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Luke 17:33

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

KJV

ὃς ἐὰν ζητήσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ περιποιήσασθαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν ἀπολέσει, ζῳογονήσει αὐτήν.

Greek NT

Quicumque quæsierit animam suam salvam facere, perdet illam : et quicumque perdiderit illam, vivificabit eam.

Vulgate

Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

ASV

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

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

10 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
ζητέω
zeteo
verb · 117×
ζωογονέω
zoogoneo
verb · 3×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
περιποιέομαι
peripoieomai
verb · 3×
ψυχή
psuche
noun · 102×
ἀπόλλυμι
apollumi
verb · 90×
ἐάν
ean
conditional · 333×
o
article · 19778×
ὅς
os
relative_pronoun · 1404×

Textual variants

3 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: περιποιήσασθαι | WH/Treg/NIV: περιποιήσασθαι | RP: σῶσαι
  • περιποιήσασθαιSBLGNT
  • περιποιήσασθαιWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • σῶσαιRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
minor
SBLGNT: ὃς δ᾽ ἂν | WH/Treg/NIV: ὃς δ᾽ ἂν | RP: καὶ ὃς ἐὰν
  • ὃς δ᾽ ἂνSBLGNT
  • ὃς δ᾽ ἂνWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • καὶ ὃς ἐὰνRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
notable
SBLGNT: ἀπολέσῃ | Treg/NIV: ἀπολέσῃ | RP: ἀπολέσῃ αὐτὴν | WH: ἀπολέσει
  • ἀπολέσῃSBLGNT
  • ἀπολέσῃTregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ἀπολέσῃ αὐτὴνRobinson-Pierpont
  • ἀπολέσειWestcott-Hort
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Historic Christian voices

4 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§1889Without the help of grace, men would not know how "to discern the often narrow path between the cowardice which gives in to evil, and the violence which under the illusion of fighting evil only makes it worse."13 This is the path of charity, that is, of the love of God and of neighbor. Charity is the greatest social commandment. It respects others and their rights. It requires …

Cross-references

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Matt 10:39 — He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
  • Matt 10:39 — He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
  • Matt 16:25 — For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
  • Matt 16:25 — For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
  • Rev 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