MARK 8:35 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) [ref]Anyone who worries about saving their own life will lose it, but anyone who gives their life due to following me and my teaching will save their life.

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 whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for the sake of me and of the gospel will save it.

UST That is because people who are willing to do anything to stay alive will not truly live. However, people who are willing to die because they are my apprentices and because they believe the good news will truly live.

BSB For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.

MSB For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.

BLB For whoever might desire to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life on account of Me and of the gospel, he will save it.

AICNT For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel [[the same]][fn] will save it.

8:35, the same: Some manuscripts include.

OEB For whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, will lose their life will save it.

WEBBE For 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.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.

LSV for whoever may will to save his life will lose it; and whoever may lose his life for My sake and for the good news’ sake, he will save it;

FBV If you want to save your life you will lose it, but if you lose your life because of me and the good news you will save it.

TCNT For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will save it.

T4T You must do that, because those who try to save their lives by denying that they belong to me when people want to kill them for believing in me will not live eternally, but those who are killed because of being my disciples and because of telling others my good message will live forever with me.

LEB For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me and of the gospel will save it.

BBE Whoever has a desire to keep his life, will have it taken from him; and whoever gives up his life because of me and the good news, will keep it.

Moff for whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
⇔ and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

Wymth For whoever is bent on securing his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, will secure it.

ASV For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall save it.

DRA For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, shall save it.

YLT for whoever may will to save his life shall lose it; and whoever may lose his life for my sake and for the good news' sake, he shall save it;

Drby For whosoever shall desire to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it.

RV For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall save it.

SLT For whoever wills to save his life shall lose it; and whoever should lose his life for my sake and the good news, the same shall save it.

Wbstr For whoever will save his life, shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

KJB-1769 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

KJB-1611 For whosoeuer will saue his life shall lose it, but whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels, the same shall saue it.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For whosoeuer wyll saue his life, shall lose it: But whosoeuer shall lose his life, for my sake & the Gospels, the same shall saue it.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva For whosoeuer will saue his life, shall lose it: but whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels, he shall saue it.
(For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospels, he shall save it. )

Cvdl For who so euer wyl saue his life, shal lose it: and who so euer loseth his life for my sake and ye gospels, ye same shal saue it.
(For whoso/whoever ever will save his life, shall lose it: and whoso/whoever ever loseth his life for my sake and ye/you_all gospels, ye/you_all same shall save it.)

TNT For whosoever will save his lyfe shall lose it But whosoever shall lose his lyfe for my sake and the gospels the same shall save it.
(For whosoever will save his life shall lose it But whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospels the same shall save it. )

Wycl For he that wole make saaf his lijf, schal leese it; and he that leesith his lijf for me, and for the gospel, schal make it saaf.
(For he that will make safe his life, shall lose it; and he that leesith his life for me, and for the gospel, shall make it safe.)

Luth Denn wer sein Leben will behalten der wird‘s verlieren; und wer sein Leben verlieret um meinet und des Evangeliums willen, der wird‘s behalten.
(Because who be life will keep the/of_the it_will lose/shed(v); and who be life loses around/by/for meant and the gospel will, the/of_the it_will keep.)

ClVg Qui enim voluerit animam suam salvam facere, perdet eam: qui autem perdiderit animam suam propter me, et Evangelium, salvam faciet eam.
(Who because wanted the_soul his_own has_saved to_do, will_destroy her: who/which however will_lose the_soul his_own because me, and the_Gospel, has_saved will_do her. )

UGNT ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν, ὃς δ’ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, σώσει αὐτήν.
(hos gar ean thelaʸ taʸn psuⱪaʸn autou sōsai, apolesei autaʸn, hos d’ an apolesei taʸn psuⱪaʸn autou heneken emou kai tou euangeliou, sōsei autaʸn.)

SBL-GNT ὃς γὰρ ⸀ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ⸂ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ⸃ σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δʼ ἂν ⸀ἀπολέσει τὴν ⸄ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ⸅ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ⸀σώσει αὐτήν.
(hos gar ⸀ean thelaʸ taʸn ⸂psuⱪaʸn autou⸃ sōsai apolesei autaʸn; hos dʼ an ⸀apolesei taʸn ⸄psuⱪaʸn autou⸅ heneken emou kai tou euangeliou ⸀sōsei autaʸn.)

