verb
kerdainamō
Strong’sG2770
I gain, win, avoid loss
stem kerdain-17 times in the New Testamentin 8 of 27 books9 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Gain, profit, or acquire: to get something as a benefit or reward. This applies literally to gaining goods, money, or material things 1234, and figuratively to gaining a person – winning someone over, for example bringing them to right conduct or belief 13. It also covers gaining the whole world, in the sense of the greatest possible profit 1. Used without an object, it means to make a profit or get some advantage generally, as in business dealings 13.
Avoid or escape loss, in a figurative sense: to save oneself from harm or damage rather than to acquire something positive 1234. This sense appears in the account of avoiding injury and loss on a sea voyage 1, and covers the idea of sparing oneself trouble or harm 3.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
** κερδαίνω,
[in Sm.: Jb 22:3*;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2770 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidker-dah'-ee-no
to gain (literally or figuratively)
Fromfrom G2771;
King James(get) gain, win.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
future - ᾰνῶ Refs 5th c.BC+; Ionic dialect -ανέω Refs 5th c.BC+; κερδήσω NT+5th c.BC+: aorist 1 ἐκέρδᾱνα Refs 5th c.BC+ codices, etc.; Ionic dialect -ηνα Refs 8th c.BC+: perfect κεκέρδαγκα Refs 4th c.BC+:— passive, aorist participle κερδανθείς Refs 1st c.BC+: perfect κεκερδημένος Refs 1st c.AD+: (κέρδος):—gain, derive profit or advantage, κακὰ κ. make unfair gains, Refs 8th c.BC+; τί κερδαν; what shall I gain? Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. τινί gain by a thing, Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. λόγον win fame, Refs 5th c.BC+; χρηστὰ κ. ἔπη receive fair words, Refs 5th c.BC+: with participle, gain by doing.., εἰ δὲ κερδανῶ λέγων Refs 5th c.BC+; Μεγάροισι κερδανέομεν περιεοῦσι we shall gain by Megara's preservation, Refs 5th c.BC+; also κ. ὅτι.. Refs 5th c.BC+ —passive, τὰ κερδανθέντα Phld. [prev. cited]
2 absolutely, make profit, gain advantage, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐξ ἅπαντος, ἀπὸ παντός, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to τὸ τιμᾶσθαι, Refs 5th c.BC+; traffic, make merchandise, Refs 5th c.BC+
II in bad sense, reap disadvantage from a thing, διπλᾶ δάκρυα κ. Refs 5th c.BC+
III save or spare oneself, avoid, μεγάλα κακά NT+4th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| kerdainaniκερδήσομεν | will happen · wefuture active indicative 1st person plural | make a profit | 1× |
| kerdainiliκερδηθήσονται | will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural | won | 1× |
| kerdainamaἐκέρδησα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | gained | 2× |
| kerdainasaἐκέρδησας | happened · youaorist active indicative 2nd person singular | gained | 1× |
| kerdainataἐκέρδησεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | gained | 2× |
| kerdainameiaκερδήσω | happened · Iaorist active subjunctive 1st person singular | win | 6× |
| kerdainateiaκερδήσῃ | happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular | gains | 1× |
| kerdainaraκερδῆσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | gain | 2× |
| kerdainarantosκερδήσας | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine | gains | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 7 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainamō | kerdainame | kerdainami | kerdainama2×ἐκέρδησα | kerdainamē | kerdainamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainasō | kerdainase | kerdainasi | kerdainasa1×ἐκέρδησας | kerdainasē | kerdainaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainatō | kerdainate | kerdainati | kerdainata2×ἐκέρδησεν | kerdainatē | kerdainatelē |
| we 1st person plural | kerdainanō | kerdainane | kerdainani1×κερδήσομεν | kerdainana | kerdainanē | kerdainanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainavō | kerdainave | kerdainavi | kerdainava | kerdainavē | kerdainavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainalō | kerdainale | kerdainali | kerdainala | kerdainalē | kerdainalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainomō | kerdainome | kerdainomē | kerdainomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainosō | kerdainose | kerdainosē | kerdainoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainotō | kerdainote | kerdainotē | kerdainotelē |
| we 1st person plural | kerdainonō | kerdainone | kerdainonē | kerdainonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainovō | kerdainove | kerdainovē | kerdainovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainolō | kerdainole | kerdainolē | kerdainolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainimi | kerdainima |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainisi | kerdainisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainiti | kerdainita |
| we 1st person plural | kerdainini | kerdainina |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainivi | kerdainiva |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainili1×κερδηθήσονται | kerdainila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 7 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainameiō | kerdainameia6×κερδήσω | kerdainameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainaseiō | kerdainaseia | kerdainaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainateiō | kerdainateia1×κερδήσῃ | kerdainateiē |
