Mark 8 37

Mark 8:37 kjv

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:37 nkjv

Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:37 niv

Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Mark 8:37 esv

For what can a man give in return for his soul?

Mark 8:37 nlt

Is anything worth more than your soul?

Mark 8 verses

Mark 8 37 Meaning

Mark 8:37 poses a profound rhetorical question, immediately following Jesus' assertion about the worthlessness of gaining the whole world while forfeiting one's soul. This verse underscores the immeasurable and non-negotiable value of a human soul or eternal life. It emphatically declares that no earthly possession, no amount of wealth, power, or achievement, can serve as an adequate substitute or ransom once one's soul—meaning one's true life, spiritual being, and eternal destiny—is lost or compromised for temporal gains. The verse highlights the ultimate, non-replaceable nature of eternal well-being over any worldly equivalent.

Mark 8 37 Context

Mark 8:37 is situated within a pivotal section of Jesus' ministry. It immediately follows Jesus' first explicit prediction of His suffering, death, and resurrection (Mark 8:31), a prediction that Peter vehemently rebuked, earning him Jesus' sharp retort, "Get behind me, Satan!" (Mark 8:33). This dramatic confrontation sets the stage for Jesus to call both His disciples and the surrounding crowd to Him, delivering a crucial teaching on the nature of true discipleship (Mark 8:34-38).

The preceding verse, Mark 8:36, asks rhetorically what profit it is for a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul. Verse 37 acts as a reinforcing question, driving home the ultimate, non-negotiable value of the soul by asserting that absolutely nothing can compensate for its loss once forfeited. This teaching fundamentally challenges the prevalent values of the Greco-Roman world, which prioritized honor, wealth, and worldly success, and redirects focus to eternal realities and the radical commitment required of those who would follow Christ. It establishes the cost of genuine discipleship, which entails self-denial and cross-bearing (Mark 8:34) and makes clear that one's eternal destiny outweighs any temporal gain.

Mark 8 37 Word analysis

• Or (ἢ - ē): A conjunction used here to introduce a second rhetorical question, intensifying the previous one. It emphasizes the alternative and reinforces the lack of any possible satisfactory answer.
• what (τί - ti): An interrogative pronoun, signaling a question seeking identification of something. In this rhetorical context, it implies an absolute "nothing" or "no possible thing" that could fulfill the role.
• will a man (ἄνθρωπος - anthrōpos): Refers generically to any human being, making the statement universally applicable. It highlights that this principle applies to all people, regardless of their status or wealth.
• give (δώσει - dōsei): Future active indicative of the verb didōmi, meaning "to give," "to pay," or "to grant." It implies an act of transaction or compensation in the future.
• in exchange for (ἀντάλλαγμα - antallagma): This noun is a critical term, appearing only here and in Matthew 16:26 (the parallel passage). It signifies "that which is given in exchange for something else," "a counter-purchase," "a substitute," or "a ransom price." Its usage highlights the concept of a proportional trade or recompense. The powerful point is that no equivalent or greater value exists in the earthly realm to trade for a lost soul.
• his soul (τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ - tēs psychēs autou):
  • ψυχῆς (psychēs): Genitive singular of ψυχή (psychē). In biblical Greek, psychē can denote breath, life, a living being, the self, the personality, the seat of emotions and will, and importantly, the life principle that is immortal or capable of eternal destiny. In this context, it most profoundly signifies one's ultimate self, the entirety of one's being and identity that endures beyond physical death, representing eternal destiny and conscious existence with or without God.
  • αὐτοῦ (autou): A genitive possessive pronoun, "his" or "of himself," emphasizing that it is one's own unique and invaluable eternal self that is at stake. The choice, and its eternal consequences, directly impact the individual.

Mark 8 37 Bonus section

• The rhetorical structure of the question strongly implies that the answer is "nothing." It underscores the irreplaceable nature of one's eternal self.
• This verse directly sets up the ultimate answer to the question of "ransom" found elsewhere in the New Testament: humanity cannot provide it, but Christ gives Himself as the ransom for all.
• The "loss of soul" mentioned in Mark 8:36-37 implies not annihilation, but forfeiture of eternal communion with God, leading to eternal separation or destruction.
• The passage reveals the radical and exclusive claim of Jesus: to truly gain life, one must surrender one's psuchē (life/self) entirely to Him. There is no other path or currency for salvation.

Mark 8 37 Commentary

Mark 8:37 delivers a sharp, conclusive blow to any illusion that worldly gains can be prioritized over spiritual well-being. It's a stark warning: having forfeited one's soul through neglect, rejection of Christ, or pursuit of temporary worldly treasures, there is nothing in creation of comparable worth to buy it back. The question is rhetorical because the answer is definitively "nothing." No material possession, no social standing, no amount of fame or pleasure can offset the eternal loss of one's truest self. This verse implies that human effort or wealth is utterly incapable of salvaging a lost eternal destiny. The very presence of this unanswerable question points to the only solution God provides: the unique and costly ransom of His Son, Jesus Christ, who alone possesses the ultimate currency (His life and blood) to redeem souls that fallen humanity cannot save. It urges an absolute reorientation of values, placing eternal life through Christ above all else.