κερδαίνω (kerdainō)
kerdainō
to gain
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb kerdainō means to gain or acquire something valuable. In the New Testament, it appears sixteen times, often in contexts where material profit is weighed against spiritual reality. Jesus uses it to ask what benefit there is in gaining the whole world if one loses their soul (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36). The word highlights a trade-off, suggesting that true gain is not merely accumulation but preservation of what matters most.
Its meaning extends beyond commerce. Paul speaks of gaining Christ as his greatest profit (Philippians 3:8) and adapting himself to win people for the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). In Acts 27:21, it takes on a rare sense of saving or sparing oneself from harm. The root idea is securing an advantage, whether through wise action or divine grace, making it a term rich with practical and theological weight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This word asks us to consider what we truly value. Jesus uses it to highlight a stark choice: gaining everything the world offers while losing what makes us human is a terrible trade. It invites us to look past immediate success and ask if our efforts preserve our souls or drain them.
Paul shows another side of this gain. He became all things to people not for personal status, but to share the gospel. For him, knowing Christ was so valuable that everything else looked like loss by comparison. This shifts our focus from accumulating wealth to acquiring spiritual depth and connecting with others through love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I may win;3×
- I gained2×
- you have gained1×
- will make a profit;1×
- to have incurred1×
- to gain1×
- they will be gained,1×
- he shall gain,1×
- he gained1×
- having gained1×
- gained1×
- I may win1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κερδήσω·4×
- ἐκέρδησεν2×
- ἐκέρδησα2×
- ἐκέρδησας1×
- κερδῆσαί1×
- κερδῆσαι1×
- κερδήσῃ,1×
- κερδήσω,1×
- κερδήσομεν·1×
- κερδήσας1×
- κερδάνω1×
- κερδηθήσονται,1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 16:26
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
This verse sets the ultimate standard by contrasting worldly success with the eternal value of the soul.
-
Philippians 3:8
Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
Paul redefines gain as gaining Christ, treating all other achievements as refuse in comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kerdainō mean in the New Testament?
How is this word different from general words for profit?
Where does this word appear most significantly?
Every Occurrence (16 verses across 8 books)
Matthew 6 verses
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange…
Matthew 18:15“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have…
Matthew 25:16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
Matthew 25:17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
Matthew 25:20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five…
Matthew 25:22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another…