| we 1st person plural | kerdainaneiō | kerdainaneia | kerdainaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainaveiō | kerdainaveia | kerdainaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainaleiō | kerdainaleia | kerdainaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainomeiō | kerdainomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainoseiō | kerdainoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainoteiō | kerdainoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | kerdainoneiō | kerdainoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainoveiō | kerdainoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainoleiō | kerdainoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainiseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainiteia |
| we 1st person plural | kerdainineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainiveia |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainasōr | kerdainasar | kerdainasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainatōr | kerdainatar | kerdainatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainavōr | kerdainavar | kerdainavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainalōr | kerdainalar | kerdainalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainosōr | kerdainosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainotōr | kerdainotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainovōr | kerdainovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainolōr | kerdainolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainivar |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainamoiō | kerdainamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainasoiō | kerdainasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainatoiō | kerdainatoia |
| we 1st person plural | kerdainanoiō | kerdainanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainavoiō | kerdainavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainaloiō | kerdainaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | kerdainonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kerdainimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kerdainisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kerdainitoia |
| we 1st person plural | kerdaininoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kerdainivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | kerdainiloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | kerdainarō | kerdainari | kerdainara2×κερδῆσαι | kerdainarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | kerdainorō | kerdainorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | kerdainiri | kerdainira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | kerdainarōntos | kerdainarintos | kerdainarantos1×κερδήσας | kerdainarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | kerdainorōntos | kerdainorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | kerdainirintos | kerdainirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
kerdain is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
17 occurrences, every one of them listed
kerdainani“make a profit”will happen · wefuture active indicative 1st person plural1×
James 4:13… poiani ekei eniauton kai emporeueni kai kerdainani;… year there, carry on business, and make a profit.”
kerdainili“won”will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
1 Peter 3:1… tau taiu gunaikaiu anastrofau aneu logou kerdainili… believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior …
kerdainama“gained”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular2×
Matthew 25:20… mi paradōasa; ide alloseim pente talanteim kerdainama.… with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
Matthew 25:22… mi paradōasa; ide alloseim duo talanteim kerdainama.… with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’
kerdainasa“gained”happened · youaorist active indicative 2nd person singular1×
Matthew 18:15“gained”… kai autou monou. ean su akouateia, kerdainasa ton adelfon su;… you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
kerdainata“gained”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Matthew 25:16… talanteim labarantos ergazeta en autei kai kerdainata alloseim pente;… and put them to work and gained five more.
Matthew 25:17hōsautōs tos teim duo kerdainata alloseim duo;… the one with the two talents gained two more.
kerdainameia“win”happened · Iaorist active subjunctive 1st person singular6×
1 Corinthians 9:19… pantoi miauton doulama, hina toin polloteroin kerdainameia;… myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
1 Corinthians 9:20… toi Ioudaioi hōs Ioudaios, hina Ioudaioin kerdainameia; toi hupo nomon hōs hupo nomon, …… I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the …
1 Corinthians 9:20… hupo nomon, hina toin hupo nomon kerdainameia;… am not under the law), to win those under the law.
1 Corinthians 9:21… anomos theou alla ennomos Christou, hina kerdainameia toin anomoin;… under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.
1 Corinthians 9:22… toi asthenoi asthenos, hina toin asthenoin kerdainameia; toi pantoi genamē panteim, hina pantōs …… the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all …
Philippians 3:8… zēmiima, kai hēgomō skubaleim hina Christon kerdainameia… consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
kerdainateia“gains”happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular1×
Matthew 16:26… ōfeliti anthrōpos ean ton kosmon holon kerdainateia tan de psuchan autou zēmiiteia? ē …… it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his …
kerdainara“gain”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive2×
Mark 8:36tinem gar ōfelatō anthrōpon kerdainara ton kosmon holon kai zēmiira tan …… does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his …
Acts 27:21“incurred”… mi mē anagorō apo tau Krētau kerdainara tē tan hubrian houtan kai tan …… have followed my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have averted this disaster and loss.
kerdainarantos“gains”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Luke 9:25“gains”tinem gar ōfelotō anthrōpos kerdainarantos ton kosmon holon heauton de apolarantos …What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose …