Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. New Living Translation Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. English Standard Version Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Berean Standard Bible Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Berean Literal Bible The one loving his life loses it, and the one hating his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. King James Bible He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. New King James Version He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. New American Standard Bible The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. NASB 1995 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. NASB 1977 “He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. Legacy Standard Bible He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. Amplified Bible The one who loves his life [eventually] loses it [through death], but the one who hates his life in this world [and is concerned with pleasing God] will keep it for life eternal. Christian Standard Bible The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Holman Christian Standard Bible The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. American Standard Version He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. Contemporary English Version If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. English Revised Version He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. GOD'S WORD® Translation Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life. Good News Translation Those who love their own life will lose it; those who hate their own life in this world will keep it for life eternal. International Standard Version The one who loves his life will destroy it, and the one who hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Majority Standard Bible Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. NET Bible The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. New Heart English Bible He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to everlasting life. Webster's Bible Translation He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it to life eternal. Weymouth New Testament He who holds his life dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it to the Life of the Ages. World English Bible He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionhe who is cherishing his life will lose it, and he who is hating his life in this world will keep it to continuous life; Berean Literal Bible The one loving his life loses it, and the one hating his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. Young's Literal Translation he who is loving his life shall lose it, and he who is hating his life in this world -- to life age-during shall keep it; Smith's Literal Translation He loving his soul shall lose it; but he hating his soul in this world, shall guard it for life eternal. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleItself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. Catholic Public Domain Version it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit. Whoever loves his life, will lose it. And whoever hates his life in this world, preserves it unto eternal life. New American Bible Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. New Revised Standard Version Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHe who loves his life will lose it; and he who has no concern for his life in this world will keep it unto life eternal. Aramaic Bible in Plain English “Whoever loves his life shall destroy it and whoever hates his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentHe that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to eternal life. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, shall preserve it to life eternal. Mace New Testament he that loveth his life, shall lose it: but he that sacrifices his life in this world, shall preserve it to eternity. Weymouth New Testament He who holds his life dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it to the Life of the Ages. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament So Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jesus Predicts His Death…24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.… Cross References Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Mark 8:35 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. Matthew 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Luke 17:33 Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. John 12:24 Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 2 Timothy 2:11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death. 1 John 3:16 By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. Colossians 3:3-4 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. / When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Treasury of Scripture He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. that loveth. Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. hateth. Genesis 29:30-33 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years… Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Jump to Previous Account Age-During Ages Care Dear Destroying Eternal Hates Hateth Hating Holds Love Loves Loveth Makes WorldJump to Next Account Age-During Ages Care Dear Destroying Eternal Hates Hateth Hating Holds Love Loves Loveth Makes WorldJohn 12 1. Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet.9. The people flock to see Lazarus. 10. The chief priests consult to kill him. 12. Jesus rides into Jerusalem. 20. Greeks desire to see Jesus. 23. He foretells his death. 