Mark 8:37

37 Or what shall a man give as an exchange for his life?

Mark 8:37 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 8:37

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
] To deliver it out of its miserable state and condition; all the riches of the world, and the whole world itself, are not an equivalent to it, or a sufficient ransom for it; riches will not profit in the day of wrath, or deliver a soul from damnation, and ruin: wherefore, if he had the whole world, he could not redeem his soul with it; and he has nothing else to give for it, and therefore it is past all recovery: (See Gill on Matthew 16:26).

Mark 8:37 In-Context

35 for whoever may will to save his life shall lose it; and whoever may lose his life for my sake and for the good news' sake, he shall save it;

36 for what shall it profit a man, if he may gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?

37 Or what shall a man give as an exchange for his life?

38 for whoever may be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also shall be ashamed of him, when he may come in the glory of his Father, with the holy messengers.'