MARK 8:36 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, 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 does it benefit a man to gain the whole world and to forfeit 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!

8:36 CT What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

AICNT For what does it profit a man {to gain}[fn] the whole world and forfeit his soul?

8:36, to gain: Some manuscripts read “if he gains.”

OEB What good is it to a person to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?

WEBBE For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?

LSV for what will it profit a man, if he may gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

FBV What use is it for you to gain everything in the whole world, and lose your life?

TCNT For what [fn]will it benefit a person [fn]if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul?

8:36 will ¦ does ECM^† NA SBL TH WH

8:36 if he gains the whole world but forfeits ¦ to gain the whole word but forfeit CT

T4T People might get everything they want in this world, but ◄they are really gaining nothing if they do not get eternal life because they do not become my disciples!/what will they gain if they do not get eternal life because they do not become my disciples?► [RHQ]

LEB For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

BBE What profit has a man if he gets all the world with the loss of his life?

Moff What profit is it for a man to gain the whole world and to forfeit his soul?

Wymth Why, what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?

ASV For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

DRA For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?

YLT for what shall it profit a man, if he may gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

Drby For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?

RV For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
(For what doth/does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? )

SLT For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and injure his soul.

Wbstr For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul:

KJB-1769 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

KJB-1611 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gaine the whole world, and lose his owne soule?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps For what shall it profite a man, yf he wynne all the worlde, and lose his owne soule?
(For what shall it profit a man, if he win all the world, and lose his own soul?)

Gnva For what shall it profite a man, though he should winne the whole world, if he lose his soule?
(For what shall it profit a man, though he should win the whole world, if he lose his soul? )

Cvdl What helpeth it a ma though he wane the whole worlde, and yet toke harme in his soule?
(What helpeth/helps it a man though he wane the whole world, and yet took harm in his soul?)

TNT What shall it profet a man yf he shuld wynne all the worlde and loose his awne soule?
(What shall it profet a man if he should win all the world and loose his own soul? )

Wycl For what profitith it to a man, if he wynne al the world, and do peiryng to his soule?
(For what profiteth/profits it to a man, if he win all the world, and do peiring to his soul?)

Luth Was hülfe es dem Menschen, wenn er die ganze Welt gewönne und nähme an seiner SeeLE Schaden?
(What help it to_him people, when he the whole/all world won and take at/to his soul damage/harm(n)?)

ClVg Quid enim proderit homini, si lucretur mundum totum et detrimentum animæ suæ faciat?
(What because it_will_help to_man, when/but_if lucretur the_world whole and detrimentum soul his/her_own let_him_do? )

UGNT τί γὰρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον, κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον καὶ ζημιωθῆναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ?
(ti gar ōfelei anthrōpon, kerdaʸsaʸ ton kosmon holon kai zaʸmiōthaʸnai taʸn psuⱪaʸn autou?)

SBL-GNT τί γὰρ ⸀ὠφελεῖ ⸀ἄνθρωπον ⸂κερδῆσαι τὸν κόσμον ὅλον καὶ ζημιωθῆναι⸃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ;
(ti gar ⸀ōfelei ⸀anthrōpon ⸂kerdaʸsai ton kosmon holon kai zaʸmiōthaʸnai⸃ taʸn psuⱪaʸn autou;)

RP-GNT Τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον, ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ;
(Ti gar ōfelaʸsei anthrōpon, ean kerdaʸsaʸ ton kosmon holon, kai zaʸmiōthaʸ taʸn psuⱪaʸn autou;)

TC-GNT Τί γὰρ [fn]ὠφελήσει [fn]ἄνθρωπον, [fn]ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ;
(Ti gar ōfelaʸsei anthrōpon, ean kerdaʸsaʸ ton kosmon holon, kai zaʸmiōthaʸ taʸn psuⱪaʸn autou; )

8:36 ωφελησει ¦ ωφελει ECM^† NA SBL TH WH

8:36 ανθρωπον ¦ τον ανθρωπον TH

8:36 εαν κερδηση τον κοσμον ολον και ζημιωθη ¦ κερδησαι τον κοσμον ολον και ζημιωθηναι 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.

8:36a

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world,

For do you gain anything if you own everything in the entire world
After all, it does a person no good to get everything in this world

8:36b

yet forfeit his soul?

but lose your opportunity to have true life with God? Of course not!
if he does not have/gain life that is forever.

8:36a–b

In Greek, this verse begins with the same conjunction that the BSB translates as “For” in 8:35a. See the note there. Also see the note on Paragraph 8:34–9:1. Here in 8:36a, the conjunction introduces another reason why a person should deny himself and be ready to die as a disciple. The reason is that it is useless for a person to gain everything in this world and then forfeit eternal life with God.

Some English versions indicate this connection by using the word “For” (as in the RSV).

Here is another way to indicate this connection:

Here is another reason

Connect this verse to 8:35 in a natural way in your language. In some languages a connector may not be needed.

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus asked this question to emphasize something that everyone should know to be true: It is worth nothing for someone to gain the whole world if they forfeit their true life with God. There are at least two ways to translate this:

As a rhetorical question. For example, the REB says:
What does anyone gain by winning the whole world at the cost of his life?
As a statement. For example, the NCV says:
It is worth nothing for them to have the whole world if they lose their souls.

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to emphasize the recognized fact that Jesus was teaching here.

What does it profit: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as does it profit means “benefit, help, be of use to.” The expected answer to the question is “there will be no profit.”

to gain the whole world: The phrase to gain the whole world literally means to own the world and everything in it. This is a hyperbole. It refers to being very successful in earning money and obtaining material goods.

Here are some other ways to translate gain the whole world:

win the whole world (GNT)

own the whole world (CEV)

This figure of speech emphasizes that even the whole world is worthless compared to the worth of a person’s soul. If a literal translation gives a wrong meaning in your language, you may need to express the emphasis in another way. For example:

obtain immense riches

be the wealthiest person in the world

forfeit his soul: In this context the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as forfeit his soul means to fail to obtain eternal life with God.

soul: The Greek word that the BSB translates as soul refers to the same thing as the word “it” in 8:35a and 8:35b. The word soul refers here to eternal life or true life with God.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον κερδήσῃ τόν κόσμον ὅλον καί ζημιωθῆναι τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ)

Here, the word For introduces another basis for what Jesus said in [8:34](../08/34.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 & ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον, κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον καὶ ζημιωθῆναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ?

what & ˱it˲_˓is˒_benefiting ˓a˒_person ˱he˲_˓may˒_gain (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον κερδήσῃ τόν κόσμον ὅλον καί ζημιωθῆναι τήν ψυχήν 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 benefits nothing if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life.] or [a man never benefits anything if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

τί & ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον, κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον καὶ ζημιωθῆναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ

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 does that man benefit]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἄνθρωπον & αὐτοῦ

˓a˒_person & ˱of˲_him

Although the terms man 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 … his or her]

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

καὶ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον κερδήσῃ τόν κόσμον ὅλον καί ζημιωθῆναι τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ)

Here, the word and introduces something bad that happens in contrast to gaining the whole world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of contrast. Alternate translation: [but]

τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ὠφελεῖ ἄνθρωπον κερδήσῃ τόν κόσμον ὅλον καί ζημιωθῆναι τήν ψυχήν αὐτοῦ)

Alternate translation: [his soul]

Parallel MARK 8:36

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

8:36a

8:36b

8:36a–b