Jesus addresses the apostles.
Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
Because whoever wants to save that self of his destroys it. Whoever, however, loses that self of his for me, this one saves it.
The first verb isn't the "will" of the future tense. It means "to want" or "desire." The KJV gets it wrong; the NIV right. All the verbs here are most likely not the future tense, but the form of possibility, something that might or should happen. However, they don't need a "might" because the "whoever" and the beginning indicates a possibility not a certainty. We don't have this form in English because our "if/when/whoever/whenever" phrases as used to indicate possibilities.
The word translated as "life" is confused with another Greek word that really means "life." This word is also translated as "soul" in the Bible. However, its meaning is more "self." See this article for detail about this word.
The word translated as "lose" is much stronger. It means "destroy" except when referring to lost items.
The choice is destroying ourselves so we can be rescued or rescuing ourselves to be destroyed.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "will" is not a helping verb indicating the future tense.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to save."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "life."
- CW - Confusing Word - This "will" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "life."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "the same" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "their" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "life."
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "their" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "life" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "life."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "this one" is not shown in the English translation.
For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
whosoever -- "Whoever" is from a special construction connecting a pronoun with a conditional particle. Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual person or thing. The verb form is one of possibility, which is assumed in English.
will -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "will" expresses consent and even delight in doing something. It is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English. It means "to consent" and "to be resolved to a purpose." As a participle, it can mean "willingly" and "gladly."
save -- (WF) "Save" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. It is translated as "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue." Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation. This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
his .-- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
life - (CW) The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, translated commonly as "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." It is used for different aspects of "self," the emotional self, the conscious self, the intellectual self. Jesus uses it to mean our identity in our worldly life specifically, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "self," "ego," or our "the person we are." The problem with translating it as "life" is that another common Greek word means "life." The problem with "soul" is that it doesn't work for many verses because the "soul" is separate from the body. It can also be confused with the concept of "spirit." When "self" doesn't work, "person" offers the least confusion. See this article for detail about this word.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
lose -- The word translated as "lose" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves.
it: -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a singular object of a verb or preposition. It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context. The "life" here is feminine.
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
whosoever -- "Whoever" is from a special construction connecting a pronoun with a conditional particle. Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual person or thing. The verb form is one of possibility, which is assumed in English.
will -- (CW) This helping verb "will" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an
"if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
lose -- The word translated as "lose" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves.
his .-- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
life - (CW) The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, translated commonly as "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." It is used for different aspects of "self," the emotional self, the conscious self, the intellectual self. Jesus uses it to mean our identity in our worldly life specifically, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "self," "ego," or our "the person we are." The problem with translating it as "life" is that another common Greek word means "life." The problem with "soul" is that it doesn't work for many verses because the "soul" is separate from the body. It can also be confused with the concept of "spirit." When "self" doesn't work, "person" offers the least confusion. See this article for detail about this word.
for -- "For...sale" is from a preposition that means "on account of," "as far as regards," "in consequence of," and "because." This preposition is usually paired with the noun "sake" in English. The word translated as "sake" means "on account of," "because," and "in consequence of." -- This word completes the meaning of th earlier proposition.
my -- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine.
sake, This completes the meaning of the preposition.
the same -- (CW) "The same" is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one."
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
save -- "Save" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. It is translated as "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue." Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
it: -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a singular object of a verb or preposition. It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context. The "life" here is feminine..
For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
whosoever -- "Whoever" is from a special construction connecting a pronoun with a conditional particle. Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual person or thing. The verb form is one of possibility, which is assumed in English.
wants-- The Greek word translated as "wants" expresses consent and even delight in doing something. It is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English. It means "to consent" and "to be resolved to a purpose." As a participle, it can mean "willingly" and "gladly."
to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.
save -- ( "Save" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. It is translated as "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue." Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation. This is not an active verb but an infinitive.
their -- (WN) The word translated as "their " is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." This word is not plural but singular.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
life - (CW) The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, translated commonly as "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." It is used for different aspects of "self," the emotional self, the conscious self, the intellectual self. Jesus uses it to mean our identity in our worldly life specifically, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "self," "ego," or our "the person we are." The problem with translating it as "life" is that another common Greek word means "life." The problem with "soul" is that it doesn't work for many verses because the "soul" is separate from the body. It can also be confused with the concept of "spirit." When "self" doesn't work, "person" offers the least confusion. See this article for detail about this word.
will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense but its form could also indicate a possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
lose -- The word translated as "lose" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves.
it: -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a singular object of a verb or preposition. It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context. The "life" here is feminine.
but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
whosoever -- "Whoever" is from a special construction connecting a pronoun with a conditional particle. Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual person or thing. The verb form is one of possibility, which is assumed in English.
will -- (CW) This helping verb "will" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an
"if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.
lose -- The word translated as "lose" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves.
