Matthew 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

◄ Matthew 16:25 ►

New International Version
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

New Living Translation
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

English Standard Version
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Berean Standard Bible
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Berean Literal Bible
For whoever might desire to save his life will lose it; but whoever might lose his life on account of Me will find it.

King James Bible
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

New King James Version
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

New American Standard Bible
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

NASB 1995
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

NASB 1977
“For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.

Legacy Standard Bible
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Amplified Bible
For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].

Christian Standard Bible
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.

American Standard Version
For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Contemporary English Version
If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

English Revised Version
For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will find them.

Good News Translation
For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it.

International Standard Version
Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,

Majority Standard Bible
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

NET Bible
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

New Heart English Bible
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.

Webster's Bible Translation
For whoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.

Weymouth New Testament
For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it.

World English Bible
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
for whoever may will to save his life will lose it, and whoever may lose his life for My sake will find it;

Berean Literal Bible
For whoever might desire to save his life will lose it; but whoever might lose his life on account of Me will find it.

Young's Literal Translation
for whoever may will to save his life, shall lose it, and whoever may lose his life for my sake shall find it,

Smith's Literal Translation
For whoever should wish to save his life shall lose it: and whoever shall lose his soul for my sake shall find it.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For whoever would save his life, will lose it. But whoever will have lost his life for my sake, shall find it.

New American Bible
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

New Revised Standard Version
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For whoever wills to save his life will lose it and whoever will lose his life for me will find it.”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
For whoever will save his life, shall lose it. But whoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.

Godbey New Testament
For whosoever may wish to save his soul shall lose it: and whosoever may lose his soul for my sake shall find it.

Haweis New Testament
For whosoever is desirous to preserve his life, shall lose it; but whosoever would lose his life for my sake, shall find it.

Mace New Testament
for whosoever will save himself, shall be a looser: and whosoever shall suffer loss for my sake, shall be a gainer.

Weymouth New Testament
For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it.

Worrell New Testament
for whosoever wishes to save his soul shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his soul for My sake shall find it;

Worsley New Testament
for he that would save his life shall lose it; but he that would lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Take Up Your Cross
24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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.

Luke 9:24
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

John 12:25
Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and 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 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Philippians 3:7-8
But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. / More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

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 Corinthians 5:15
And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

Romans 6:4-5
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. / For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.

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.

1 Peter 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. / Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Proverbs 11:24
One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

Treasury of Scripture

For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:39
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Esther 4:14,16
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? …

Mark 8:35
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.

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Desire Desires Find Gives Life Safe Sake Save Wants Wishes

Matthew 16

1. The Pharisees require a sign.
5. Jesus warns his disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
13. The people's opinion of Jesus,
16. and Peter's confession of him.
21. Jesus foretells his death;
23. reproves Peter for dissuading him from it;
24. and admonishes those who will follow him, to bear the cross.

Berean Study Bible

For whoever wants to save his life
This phrase introduces a paradox central to Christian discipleship. The Greek word for "life" here is "ψυχή" (psyche), which can mean life, soul, or self. In the context of the first-century Greco-Roman world, the concept of "saving one's life" often implied preserving one's physical existence or social status. Jesus challenges this notion by suggesting that clinging to earthly life or self-preservation leads to ultimate loss. Historically, this would have resonated with early Christians who faced persecution and were called to prioritize their faith over their physical safety.

will lose it
The Greek word for "lose" is "ἀπολέσει" (apolesei), which conveys the idea of destruction or ruin. This is a stark warning that the pursuit of self-preservation, when it becomes an idol, leads to spiritual ruin. In a conservative Christian perspective, this is a call to examine one's priorities and to recognize that earthly gains are fleeting. The historical context of martyrdom in the early church underscores the reality that physical life is temporary, but spiritual life is eternal.

but whoever loses his life for My sake
Here, "loses" is again "ἀπολέσει" (apolesei), but the context transforms its meaning. Losing one's life "for My sake" implies a voluntary sacrifice for the cause of Christ. The phrase "for My sake" is crucial, as it denotes a purposeful and intentional act of devotion. In the historical context, this would have been a call to the early disciples to embrace suffering and persecution as a testimony of their faith. Theologically, it reflects the call to take up one's cross and follow Jesus, as mentioned earlier in Matthew 16:24.

will find it
The Greek word for "find" is "εὑρήσει" (heuresei), which means to discover or obtain. This promise of finding life is a profound assurance of eternal life and fulfillment in Christ. The paradox is resolved in the understanding that true life is found not in self-preservation but in self-sacrifice. From a conservative Christian perspective, this is an invitation to trust in the eternal promises of God, recognizing that true life is found in Christ alone. Historically, this assurance would have provided hope and encouragement to believers facing trials, reminding them that their sacrifices were not in vain.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(25) Whosoever will save his life, . . . whosoever will lose his life. . . .--There is a subtle distinction between the two clauses in the Greek which the English fails to represent. "Whoso ever willeth--i.e., wishes--to save his life" (the construction being the same as in Matthew 16:24) in the first clause, "Whosoever shall lose his life" in the second. It is as though it was felt that no man could wish to lose his life for the sake of losing it, though he might be ready, if called on, to surrender it. The word rendered "life" is the same as "the soul" of the next verse. For the most part, it means the former rather than the latter with its modern associations, and is never used as a simple equivalent for the spirit of man as the heir of immortality. Strictly speaking, it is the animating principle of the natural as distinguished from the spiritual life. Man, in the fuller trichotomy of the New Testament, consists of "body, soul, and spirit" (1Thessalonians 5:23), the soul being the connecting-link between the other two. The truth is, of course, put in the form of a paradox, and hence, with a contrast between the two aspects of the soul, or psyche. To be bent on saving it in its relation to the body, is to lose it in its relation to the higher life of spirit; to be content to part with it in its lower aspect, is to gain it back again in the higher.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 25. - (Comp. Matthew 10:39; John 12:25.) Whosoever will (o{ ga\r a}n qe/lh"", whosoever wills to) save his life (ψυχήν). Here are set forth the highest motives for courage, endurance, and perseverance in the way of righteousness. The word translated "life" is used four times in this and the following verse, though in the latter it is rendered "soul" in the Anglican Version. The fact is the word is used in two senses: for the life which now is - the bodily life: and the life which is to come - the spiritual, the everlasting life. These are indeed two stages of the same life - that which is bounded by earth and that which is to be passed with the glorified body in heaven; but they are for the moment regarded as distinct, though intimately connected by belonging to the same personality. And the Lord intimates that any one who avoids bodily death and suffering by compromise of duty, by denying Christ and disowning the truth, shall lose everlasting life. On the other hand, whosoever sacrifices his life for the sake of Christ, to promote his cause, shall save his soul and be eternally rewarded. Shall find it. "Find," as the opposite of "lose," is here equivalent to "save." There may, too, be in it a notion of something great and unexpected, a treasure discovered, "salvation far beyond all that they looked for" (Wisd. 5:2). Says St. Gregory, "If you keep your seed, you lose it; if you sow it, you will find it again" ('Hom. in Evang.,' 32.).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

whoever
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

wants
θέλῃ (thelē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to save
σῶσαι (sōsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.

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
ἀπολέσει (apolesei)
Verb - Future 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
δ’ (d’)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

whoever
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

loses
ἀπολέσῃ (apolesē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 622: From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively.

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.

for My sake
ἕνεκεν (heneken)
Preposition
Strong's 1752: Or heneken hen'-ek-en or heineken hi'-nek-en; of uncertain affinity; on account of.

will find
εὑρήσει (heurēsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

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.

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NT Gospels: Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life (Matt. Mat Mt)