RP-GNT Ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ' ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν.
(Hos gar an thelaʸ taʸn psuⱪaʸn autou sōsai, apolesei autaʸn; hos d' an apolesaʸ taʸn heautou psuⱪaʸn heneken emou kai tou euangeliou, houtos sōsei autaʸn.)

TC-GNT Ὃς γὰρ [fn]ἂν θέλῃ τὴν [fn]ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾽ ἂν [fn]ἀπολέσῃ τὴν [fn]ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, [fn]οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν.
(Hos gar an thelaʸ taʸn psuⱪaʸn autou sōsai, apolesei autaʸn; hos d an apolesaʸ taʸn heautou psuⱪaʸn heneken emou kai tou euangeliou, houtos sōsei autaʸn. )

8:35 αν ¦ εαν CT

8:35 ψυχην αυτου 99.6% ¦ εαυτου ψυχην WH 0.3%

8:35 απολεση ¦ απολεσει NA SBL TH WH

8:35 ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ¦ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ CT PCK TR

8:35 ουτος ¦ — CT

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

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Following Jesus

One of the core purposes of the Gospels is to help readers understand and accept the call to take up their cross and follow Jesus. This call is addressed not only to those who would be Jesus’ apostles (Mark 3:13-19; cp. 1:16-20; 2:14) but to all who desired to follow him (Mark 8:34; cp. 2:15; 10:21, 52). For some, the call to discipleship is very hard (Mark 10:17-25), but God provides grace (10:27). Others find it easy to respond to Jesus’ call (Mark 2:14; cp. Luke 7:36-50).

For everyone, following Jesus requires a total commitment to turn from selfish ways (Mark 8:34-35). Taking up one’s cross is a metaphor for giving up one’s life to follow Jesus—even to death. For example, Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their homes and their source of income to follow Jesus (Mark 1:16-20). For one rich man, turning from his selfish ways required selling all he had and giving the proceeds to the poor (Mark 10:21). Following Jesus also means being identified with him without being ashamed and being faithful to him and his teachings (Mark 8:38; cp. Rom 10:9). It requires removing anything that would interfere with following Jesus, regardless of how painful doing so might be (Mark 9:43-48). It requires entrusting one’s life entirely to Jesus and repenting of sin (Mark 1:15; 6:12). It even requires putting loyalty to Jesus above loyalty to one’s own father and mother (Matt 10:37; Luke 14:26).

Jesus explicitly commanded his disciples to proclaim his message (Matt 28:18-20; Luke 24:47-49; Acts 1:8). And we see throughout the rest of the New Testament that Jesus’ followers did indeed proclaim the Good News wherever they went, leading to more and more followers (see Acts 2:14-41; 3:12-26; 4:1-2, 20; 8:4; 9:20; 11:19-26; 13:1-3; Rom 1:1-16; 10:14-15; 15:18-21; 1 Cor 9:16; Col 1:23; 1 Thes 2:9; 2 Tim 4:2).

Alongside Jesus’ demands for discipleship are the rewards of following Jesus. Those who follow Jesus are promised entrance into the Kingdom of God (Mark 9:43-48; 10:23-31). They receive his forgiveness for their sins (Mark 2:10-11; see also 3:28; 11:25), and they become members of the family of God (John 1:12). They are saved from judgment (Mark 8:35; 13:13) and obtain eternal life (Mark 9:43; 10:29-30; 1 Jn 5:11-12).

