Devine Scripture

Luke 9:25

What does Luke 9:25 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 9:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 9:25 means

Jesus asks rhetorically what profit it is for a person to gain the whole world yet forfeit his own self. The question exposes the ultimate folly of prioritizing material success over spiritual soul. “Lose or forfeit his own self” warns that even worldly gain cannot substitute for the loss of one’s moral and eternal well-being. Jesus calls listeners to weigh eternal consequences: earthly advantage is empty if it costs the soul. The verse invites sober spiritual self-examination: what will you value when eternity is at stake?

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For what profit will a man have if he gets all the world, but undergoes loss or destruction himself?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for what is a man profited, having gained the whole world, and having lost or having forfeited himself?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world and lose himself and cast away himself?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For what shall a man profit if he shall have gained the whole world, and have destroyed, or come under the penalty of the loss of himself?

Context

This verse follows the paradox of saving and losing life (v.24) and frames the stakes of discipleship in stark terms. Luke places this moral testing question between the call to take up the cross (v.23) and the warning about shame at Christ’s return (v.26). The progression emphasizes that true wisdom chooses the soul over temporal gain and prepares readers for the eschatological warning that follows.

v.24For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

v.25This passage

v.26For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 9:43

    And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:27

    but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

  • Mark 8:36

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

  • Acts 1:25

    to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.

  • Matthew 13:50

    and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

  • Revelation 18:7

    How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.

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