?

LSV for what is a man profited if he may gain the whole world, but of his life suffer loss? Or what will a man give as an exchange for his life?

FBV What benefit is it for you to gain the whole world, yet lose your life? What would you give in exchange for your life?

TCNT For what [fn]does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? Or what can a person give in exchange for his soul?

16:26 does ¦ will CT

T4T People might get everything they want in this world, but ◄if they do not become my disciples, they would really be gaining nothing because they would not get eternal life!/what would they gain if they do not become my disciples and thus do not get eternal life?► [RHQ] ◄There is absolutely nothing that people can give to God that would enable them to gain eternal life./What can people give to God that could enable them to gain eternal life?► [MTY, RHQ]

LEB For what will a person be benefited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life?

BBE For what profit has a man, if he gets all the world with the loss of his life? or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

Moff What profit will it be if a man gains the whole world and forfeits his own soul? What will a man offer as an equivalent for his soul?

Wymth Why, what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give to buy back his life?

ASV For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?

DRA For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?

YLT for what is a man profited if he may gain the whole world, but of his life suffer loss? or what shall a man give as an exchange for his life?

Drby For what does a man profit, if he should gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

RV For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?

SLT For what is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, and injure his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Wbstr 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?

KJB-1769 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?

KJB-1611 For what is a man profited, if hee shal gaine the whole world, and lose his owne soule? Or what shall a man giue in exchange for his soule?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps For what doth it profite a man, yf he wynne all the whole worlde, and lose his owne soule? Or what shall a man geue for a raunsome of his soule?
(For what doth/does it profit a man, if he win all the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give for a ransom of his soul?)

Gnva For what shall it profite a man though he should winne the whole worlde, if hee lose his owne soule? or what shall a man giue for recompence of his soule?
(For what shall it profit a man though he should win the whole world, if he lose his own soul? or what shall a man give for recompense of his soul? )

Cvdl What helpeth it a man though he wanne the whole worlde, and yet suffred harme in his soule? Or what can a man geue, to redeme his soule withall?
(What helpeth/helps it a man though he wanne the whole world, and yet suffered harm in his soul? Or what can a man give, to redeem his soul also/fully?)

TNT What shall it proffet a man though he shulde wynne all the whoole worlde: yf he loose his owne soule? Or els what shall a man geve to redeme his soule agayne with all?
(What shall it profit a man though he should win all the whoole world: if he loose his own soul? Or else what shall a man give to redeem his soul again with all? )

Wycl For what profitith it to a man, if he wynne al the world, and suffre peiryng of his soule? or what chaunging schal a man yyue for his soule?
(For what profiteth/profits it to a man, if he win all the world, and suffer peiring of his soul? or what changing shall a man give for his soul?)

Luth Was hülfe es dem Menschen, so er die ganze Welt gewönne und nähme doch Schaden an seiner SeeLE? Oder was kann der Mensch geben, damit er seine SeeLE wieder löse?
(What help it to_him people, so he the whole/all world gewönne and take though/but damage/harm(n) at/to his soul? Or what/which can the/of_the person give, with_it/so_that he his soul again solve/resolve?)

ClVg Quid enim prodest homini, si mundum universum lucretur, animæ vero suæ detrimentum patiatur? aut quam dabit homo commutationem pro anima sua?[fn]
(What because benefit to_man, when/but_if the_world whole lucretur, soul indeed/however his/her_own detrimentum suffer? or how will_give human comchange for the_soul his_own? )

16.26 Quid enim prodest. Ecclesia habet tempus persecutionis: habet et tempus pacis. Hæc tempora designat in præceptis. Nam tempore persecutionis ponenda est anima, et tempore pacis frangenda sunt terrena desideria. Aut quam, etc. Nec lucra, nec timor, nec aliquid aliud retrahat a salute: quia quam commutationem dabit homo, etc. Calicem salutaris accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo Psal. 115.. Vel nihil terrenum pro anima perdita poterit homo dare.

16.26 What because benefit. Assembly/Church has time/season persecutionis: has and time/season of_peace. This times designates in/into/on commands(n). For/Surely at_the_time persecutionis ponenda it_is soul, and at_the_time of_peace frangenda are earthly desires. Aut how, etc. Neither profits, but_not fear, but_not something something_else retrahat from salute: because how comchange will_give human, etc. A_chalice/cup saving/healing I_will_accept, and name Master I_will_invoke Psal. 115.. Or nothing terrenum for the_soul losesa will_be_able human dare.