Passages for Further Study

Hos 6:3; Matt 10:37-39; 28:18-20; Mark 1:15-20; 2:14-15; 3:13-15; 5:18-20; 6:6-13, 30-32; 8:34-38; 9:38-50; 10:17-31; 11:22-25; 13:9-13; Luke 14:25-35; 24:47-49; John 8:12; 10:27; 12:26; Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; 4:16-20; 8:4; 9:19-30; 11:19-24; 13:1-3; Rom 1:1-16; 10:7-15; 1 Cor 9:16; Eph 5:1; Col 1:23; 2 Tim 4:2; 1 Pet 2:21

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:34–9:1: Jesus spoke about what a person must do to be his disciple

In the preceding section Jesus was speaking to his disciples. In this section Jesus called the crowd of people who were there to come and listen to him also. So in these verses Jesus was speaking to the crowd, as well as to his disciples. This meant that most of the people to whom Jesus spoke were not his followers. Many of them may have been part of the people whom Jesus described in 8:38b as “this adulterous and sinful generation.”

The requirements for being/becoming a disciple are given in 8:34.The phrases in 8:34b–d are arranged in the form of a chiasm: (A) wants to come after Me, (B) must deny himself, (B') take up his cross, (A') follow Me.The expressions in (A) and (A') both refer to following Jesus as a disciple, but they are not redundant. Actually obeying Jesus and following him as a disciple (A') involves more than simply wanting to become his disciple (A). Similarly, (B) and (B') both involve denying oneself, but picking up and carrying one’s cross (B') is a specific and extreme example of self-denial. The next verses (8:35–38) each explain why a person who wants to follow Christ must obey the commands given in 8:34. Each reason involves a choice between the present and the future. A person who chooses to avoid death and shame in the present life will be shamed in the future at the final judgment. He will forfeit true life with God. By contrast, a person who chooses to follow Christ may lose his present life but he will gain true life with God.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus told people how to be his true disciples

What It Means to Follow Jesus (GW)

Following Jesus (NET)

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 16:24–28 and Luke 9:23–27. See also Luke 14:27, 17:33; John 12:25.

8:35–37

life: The Greek word that the BSB translates as life is literally “soul.” It is used in two different ways in these verses:

It refers to a person’s life on this earth, that is, to the person’s physical life that ends when he or she dies. It is used in this way in 8:35a and 8:35b, where the BSB translates it as “life.”
It refers to a person’s spiritual life. It is used in this way in 8:36b and 8:37, where the BSB translates it as “soul.” The pronoun “it” in 8:35a and 8:35b also refers to a person’s spiritual life. A person’s spiritual life is his true life or eternal life with God.

Notice that because of these two different meanings, you may need to translate the word in different ways in your language. The following notes will give suggestions for each context.

8:35a

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,

Do this because you^(plur) who try to protect/guard your life on this earth will lose/forfeit true life,
If a person does not do this because he wants to save/preserve his physical/earthly life, he will lose the opportunity to gain spiritual/eternal life with God.

For: The word that the BSB translates as For introduces the reason or explanation for Jesus’ commands in 8:34. A person should obey these commands because whoever avoids following Christ because he wants to save his physical life will not gain true life with God. However, a person who becomes a disciple and dies because of it will experience true life with God.

In some languages, it may be more natural to use a phrase to express this connection. For example:

The reason is, whoever wants…

The reason why a person should do this is that whoever wants…

Because whoever doesn’t follow Me because he wants… (TRT)

In other languages an explicit connecting word or phrase may not be needed. Show this connection in a way that is natural in your language.

whoever wants to save his life: The phrase whoever wants to save his life refers here to a person who wants to protect his physical life in the world. He does not want to die for Jesus. He is not willing to become a disciple by denying himself and being ready to die (8:35b).

Here are some other ways to translate this:

whoever wants to protect his own life

if you want to guard your life on this earth

whoever tries to save himself so that he will not have to die for me

his life…it: In this part of the verse, the word life and the pronoun it refer to two different meanings of “life.” The word life refers to a person’s physical life in this world. The pronoun it refers to a person’s eternal life with God.

will lose it: The phrase lose it refers to losing true life, that is, life with God that lasts forever. The person will fail to experience that life either here on earth or in heaven after he dies. He will eventually lose his physical life because no one can live forever. He will also lose the opportunity to gain true life with God.

In some languages, a literal translation of “lose” may imply that a person misplaces something and is unable to find it. It may also imply that a person who already has eternal life will lose it. Be careful to avoid both these implications.

