What Does Mark 8:36 Mean?

“what”

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

“For”

properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)

“shall it profit”

to be useful, i.e., to benefit

“a man”

man-faced, i.e., a human being

“if”

a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty

“he shall gain”

to gain (literally or figuratively)

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

“world”

orderly arrangement, i.e., decoration; by implication, the world (including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally))

“the whole”

"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb

“and”

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

“lose”

to injure, i.e., (reflexively or passively) to experience detriment

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

“soul”

breath, i.e., (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from g4151, wh

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons