Lexical Summary ópheleó: To benefit, to profit, to help Original Word: ὠφελέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance profit, prevailFrom the same as opheleia; to be useful, i.e. To benefit -- advantage, better, prevail, profit. see GREEK opheleia NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ophelos Definition to help, benefit, do good NASB Translation accomplishing (1), benefit (1), benefited (1), doing...good (1), help (2), helped (1), profit (4), profited (1), profits (2), value (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5623: ὠφελέωὠφελέω, ὠφέλω; future ὠφελήσω; 1 aorist ὠφέλησα; passive, present ὠφελοῦμαι; 1 aorist ὠφελήθην; 1 future ὠφεληθήσομαι (Matthew 16:26 L T Tr WH); (ὄφελος); from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; the Sept. for הועִיל; to assist, to be useful or advantageous, to profit: absolutely, Romans 2:25; with the accusative οὐδέν, to be of no use, to effect nothing, Matthew 27:24; John 6:63; John 12:19 (in these examples (John 6:63 excepted) A. V. prevail); τινα, to help or profit one, Hebrews 4:2; τινα τί to help, profit, one in a thing ((but the second accusative is a cognate accusative or the accusative of a neuter adjective or pronoun; cf. Winers Grammar, 227 (213)) so from Herodotus 3, 126 down): οὐδέν τινα, 1 Corinthians 14:6; Galatians 5:2; τί ὠφελήσει (or ὠφελεῖ (τόν)) ἄνθρωπον, ἐάν κτλ.; ((T WH follow with an infinitive)), what will (or 'doth') it profit a man if etc. ((or 'to' etc.))? Mark 8:36; passive, ὠφελοῦμαι, to be helped or profited: Hebrews 13:9; with the accusative μηδέν, Mark 5:26; οὐδέν, 1 Corinthians 13:3; with the accusative of the interrogative τί, Matthew 16:26; Luke 9:25 (here WH marginal reading gives the active); τί ἐκ τίνος (genitive of person), to be profited by one m some particular (cf. Meyer on Matt. as below; ἐκ, II. 5), Matthew 15:5; Mark 7:11. Topical Lexicon Concept of Benefit in Redemptive Context Ὠφελέω expresses the idea of “profit,” “benefit,” or “advantage.” Across its New Testament occurrences the verb consistently measures the true value of actions, rituals, possessions, and words against the standard of eternal life in Christ. The Spirit-inspired writers employ the term to expose empty religiosity, to contrast fleshly gain with spiritual profit, and to affirm that only faith working through love secures lasting advantage. Synoptic Gospels: Eternal Versus Temporal Gain Matthew 15:5 and Mark 7:11 reveal the hollowness of traditions that nullify filial love under the pretense of a vow. What appeared financially advantageous left the heart untouched and therefore “profited” nothing before God. The evangelists sharpen the contrast in the well-known saying reported in Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36, and Luke 9:25. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). The question leaves no middle ground: worldly acquisition cannot offset eternal loss. Mark 5:26 provides a narrative illustration. The hemorrhaging woman “had spent all she had, but to no avail,” underscoring that human resources are powerless until Christ intervenes. John’s Gospel: Flesh Versus Spirit In John 6:63 Jesus declares, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” Here ὠφελέω distinguishes between Spirit-empowered life and the impotence of mere physical existence. John 12:19 shows the same word on the lips of frustrated Pharisees—“You can see that this is doing you no good”—highlighting the futility of resisting God’s sovereign purpose. Pauline Letters: Faith-Filled Practice and True Advantage Galatians 5:2 warns that ritual circumcision sought as a means of justification leaves one bereft of Christ’s saving benefit: “Christ will be of no value to you at all.” Romans 2:25 concedes a limited usefulness to circumcision—“if you observe the law”—yet simultaneously testifies that transgression cancels the benefit, pressing readers toward the obedience of faith. 1 Corinthians applies ὀφελέω to spiritual gifts and sacrificial deeds. “What good will I be to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?” (1 Corinthians 14:6). Even the most heroic generosity is emptied of benefit without love: “I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). The value of ministry is measured not by spectacle but by edification rooted in love. Epistle to the Hebrews: The Efficacy of Faith Hebrews 4:2 recalls Israel’s wilderness generation: the gospel “was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.” Later the writer cautions against exotic dietary regulations, noting that such practices “have not benefited those who do so” (Hebrews 13:9). In both cases lack of wholehearted trust renders even divinely instituted forms ineffective. Theological Themes 1. Profit Defined by Union with Christ. Every occurrence either assumes or states that true advantage flows from relationship with the Lord, never from external observance. Historical and Patristic Reflection Early church fathers seized on the contrast between worldly and eternal profit. Ignatius urged the church at Rome to avoid actions that would “profit” him nothing if they hindered his martyrdom. Chrysostom, preaching on Matthew 16:26, stressed that earthly goods are advantageous only when employed for charity, echoing Paul’s insistence on love as the determining factor of usefulness. Practical Ministry Implications • Evaluate programs, traditions, and expenditures by their capacity to foster faith, obedience, and love. Summary Ὠφελέω stands as a continual reminder that genuine profit is measured not by human standards but by conformity to Christ, reception of the gospel in faith, and the outworking of love. All else, however impressive, “profits nothing.” Forms and Transliterations ωφελει ωφελεί ὠφελεῖ ωφελειται ωφελείται ὠφελεῖται ωφελειτε ὠφελεῖτε ωφεληείται ωφεληθεισα ωφεληθείσα ὠφεληθεῖσα ωφεληθήναι ωφεληθης ωφεληθής ὠφεληθῇς ωφεληθησαν ὠφελήθησαν ωφεληθήσεσθε ωφεληθησεται ὠφεληθήσεται ωφεληθήσονται ωφέλημα ωφέλησέ ωφελησει ωφελήσει ὠφελήσει ωφελησεν ωφέλησεν ὠφέλησεν ωφελήσουσι ωφελήσουσί ωφελήσουσιν ωφελησω ὠφελήσω ωφελουμαι ωφελούμαι ὠφελοῦμαι ophelei opheleî ōphelei ōpheleî opheleitai opheleîtai ōpheleitai ōpheleîtai opheleite opheleîte ōpheleite ōpheleîte ophelesei ophelḗsei ōphelēsei ōphelḗsei ophelesen ophélesen ōphelēsen ōphélēsen opheleso ophelḗso ōphelēsō ōphelḗsō ophelethêis ōphelēthē̂is opheletheisa opheletheîsa ōphelētheisa ōphelētheîsa ophelethes ōphelēthēs ophelethesan ophelḗthesan ōphelēthēsan ōphelḗthēsan ophelethesetai ophelethḗsetai ōphelēthēsetai ōphelēthḗsetai opheloumai opheloûmai ōpheloumai ōpheloûmaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 15:5 V-ASP-2SGRK: ἐξ ἐμοῦ ὠφεληθῇς NAS: I have that would help you has been given KJV: whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; INT: by me you might be profited Matthew 16:26 V-FIP-3S Matthew 27:24 V-PIA-3S Mark 5:26 V-APP-NFS Mark 7:11 V-ASP-2S Mark 8:36 V-PIA-3S Luke 9:25 V-PIM/P-3S John 6:63 V-PIA-3S John 12:19 V-PIA-2P Romans 2:25 V-PIA-3S 1 Corinthians 13:3 V-PIM/P-1S 1 Corinthians 14:6 V-FIA-1S Galatians 5:2 V-FIA-3S Hebrews 4:2 V-AIA-3S Hebrews 13:9 V-AIP-3P Strong's Greek 5623 |
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