UGNT τί γὰρ ὠφεληθήσεται ἄνθρωπος, ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ? ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ?
(ti gar ōfelaʸthaʸsetai anthrōpos, ean ton kosmon holon kerdaʸsaʸ, taʸn de psuⱪaʸn autou zaʸmiōthaʸ? aʸ ti dōsei anthrōpos antallagma taʸs psuⱪaʸs autou?)

SBL-GNT τί γὰρ ⸀ὠφεληθήσεται ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ;
(ti gar ⸀ōfelaʸthaʸsetai anthrōpos ean ton kosmon holon kerdaʸsaʸ taʸn de psuⱪaʸn autou zaʸmiōthaʸ; aʸ ti dōsei anthrōpos antallagma taʸs psuⱪaʸs autou;)

RP-GNT τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖται ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ; Ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ;
(ti gar ōfeleitai anthrōpos ean ton kosmon holon kerdaʸsaʸ, taʸn de psuⱪaʸn autou zaʸmiōthaʸ; Aʸ ti dōsei anthrōpos antallagma taʸs psuⱪaʸs autou;)

TC-GNT τί γὰρ [fn]ὠφελεῖται ἄνθρωπος ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ; Ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ;
(ti gar ōfeleitai anthrōpos ean ton kosmon holon kerdaʸsaʸ, taʸn de psuⱪaʸn autou zaʸmiōthaʸ; Aʸ ti dōsei anthrōpos antallagma taʸs psuⱪaʸs autou; )

16:26 ωφελειται ¦ ωφεληθησεται CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 16:21–28: Jesus said that he would suffer and be killed

In the previous section, Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ (or Messiah). But Peter and the other disciples did not fully understand what it meant that Jesus was the Messiah. They probably had the same ideas as many other Jews at that time. They thought that the Messiah would be a fighting hero. He would defeat the enemies of Israel and establish a political kingdom.

In this section, Jesus began to try and teach them about the real work of Messiah. He did not come to lead armies and set up a kingdom like other countries. His work was to suffer and die and then be raised back to life again. He also told them that all those who want to follow him should prepare to suffer in the same way. He also promised that the true kingdom was coming very soon.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus foretold/predicted his death and resurrection

Jesus Speaks about His Suffering and Death (CEV)

Jesus Says that He Must Die (NCV)

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 8:31–9:1 and Luke 9:22–27.

Paragraph 16:24–28

In this paragraph Jesus spoke to all the disciples, including Peter. He is also speaking to all of us. He wanted to teach about how to understand things from God’s perspective. He also hinted how the lives of those who follow him will change.

16:26a–b

(reordered) If a person gets/owns the entire world but does not get eternal life, is there any benefit to him? No!

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to emphasize something that everyone should know is true. If someone gets the world’s riches but cannot live forever with God, it is worth nothing.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (NLT)
As a question with the response supplied. For example:
Will you gain anything if you own the whole world but lose your life with God? Of course not!
As a statement. For example:
It is worth nothing for them to have the whole world if they lose their souls. (NCV)

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

16:26a

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,

Is there any benefit for a person if he owns/gets the whole world
It is worth nothing for a man to get everything in the world

The Greek conjunction that begins this verse is left untranslated in the BSB, but many English versions translate it as “For.” It introduces another basis for Jesus’ statement in 16:24. There he says that a disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus (16:24). Here he says that that is true for/because he will not profit from gaining the entire world (16:26).

The only thing of true value is eternal life. Jesus gives eternal life to those who follow him.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Because

Let me further explain

Some English versions, such as the BSB, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

What will it profit a man: The Greek word that the BSB translates as profit means “benefit,” “help,” or “be of use to.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

what do you benefit (NLT)

What good will it do for people (GW)

what use/help will it be for a person

a man: The Greek word that the BSB translates as man refers to a human being. It does not just refer to a male.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

a person (NET)

people (GW)

he gains the whole world: This phrase refers to owning the entire world and everything in it. This is a hyperbole. It refers to being very successful in earning money and obtaining material things.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

own the whole world (CEV)

possesses/acquires everything in the world

becomes the richest person in the world

16:26b

yet forfeits his soul?

but loses his life with God? No!
and not get/receive life that is forever.

forfeits his soul: The Greek word that the BSB translates as forfeits means “loses.”