37. The people are generally blinded; 42. yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him; 44. therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith. Whoever loves his life The Greek word for "loves" here is "φιλέω" (phileō), which implies a deep affection or attachment. In the context of this verse, it suggests an excessive attachment to one's earthly life, prioritizing personal desires and comforts over spiritual commitments. Historically, this reflects the human tendency to cling to worldly possessions and status, often at the expense of spiritual growth. Jesus challenges His followers to reconsider their priorities, emphasizing that true discipleship requires a willingness to let go of earthly attachments. will lose it but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life The words of this verse are familiar to us from the earlier Gospels, and have been explained in Notes on Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; Luke 17:33. The disciples had heard them laid down as the law of their own life and work. They now hear the mysterious words again, and they are asserted as the law to which even His life is submitted. There is even in His human nature a physical and emotional life which would shrink from sacrifice and death (John 12:27; comp. Note on Matthew 26:39), but in self-sacrifice and death is His own glory and the life of the world. There is in all human nature a principle which would seek as the highest good the life of the body and of the soul, as distinct from the higher life of the spirit, and would shrink from sacrifice and death; but the true principle of life is of the spirit, and only in the sacrifice of the desires of the lower physical and emotional life is that spiritual life realised. . . . Verses 25, 26. - The Lord here introduces a solemn, almost oracular utterance, which proves how close and intimate is the relationship between the synoptics and the Fourth Gospel. On several great occasions our Lord has impressed this law of the Spirit of life upon his disciples. Thus in Matthew 10:37-39, in the lengthened commission given to the twelve, after calling on his followers to place his own claim on their affection as greater than that of father, mother, friend, and calling for self-sacrifice, and self-crucifixion, he said, "He that findeth his life (ψυχὴ) shall lose it: he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Again (Matthew 16:25, etc.), after rebuking Peter for his unwillingness to recognize the necessity and significance of the killing of "the Son of the living God," he laid down the same law once more, calling for self-denial and daily cross-bearing, and adds, "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." So also Luke 9:23, etc. Luke (Luke 15:26) also introduces the same solemn aphorism in our Lord's discourse concerning the close of the Jewish national life. Surely here he is applying to his own case the law of the Divine life which he had shown to be universal, and of which he was on the point of giving the crowning and climacteric expression. He does it with amplifications and a supply of motives. If life be regarded as an end in itself; if it be treated as complete when rounded with its own individuality; if life shrink from sacrifice, if it "love itself," and will at all hazards preserve itself; if the natural and instinctive fear of death, and instinct of self-preservation, become a self-idolatry; - that life will "abide alone." If it sacrifice itself for higher ends than self; if it regard the higher end as more valuable than itself; if it lose itself in the object to which it is consecrated; if it be content to "die;" - it abideth no longer "alone," but "bringeth forth much fruit." Verse 25. - He that loves his own life (ψυχή); life used as equivalent to "self," in that totality of being which, like the life of the seed-corn, survives the accident of death - he that loves his own life (self) is losing it; or, perhaps, destroying it, ipso facto. There are ends and objects of love so much greater than" the self," that to keep it by some act of will and recreant fear is to make it utterly valueless, is really to destroy its true vitality. And he that hateth his (ψυχή) life (self) in this world, wherever the greater claim of Christ and of the Father would be compromised by loving it, shall veritably preserve it, viz. the self, unto eternal (ζωή) life; i.e. to the blessedness of eternal being. The ψυχή is a great possession; and "what advantageth a man if he should gain the whole world, and lose it?" But if a man persists in gaining the world, and forgets that this earthly existence is not capable of satisfying the demands or finding a sphere for the true self, and so makes the earthly reign or enjoyment of the ψυχή the end of all striving, - then he miserably fails. So far it is clear that our Lord is applying a great principle of the true life to the case of his own Messianic work and ministry. He draws, from a law of the superiority of the Divine life to the fear of death and to the fact of death, a justification of his own approaching doom. He can only by dying live his perfect life, win his greatest triumph; reap his world-wide harvest.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Whoeverὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. loves φιλῶν (philōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 5368: From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. Have affection for; specially, to kiss. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. life ψυχὴν (psychēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely. will lose ἀπολλύει (apollyei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 622: From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively. it, αὐτήν (autēn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. [but] καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. whoever ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. hates μισῶν (misōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3404: To hate, detest, love less, esteem less. From a primary misos; to detest; by extension, to love less. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. life ψυχὴν (psychēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely. in ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. this τούτῳ (toutō) Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. world κόσμῳ (kosmō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally). will keep φυλάξει (phylaxei) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 5442: Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid. it αὐτήν (autēn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. for εἰς (eis) Preposition Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. eternal αἰώνιον (aiōnion) Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 166: From aion; perpetual. life. ζωὴν (zōēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 2222: Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life. Links John 12:25 NIVJohn 12:25 NLT John 12:25 ESV John 12:25 NASB John 12:25 KJV John 12:25 BibleApps.com John 12:25 Biblia Paralela John 12:25 Chinese Bible John 12:25 French Bible John 12:25 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: John 12:25 He who loves his life will lose (Jhn Jo Jn) |
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