Luke 9:24
What does Luke 9:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 9:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 9:24 means
Jesus teaches a paradox: whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Jesus’ sake will save it. Saving life refers to clinging to comforts and avoiding cost; losing life means surrendering selfish control to God’s purposes. The statement warns against practical atheism—living as though ultimate value is earthly preservation. True life is found in sacrificial trust in Christ. The promise is eschatological and personal: those who yield to Jesus’ lordship inherit genuine, eternal life despite temporal losses and suffering.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For whoever has a desire to keep his life will have it taken from him, but whoever gives up his life because of me, will keep it.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for whoever may will to save his life, shall lose it, and whoever may lose his life for my sake, he shall save it;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: for he that shall lose his life for my sake shall save it.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for whosoever shall desire to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, he shall save it.
Context
This verse continues the call to discipleship in v.23 and deepens its meaning. By framing life and loss paradoxically, Luke challenges readers to evaluate their priorities. The teaching prepares for the rhetorical question about worldly gain (v.25) and the call to boldness at Christ’s return (v.26). Together these verses form a compact ethic of costly commitment and hope.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 20:23
save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
- Revelation 2:10
Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.
- Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.
- Hebrews 11:35
Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
- Luke 17:33
Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
- John 12:25
He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
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