There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as soul:

It refers to a person’s soul. It is the part of a person that lives even after his body dies. So the phrase “forfeits/loses his soul” is a figurative of speech that means “dies spiritually.” It refers to “losing eternal life” or “losing his life in heaven.” For example:
they lose their souls (NCV) (BSB, NIV, ESV, NLT, NCV, KJV, NASB)
It refers to a person’s life (on earth). So the phrase “forfeits/loses his life” is a figure of speech that means “dies physically.” For example:
lose their lives (GW) (GNT, NET, RSV, GW, REB, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In 16:25, Jesus moved from talking about physical life to talking about spiritual life. Here in 16:26, he continued to talk about spiritual life.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

loses his life with God

fails to get eternal life

does not get/receive life that has no end

General Comment on 16:26a–b

In some language, it will be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 16:26a–b. For example:

If a man gains the whole world but loses his own soul, it there any profit in that?

If a man owns the entire world but does not get eternal life, there is no benefit.

16:26c

Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Or, to say it another way, what can a person trade/exchange for his life with God? Nothing!
It is certainly not possible for a person to give/pay enough money to buy his life in heaven.

Or: Here the word Or introduces a rhetorical question that says something similar to the rhetorical question in 16:25a–b. This rhetorical question is another way to make a similar point as the first one.

Normally the word “or” links two things, and only one of them is correct/preferred. Or the listener is supposed to choose one of them. For example, “Did he go to Jerusalem or Bethlehem?” However, in this verse, Or is not used in that way. The response to both questions is “No” or “Nothing.”

Here is another way to introduce this second rhetorical question:

Or to say/ask it another way

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here either.

what can a man give in exchange for his soul?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to emphasize that nothing can buy true life with God. There is nothing that a person can give to God that would be a fair trade for his life.

Here are some other ways to translate this emphasis:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
what can a person give in exchange for his life? (NET)
As a question with the response supplied. For example:
Is there anything that a person can give to God so that God gives him eternal life in return? No!
As a statement. For example:
It is certainly impossible for a person to pay God enough so that God will give him eternal life.

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

give in exchange for his soul: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as give in exchange refers to the way people traded things before there was money. They traded/exchanged one thing for something else of equal value.

Here, Jesus said that nothing has enough value to be an equal trade for eternal life. That is even true if you had all the riches of the world. No one is able to pay enough to buy true life.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

there is nothing a person can give in trade for his life with God

What can a person trade/exchange to get eternal life?

Can a person pay enough money to buy his life in heaven?

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ὠφεληθήσεται ἄνθρωπος ἐάν τόν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ τήν δέ ψυχήν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ Ἤ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ)

Here, the word For introduces another basis for what Jesus said in [16:24](../16/24.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason or basis for a claim, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Another reason I say that is because] or [Even further,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί & ὠφεληθήσεται ἄνθρωπος, ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ?

what & ˓will_be_being˒_benefited ˓a˒_person what & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ὠφεληθήσεται ἄνθρωπος ἐάν τόν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ τήν δέ ψυχήν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ Ἤ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ)

Jesus is using the question form to teach his disciples. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [a man will benefit nothing if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life.] or [a man will never benefit anything if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

τί & ὠφεληθήσεται ἄνθρωπος, ἐὰν τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ, τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ

Here Jesus uses an imaginary situation to show that forfeiting one’s life is bad enough that gaining anything else cannot make up for it. Use a natural method in your language for introducing an imaginary situation. Alternate translation: [image a man who gained the whole world but forfeited his life. What will that man benefit]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἄνθρωπος & κερδήσῃ & αὐτοῦ & ἄνθρωπος & αὐτοῦ

˓a˒_person & ˱he˲_˓may˒_gain & ˱of˲_him & ˓a˒_person & ˱of˲_him

Although the terms man, he, and his are masculine, Jesus is using the words in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use phrases that make this clear. Alternate translation: [a person … he or she gains … his or her … a person … his or her]

τὴν & ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ & τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ

Alternate translation: [his soul … for his soul]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ἢ

Here, the word Or introduces a second question that again emphasizes how important a person’s life is. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a similar idea, or you could leave Or untranslated. Alternate translation: [Again,] or [Even further,]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ?

Jesus is using the question form to teach his disciples. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [a man can give nothing in exchange for his life.] or [a man cannot give anything in exchange for his life!]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ

˱as˲_˓an˒_exchange ˱for˲_the soul ˱of˲_him

Here Jesus could be implying: (1) that there is nothing that is worth as much as a person’s life. Alternate translation: [that is as worth as much as his soul] (2) that there is nothing that is valuable enough to redeem one’s life when it has been forfeited. Alternate translation: [that can buy back his soul]

Parallel MAT 16:26

Section 16:21–28: Jesus said that he would suffer and be killed

Paragraph 16:24–28

16:26a–b

16:26a

16:26b

General Comment on 16:26a–b

16:26c