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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/12-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/43_Jhn_12_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 12:25 - Jesus Predicts His Death" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/john/12-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/john/12-25.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/john/">John</a> > <a href="/john/12.htm">Chapter 12</a> > Verse 25</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/12-24.htm" title="John 12:24">◄</a> John 12:25 <a href="/john/12-26.htm" title="John 12:26">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/12.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/12.htm">New International Version</a> Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. <a href="/nlt/john/12.htm">New Living Translation</a> Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. <a href="/esv/john/12.htm">English Standard Version</a> Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. <a href="/bsb/john/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. <a href="/blb/john/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> The one loving his life loses it, and the one hating his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. <a href="/kjv/john/12.htm">King James Bible</a> He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. <a href="/nkjv/john/12.htm">New King James Version</a> He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. <a href="/nasb_/john/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. <a href="/nasb/john/12.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. <a href="/nasb77/john/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. <a href="/lsb/john/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. <a href="/amp/john/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a> The one who loves his life [eventually] loses it [through death], but the one who hates his life in this world [and is concerned with pleasing God] will keep it for life eternal. <a href="/csb/john/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. <a href="/hcsb/john/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. <a href="/asv/john/12.htm">American Standard Version</a> He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. <a href="/cev/john/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. <a href="/erv/john/12.htm">English Revised Version</a> He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. <a href="/gwt/john/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Those who love their lives will destroy them, and those who hate their lives in this world will guard them for everlasting life. <a href="/gnt/john/12.htm">Good News Translation</a> Those who love their own life will lose it; those who hate their own life in this world will keep it for life eternal. <a href="/isv/john/12.htm">International Standard Version</a> The one who loves his life will destroy it, and the one who hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. <a href="/msb/john/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. <a href="/net/john/12.htm">NET Bible</a> The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. <a href="/nheb/john/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to everlasting life. <a href="/wbt/john/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it to life eternal. <a href="/wey/john/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> He who holds his life dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it to the Life of the Ages. <a href="/web/john/12.htm">World English Bible</a> He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> he who is cherishing his life will lose it, and he who is hating his life in this world will keep it to continuous life; <a href="/blb/john/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> The one loving his life loses it, and the one hating his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. <a href="/ylt/john/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> he who is loving his life shall lose it, and he who is hating his life in this world -- to life age-during shall keep it; <a href="/slt/john/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> He loving his soul shall lose it; but he hating his soul in this world, shall guard it for life eternal.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. <a href="/cpdv/john/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit. Whoever loves his life, will lose it. And whoever hates his life in this world, preserves it unto eternal life. <a href="/nabre/john/12.htm">New American Bible</a> Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. <a href="/nrsvce/john/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> He who loves his life will lose it; and he who has no concern for his life in this world will keep it unto life eternal. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/12.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “Whoever loves his life shall destroy it and whoever hates his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/12.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to eternal life. <a href="/godbey/john/12.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>The one loving his soul shall lose it; but the one that hateth his soul in this world will preserve it unto eternal life.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/john/12.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, shall preserve it to life eternal. <a href="/mace/john/12.htm">Mace New Testament</a> he that loveth his life, shall lose it: but he that sacrifices his life in this world, shall preserve it to eternity. <a href="/wey/john/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> He who holds his life dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it to the Life of the Ages. <a href="/worrell/john/12.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>He who loves his soul loses it; and he who hates his soul in this world will keep it unto life eternal.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/john/12.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> So<FR> he, that loveth his life, shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, shall preserve it unto life eternal.