For what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole world,
&c.] Or what profit will it be unto him? all the honours, riches, and enjoyments of it will be of no use and service to him if he himself is lost:
and lose himself;
or his own soul; for he that loses his soul, which is his better and immortal part, loses himself:
or be cast away:
finally, and eternally, or "suffer loss" of eternal happiness and glory; that is, perishes, and is destroyed with an everlasting destruction; (See Gill on Matthew 16:26).