"to gain as a matter of profit, Mt. 25:17; to win, acquire possession of, Mt. 16:26; to profit in the avoidance of, to avoid, Acts 27:21; in NT Χριστόν, to win Christ, to become possessed of the privileges of the Gospel, Phil. 3:8; to win over from estrangement, Mt. 18:15; to win ..."
Definition and meaning
to gain as a matter of profit, Mt. 25:17; to win, acquire possession of, Mt. 16:26; to profit in the avoidance of, to avoid, Acts 27:21; in NT Χριστόν, to win Christ, to become possessed of the privileges of the Gospel, Phil. 3:8; to win over from estrangement, Mt. 18:15; to win over to embrace the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9:19, 20, 21, 22; 1 Pet. 3:1; absol. to make gain, Jas. 4:13
In the original Greek the word is written: κερδαίνω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kerdaino (G2770) across the King James Bible.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
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Common questions
Strong's G2770 (kerdaino) is a Greek word that means: to gain as a matter of profit, Mt. 25:17; to win, acquire possession of, Mt. 16:26; to profit in the avoidance of, to avoid, Acts 27:21; in NT Χριστόν, to win Christ, to become possessed of the privil... It appears 15 times in the King James Bible.
The word kerdaino (G2770) appears 15 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2770 is kerdaino, a Greek word defined as: to gain as a matter of profit, Mt. 25:17; to win, acquire possession of, Mt. 16:26; to profit in the avoidance of, to avoid, Acts 27:21; in NT Χριστόν. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kerdaino is a Greek word found in the New Testament.