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/john/12-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=4532" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/12.htm">Jesus Predicts His Death</a> …24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25<a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">Whoever</a> <a href="/greek/5368.htm" title="5368: philōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. Have affection for; specially, to kiss.">loves</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5590.htm" title="5590: psychēn (N-AFS) -- From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.">life</a> <a href="/greek/622.htm" title="622: apollyei (V-PIA-3S) -- From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively.">will lose</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autēn (PPro-AF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">it,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">but</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">whoever</a> <a href="/greek/3404.htm" title="3404: misōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- To hate, detest, love less, esteem less. From a primary misos; to detest; by extension, to love less.">hates</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5590.htm" title="5590: psychēn (N-AFS) -- From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.">life</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: toutō (DPro-DMS) -- This; he, she, it. ">this</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tō (Art-DMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2889.htm" title="2889: kosmō (N-DMS) -- Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).">world</a> <a href="/greek/5442.htm" title="5442: phylaxei (V-FIA-3S) -- Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid.">will keep</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autēn (PPro-AF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">it</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">for</a> <a href="/greek/166.htm" title="166: aiōnion (Adj-AFS) -- From aion; perpetual.">eternal</a> <a href="/greek/2222.htm" title="2222: zōēn (N-AFS) -- Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.">life.</a> 26If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/10-39.htm">Matthew 10:39</a> Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. <a href="/luke/9-24.htm">Luke 9:24</a> For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. <a href="/mark/8-35.htm">Mark 8:35</a> For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. <a href="/matthew/16-25.htm">Matthew 16:25</a> For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. <a href="/luke/17-33.htm">Luke 17:33</a> Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. <a href="/john/12-24.htm">John 12:24</a> Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. <a href="/john/15-13.htm">John 15:13</a> Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. <a href="/philippians/1-21.htm">Philippians 1:21</a> For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. <a href="/matthew/19-29.htm">Matthew 19:29</a> And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. <a href="/romans/8-13.htm">Romans 8:13</a> For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. <a href="/galatians/2-20.htm">Galatians 2:20</a> I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. <a href="/2_timothy/2-11.htm">2 Timothy 2:11</a> This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; <a href="/revelation/12-11.htm">Revelation 12:11</a> They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death. <a href="/1_john/3-16.htm">1 John 3:16</a> By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. <a href="/colossians/3-3.htm">Colossians 3:3-4</a> For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. / When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.that loveth.<a href="/matthew/10-39.htm">Matthew 10:39</a> He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.<a href="/matthew/16-25.htm">Matthew 16:25</a> For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.<a href="/matthew/19-29.htm">Matthew 19:29</a> And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.hateth.<a href="/genesis/29-30.htm">Genesis 29:30-33</a> And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years… <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-17.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:17</a> Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.<a href="/luke/14-26.htm">Luke 14:26</a> If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/12-11.htm">Account</a> <a href="/john/10-28.htm">Age-During</a> <a href="/john/10-28.htm">Ages</a> <a href="/john/10-13.htm">Care</a> <a href="/john/11-36.htm">Dear</a> <a href="/luke/19-47.htm">Destroying</a> <a href="/john/10-28.htm">Eternal</a> <a href="/john/7-7.htm">Hates</a> <a href="/john/7-7.htm">Hateth</a> <a href="/luke/19-14.htm">Hating</a> <a href="/john/4-37.htm">Holds</a> <a href="/john/12-6.htm">Love</a> <a href="/john/10-17.htm">Loves</a> <a href="/john/5-20.htm">Loveth</a> <a href="/john/8-36.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/john/12-19.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/12-27.htm">Account</a> <a href="/john/17-2.htm">Age-During</a> <a href="/john/12-50.htm">Ages</a> <a href="/john/17-12.htm">Care</a> <a href="/john/13-23.htm">Dear</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/10-10.htm">Destroying</a> <a href="/john/12-50.htm">Eternal</a> <a href="/john/15-18.htm">Hates</a> <a href="/john/15-18.htm">Hateth</a> <a href="/john/15-23.htm">Hating</a> <a href="/john/16-27.htm">Holds</a> <a href="/john/13-34.htm">Love</a> <a href="/john/14-21.htm">Loves</a> <a href="/john/14-21.htm">Loveth</a> <a href="/john/13-24.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/john/12-31.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">John 12</div>1. <a href="/john/12-1.htm">Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet.</a> 9. <a href="/john/12-9.htm">The people flock to see Lazarus.</a> 10. <a href="/john/12-10.htm">The chief priests consult to kill him.</a> 12. <a href="/john/12-12.htm">Jesus rides into Jerusalem.</a> 20. <a href="/john/12-20.htm">Greeks desire to see Jesus.</a> 23. <a href="/john/12-23.htm">He foretells his death.