their -- (WN) The word translated as "their " is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his." This word is not plural but singular.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
life - (CW) The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, translated commonly as "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." It is used for different aspects of "self," the emotional self, the conscious self, the intellectual self. Jesus uses it to mean our identity in our worldly life specifically, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "self," "ego," or our "the person we are." The problem with translating it as "life" is that another common Greek word means "life." The problem with "soul" is that it doesn't work for many verses because the "soul" is separate from the body. It can also be confused with the concept of "spirit." When "self" doesn't work, "person" offers the least confusion. See this article for detail about this word.
for -- "For" is from a preposition that means "on account of," "as far as regards," "in consequence of," and "because." This preposition is usually paired with the noun "sake" in English. The word translated as "sake" means "on account of," "because," and "in consequence of."
me -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my," "me," and "mine.
missing "this one" -- (MW) The untranslated word is translated from a Greek adjective that means "this," "that," "the nearer." Without a noun, it has the sense of "this one" or "that one."
will -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense or a form that indicates possibility at some time. A "might" or "should" could work here or nothing at all in an "if/when/whoever" clause which implies a possibility. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
save -- "Save" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. It is translated as "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue." Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. This is not the specific meaning of the word in this situation.
it: -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a singular object of a verb or preposition. It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context. The "life" here is feminine..
ὃς [294 verses](pron sg masc nom) "Whoever" is hos an is a special construction, here separated by the "because" that means "that possibly." "whoever" "whatever," or "who if any." It combines the relative pronoun (hos) or the demostrative pronoun (hostis) with the particle of possibility (an). The literal sense is "this one might." Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual. If takes a subjective verb like an "if/when" phrase.
γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."
ἂν [60 verses](particle) "Whoever" (see above) is an, which is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English, but it is translated as "possibly," "would have," "might," "should," and "could." Its meaning is largely determined by the verb form but "would have" is the most common, even when not with a subjunctive verb.
θέλῃ " [64 verses](3rd sg pres subj act) "Willis thelo, which as a verb means "to be willing (of consent rather than desire)," "to wish," "to ordain," "to decree," "to be resolved to a purpose" "to maintain," "to hold," "to delight in, and "will (too express a future event with inanimate objects)." It is a prolonged form (only found in NT) of a verb that means "to be resolved to a purpose" so, in a sense, "to decide," and "to desire." As a participle, it means "being willing" or, adverbially, "willingly," and "gladly." In the Hebrew, "will" or "desire" is chaphets, which means "to delight in," "to take pleasure in," and "to be pleased with."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article. -
ψυχῇ [33 verses](noun sg fem nom) "Life" is psyche, which is translated as "breath," "life," "self," "personality," "spirit," and "soul." It is also used to describe "the spirit" of things. It is also often translated as "soul." -
αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him." This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people. The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men
σῶσαι [25 verse](verb aor inf act) "Save" is sozo (soizo), which means "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue."
ἀπολέσει [43 verses](3rd sg fut ind act or verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "Lose" is apollymi, which means "to demolish," "to lay waste," "to lose" things, "to perish," "to die," "to cease to exist," and "to be undone." Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from."
αὐτὴν [39 verses](adj sg fem acc) "It" is auten, in the form of the singular, object, feminine pronoun "her/it." It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context.
ὃς [294 verses](pron sg masc nom) "Whoever" is hos an is a special construction, here separated by the "but" that means "that possibly." "whoever" "whatever," or "who if any." It combines the relative pronoun (hos) or the demostrative pronoun (hostis) with the particle of possibility (an). The literal sense is "this one might." Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual. If takes a subjective verb like an "if/when" phrase.
δ᾽ [446 verses](conj) "And" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then." It can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
ἂν [60 verses](particle) "Whoever" (see above) is an, which is a particle used with verbs to indicate that the action is limited by circumstances or defined by conditions. There is no exact equivalent in English, but it is translated as "possibly," "would have," "might," "should," and "could." Its meaning is largely determined by the verb form but "would have" is the most common, even when not with a subjunctive verb.
ἀπολέσῃ[43 verses] (3rd sg aor subj act) "Will lose" is apollymi, which means "to demolish," "to lay waste," "to lose" things, "to perish," "to die," "to cease to exist," and "to be undone." Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
ψυχῇ [33 verses](noun sg fem nom) "Life" is psyche, which is translated as "breath," "life," "self," "personality," "spirit," and "soul." It is also used to describe "the spirit" of things. It is also often translated as "soul." -
αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him." This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people. The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.
ἕνεκεν [17 verses](prep ) "For...sake" is heneka, which is the preposition that means "on account of," "as far as regards," "in consequence of," and "because." This preposition is usually paired with the noun "sake" in English.
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else." Usually follows the noun so, "of mine."
οὗτός [83 verses](adj sg masc nom) "The same" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer."
σώσει [25 verse](verb 3rd sg fut ind act or verb 3rd sg aor subj act) "Save" " is sozo (soizo), which means "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue."
αὐτὴν [39 verses](adj sg fem acc) "It" is auten, in the form of the singular, object, feminine pronoun "her/it." It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context. -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a singular object of a verb or preposition. It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context. When used as a noun, it is preceded by a definite article, and it means "the same." As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.