Here are some other ways to express the correct meaning:

will forfeit true life

will lose the opportunity to gain eternal life

will not gain life with God

8:35b

but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.

but you^(plur) who give your life because of me and because of the gospel will have true life.
But a person who dies because he believes in me and the good news about me will gain/experience spiritual/eternal life with God.

whoever loses his life: The phrase whoever loses his life refers to anyone who loses his physical life, that is, who dies or is killed.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

But if you give up your life (NLT)

But if people kill you

But if you die

for My sake: The phrase for My sake gives a reason for which a disciple must be willing to die. He must be ready to die because of his faith in Christ and his desire to obey Christ.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

because you believe in me

on account of his loyalty to me

because of his following/serving me

Be careful not to translate the phrase for My sake in the sense of “for my benefit” or “in my place.” That is often the correct meaning in the context of Christ dying for us. It is not correct in the context of a disciple dying for Christ.

and for the gospel: This phrase gives a related reason for which a disciple must be willing to die. He must be ready to die because he tells other people about the gospel. The TRT has another way to translate this phrase:

because he is teaching others the good news about me

the gospel: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the gospel means “the good news.” In Mark, this phrase refers to the good news about Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God.

Here are some other ways to translate gospel:

good/sweet news

good news about Jesus Christ

good news from God

message/report that causes joy

Be sure that the term you choose does not refer only to a news report or to a story that is not true.

will save it: The pronoun it refers to a person’s eternal life with God, as in 8:35a. The person who gives up his earthly life for Jesus will save himself from spiritual death. He will gain true life with God forever.

Here are some other ways to translate will save it:

will find/have true life (NLT96, NCV)

will have life

will gain/experience life that is forever

General Comment on 8:35a–b

In some languages it may be unnatural or impossible to translate “life” as a noun here. It also may not be natural to refer to it as something that can be lost or kept.

Here is an example of how to translate life as a verb:

For whoever is determined to keep on living on this earth will not be able to live forever with God. Whoever is willing to die because he believes in me and wants to tell others the good news about me, will live forever with God.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Γάρ ἐάν θέλῃ τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν ὅς δʼ ἄν ἀπολέσει τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καί τοῦ εὐαγγελίου σώσει αὐτήν)

Here, the word For introduces a basis for what Jesus said in the previous verse. 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: [I say that because] or [In fact,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὃς & ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν, ὃς δ’ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, σώσει αὐτήν

Here Jesus speaks of how people’s attitudes toward their current lives affects their eternal lives after they resurrect. He means that those who want to save their current lives will lose their eternal, resurrection lives, and that those who have lost their current lives will save their eternal, resurrection lives. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [whoever wants to save his current life will lose it forever, but whoever loses his current life for the sake of me and of the gospel will save it forever]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν

˓may_be˒_wanting (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Γάρ ἐάν θέλῃ τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν ὅς δʼ ἄν ἀπολέσει τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καί τοῦ εὐαγγελίου σώσει αὐτήν)

Here Jesus speaks of trying to preserve one’s life as if it were saving it. He speaks of dying as if it were losing one’s life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [wants to preserve his life will die]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

(Occurrence -1) αὐτοῦ

Although the term his is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [his or her … his or her]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὃς δ’ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, σώσει αὐτήν

Here Jesus speaks of dying or being willing to die as losing one’s life. He speaks of experiencing eternal life as if it were saving one’s life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [but whoever has died for the sake of me and of the gospel will have eternal life]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου

on_account me (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς Γάρ ἐάν θέλῃ τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν ὅς δʼ ἄν ἀπολέσει τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καί τοῦ εὐαγγελίου σώσει αὐτήν)

When Jesus says for the sake of me and of the gospel, he means that some people will lose their lives because they are his disciples and because they believe the gospel. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [because he is my disciple and believes the gospel] or [because he believes in me and in the gospel]

Parallel MARK 8:35

Section 8:34–9:1: Jesus spoke about what a person must do to be his disciple

8:35–37

8:35a

8:35b

General Comment on 8:35a–b