</a> 37. <a href="/john/12-37.htm">The people are generally blinded;</a> 42. <a href="/john/12-42.htm">yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him;</a> 44. <a href="/john/12-44.htm">therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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The concept of "loving one's life" can be understood as prioritizing personal desires, comfort, and worldly success over spiritual growth and obedience to God. This teaching aligns with Jesus' earlier statements in the Synoptic Gospels (<a href="/matthew/10-39.htm">Matthew 10:39</a>, <a href="/mark/8-35.htm">Mark 8:35</a>, <a href="/luke/9-24.htm">Luke 9:24</a>) where He speaks of losing one's life for His sake to truly find it. The idea reflects the call to self-denial and the willingness to sacrifice personal ambitions for the sake of the Gospel.but whoever hates his life in this world The term "hates" here is not to be understood as a call to self-loathing but rather as a hyperbolic expression to indicate the prioritization of spiritual values over earthly ones. In the cultural context of the time, "hate" could mean to love less or to choose one thing over another. This phrase challenges believers to view their earthly life as secondary to their spiritual life. The "world" in this context refers to the present age and its values, which are often in opposition to God's kingdom. This teaching is consistent with the call to be in the world but not of it (<a href="/john/17-14.htm">John 17:14-16</a>).will keep it for eternal life The promise of "eternal life" is central to the Christian faith, representing not just an unending existence but a quality of life in communion with God. This phrase assures believers that by prioritizing their spiritual life and aligning with God's will, they secure their place in the eternal kingdom. The concept of eternal life is a recurring theme in John's Gospel (<a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a>, <a href="/john/5-24.htm">John 5:24</a>, <a href="/john/17-3.htm">John 17:3</a>), emphasizing the transformative relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This assurance of eternal life is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the hope of resurrection and life beyond death.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing His disciples and the crowd, teaching them about the cost of true discipleship and the paradox of life and death in the Kingdom of God. 2. <a href="/topical/d/disciples.htm">Disciples</a> The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, they are being prepared for the reality of following Christ, which involves self-denial and a willingness to sacrifice earthly attachments. 3. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The location where Jesus is speaking, during the time leading up to His crucifixion. This context is crucial as Jesus is foreshadowing His own death and resurrection. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_crowd.htm">The Crowd</a> Includes both Jews and Greeks who were present, representing a broader audience beyond just the disciples, indicating the universal call to discipleship. 5. <a href="/topical/e/eternal_life.htm">Eternal Life</a> The ultimate promise and reward for those who follow Jesus' teaching, contrasting with the temporary nature of earthly life.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_paradox_of_life_and_death.htm">The Paradox of Life and Death</a> Jesus teaches that true life is found in self-denial and surrender. To "hate" one's life is to prioritize eternal values over temporal ones. <a href="/topical/e/eternal_perspective.htm">Eternal Perspective</a> Believers are called to live with an eternal perspective, valuing eternal life over temporary pleasures and comforts. <a href="/topical/c/cost_of_discipleship.htm">Cost of Discipleship</a> Following Jesus requires a willingness to sacrifice personal desires and ambitions for the sake of the Gospel. <a href="/topical/t/transformation_through_christ.htm">Transformation through Christ</a> Embracing this teaching leads to a transformed life, where one's identity and purpose are rooted in Christ rather than worldly pursuits. <a href="/topical/l/living_for_god's_glory.htm">Living for God's Glory</a> The ultimate goal is to live a life that glorifies God, reflecting His love and truth in a world that often opposes His values.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 12</a> <a href="/q/what_does_'loving_life,_losing_it'_mean.htm">What does "loving life leads to losing it" mean?</a> <a href="/q/who_was_hushai_in_the_bible.htm">What does 'loving life leads to losing it' mean?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_eternal_life.htm">What defines eternal life?</a> <a href="/q/bible_miracle_examples.htm">What does the Bible teach about hate?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25) He that loveth his life shall lose it.--The reading here is uncertain, and may be, perhaps with slightly more probability is, He that loveth his life loses it--i.e., that the loss of life is not in the future only, but that in the present, in every moment when a man loves and seeks to save his own life, he is then, and by that very seeking, actually losing it.The words of this verse are familiar to us from the earlier Gospels, and have been explained in Notes on <a href="/matthew/10-39.htm" title="He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.">Matthew 10:39</a>; <a href="/matthew/16-25.htm" title="For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.">Matthew 16:25</a>; <a href="/mark/8-35.htm" title="For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.">Mark 8:35</a>; <a href="/luke/9-24.htm" title="For whoever will save his life shall lose it: but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.">Luke 9:24</a>; <a href="/luke/17-33.htm" title="Whoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.">Luke 17:33</a>. The disciples had heard them laid down as the law of their own life and work. They now hear the mysterious words again, and they are asserted as the law to which even His life is submitted. There is even in His human nature a physical and emotional life which would shrink from sacrifice and death (<a href="/john/12-27.htm" title="Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I to this hour.">John 12:27</a>; comp. Note on <a href="/matthew/26-39.htm" title="And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.">Matthew 26:39</a>), but in self-sacrifice and death is His own glory and the life of the world. There is in all human nature a principle which would seek as the highest good the life of the body and of the soul, as distinct from the higher life of the spirit, and would shrink from sacrifice and death; but the true principle of life is of the spirit, and only in the sacrifice of the desires of the lower physical and emotional life is that spiritual life realised. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 25, 26. - The Lord here introduces a solemn, almost oracular utterance, which proves how close and intimate is the relationship between the synoptics and the Fourth Gospel. On several great occasions our Lord has impressed this law of the Spirit of life upon his disciples. Thus in <a href="/matthew/10-37.htm">Matthew 10:37-39</a>, in the lengthened commission given to the twelve, after calling on his followers to place his own claim on their affection as greater than that of father, mother, friend, and calling for self-sacrifice, and self-crucifixion, he said, "He that findeth his life (ψυχὴ) shall lose it: he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Again (<a href="/matthew/16-25.htm">Matthew 16:25</a>, etc.), after rebuking Peter for his unwillingness to recognize the necessity and significance of the killing of "the Son of the living God," he laid down the same law once more, calling for self-denial and daily cross-bearing, and adds, "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." So also <a href="/luke/9-23.htm">Luke 9:23</a>, etc. Luke (<a href="/luke/15-26.htm">Luke 15:26</a>) also introduces the same solemn aphorism in our Lord's discourse concerning the close of the Jewish national life. Surely here he is applying to his own case the law of the Divine life which he had shown to be universal, and of which he was on the point of giving the crowning and climacteric expression. He does it with amplifications and a supply of motives. If life be regarded as an end in itself; if it be treated as complete when rounded with its own individuality; if life shrink from sacrifice, if it "love itself," and will at all hazards preserve itself; if the natural and instinctive fear of death, and instinct of self-preservation, become a self-idolatry; - that life will "abide alone." If it sacrifice itself for higher ends than self; if it regard the higher end as more valuable than itself; if it lose itself in the object to which it is consecrated; if it be content to "die;" - it abideth no longer "alone," but "bringeth forth much fruit." Verse 25. - He that loves his own life (ψυχή); life used as equivalent to "self," in that totality of being which, like the life of the seed-corn, survives the accident of death - he that loves his own life (self) is losing it; or, perhaps, destroying it, ipso facto. There are ends and objects of love so much greater than" the self," that to keep it by some act of will and recreant fear is to make it utterly valueless, is really to destroy its true vitality. And he that hateth his (ψυχή) life (self) in this world, wherever the greater claim of Christ and of the Father would be compromised by loving it, shall veritably preserve it, viz. the self, unto eternal (ζωή) life; i.e. to the blessedness of eternal being. The ψυχή is a great possession; and "what advantageth a man if he should gain the whole world, and lose it?" But if a man persists in gaining the world, and forgets that this earthly existence is not capable of satisfying the demands or finding a sphere for the true self, and so makes the earthly reign or enjoyment of the ψυχή the end of all striving, - then he miserably fails. So far it is clear that our Lord is applying a great principle of the true life to the case of his own Messianic work and ministry. He draws, from a law of the superiority of the Divine life to the fear of death and to the fact of death, a justification of his own approaching doom. He can only by dying live his perfect life, win his greatest triumph; reap his world-wide harvest. <a href="/commentaries/john/12-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Whoever ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. loves φιλῶν (philōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5368.htm">Strong's 5368: </a> From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. Have affection for; specially, to kiss. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. life ψυχὴν (psychēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5590.htm">Strong's 5590: </a> From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely. will lose ἀπολλύει (apollyei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_622.htm">Strong's 622: </a> From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively. it, αὐτήν (autēn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. [but] καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. whoever ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. hates μισῶν (misōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3404.htm">Strong's 3404: </a> To hate, detest, love less, esteem less. From a primary misos; to detest; by extension, to love less. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. life ψυχὴν (psychēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5590.htm">Strong's 5590: </a> From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely. in ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. this τούτῳ (toutō) Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. world κόσμῳ (kosmō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2889.htm">Strong's 2889: </a> Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally). will keep φυλάξει (phylaxei) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5442.htm">Strong's 5442: </a> Probably from phule through the idea of isolation; to watch, i.e. Be on guard; by implication, to preserve, obey, avoid. it αὐτήν (autēn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. for εἰς (eis) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. eternal αἰώνιον (aiōnion) Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_166.htm">Strong's 166: </a> From aion; perpetual. life. ζωὴν (zōēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2222.htm">Strong's 2222: </a> Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/12-25.htm">John 12:25 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/12-25.htm">NT Gospels: John 12:25 He who loves his life will lose (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/12-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 12:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 12:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/12-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 12:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 12:26" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>