Matthew 10 · Verse 39

Matthew 10:39

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

Matthew 10:39 in other translations

BSBWhoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
WEBHe who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
ASVHe that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
YLT‘He who found his life shall lose it, and he who lost his life for my sake shall find it.
DARBYHe that finds his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it.
BBEHe who has the desire to keep his life will have it taken from him, and he who gives up his life because of me will have it given back to him.
WebsterHe that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.

What does Matthew 10:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
39. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it--another of those pregnant sayings which our Lord so often reiterates (Mt 16:25; Lu 17:33; Joh 12:25). The pith of such paradoxical maxims depends on the double sense attached to the word "life"--a lower and a higher, the natural and the spiritual, the temporal and eternal. An entire sacrifice of the lower, with all its relationships and interests--or, a willingness to make it which is the same thing--is indispensable to the preservation of the higher life; and he who cannot bring himself to surrender the one for the sake of the other shall eventually lose both.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 39. He that findeth his life, etc. The word life in this passage is used evidently in two senses. The meaning may be expressed thus: He that is anxious to save his temporal life, or his comfort and security here, shall lose eternal life; or shall fail of heaven. He that is willing to risk, or lose, his comfort and life here, for my sake, shall find life everlasting; or shall be saved. The manner of speaking is similar to that where he said, "Let the dead bury their dead."

(a) "He that findeth" Mt 16:25

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 He that findeth his life, etc. - i.e. He who, for the sake of his temporal interest, abandons his spiritual concerns, shall lose his soul; and he who, in order to avoid martyrdom, abjures the pure religion of Christ, shall lose his soul, and perhaps his life too. He that findeth his life shall lose it, was literally fulfilled in Archbishop Cranmer. He confessed Christ against the devil, and his eldest son, the pope. He was ordered to be burnt; to save his life he recanted, and was, notwithstanding, burnt. Whatever a man sacrifices to God is never lost, for he finds it again in God. There is a fine piece on this subject in Juvenal, Sat. viii. l. 80, which deserves to be recorded here. - ambiguae si quando citabere testis Incertaeque rei, Phalaris liect imperet ut sis Falsus, et admoto dictet perjuria tauro, Summum crede nefas Animam praeferre Pudori Et propter Vitam Vivendi perdere causas - If ever call'd To give thy witness in a doubtful case, Though Phalaris himself should bid thee lie, On pain of torture in his flaming bull, Disdain to barter innocence for life; To which life owes its lustre and its worth Wakefield

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 10:16-42

Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom…

Read the full comment on Matthew 10:16-42 →

Matthew 10:39 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὁhoThe [one]G3588
εὑρὼνheurōnhaving foundG2147
τὴνtēntheG3588
ψυχὴνpsuchēnlifeG5590
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ἀπολέσειapoleseiwill loseG622
αὐτὴνautēnitG846
καὶkaiandG2532
ὁhothe [one]G3588
ἀπολέσαςapolesashaving lostG622
τὴνtēntheG3588
ψυχὴνpsuchēnlifeG5590
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ἕνεκενhenekenon account ofG1752
ἐμοῦemouMeG1473
εὑρήσειheurēseiwill findG2147
αὐτήν.¶autēnit.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 10:39

  • John 12:25

    He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

  • Mark 8:35-36

    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. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

  • Luke 17:33

    Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

  • Matthew 16:25-26

    For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

  • 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.

  • Revelation 2:10

    Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall 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 a crown of life.

  • Philippians 1:20-21

    According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

  • 2 Timothy 4:6-8

    For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
16:25,26; Mr 8:35,36; Lu 17:33; Joh 12:25; Php 1:20,21
2Ti 4:6-8; Re 2:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 10:38

    And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

  • Matthew 10:39

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

  • Matthew 10:40

    He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Read all of Matthew 10

Matthew 10:39 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que hallare su vida, la perderá; y el que perdiere su vida por causa de mí, la hallará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Celui qui aura trouvé sa vie, la perdra; et celui qui aura perdu sa vie pour l’amour de moi, la trouvera.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer sein Leben findet, wird es verlieren, und wer sein Leben verliert um meinetwillen, wird es finden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui invenit animam suam, perdet illam: et qui perdiderit animam suam propter me, inveniet eam.