"Shall" and "profited"

Question

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?(1) Do you think this use of "profited" correct? I think it derives from "something profits a man with something" which will make a sentence like this: "What is a man profited with?" Doesn't "profit" require "with"?(2) Would you explain what "shall" means here? I can't seem to find an appropriate definition of "shall" for that sentence.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

(1) Do you think this use of "profited" correct? I think it derives from "something profits a man with something" which will make a sentence like this: "What is a man profited with?" Doesn't "profit" require "with"? It's just an archaic, biblical kind of usage.

Consider What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? (Matthew 16:26).

(Interestingly, note this is only one possible translation. Another, more archaic, is What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul.)

(2) Would you explain what "shall" means here? I can't seem to find an appropriate definition of "shall" for that sentence. It relates to 'prediction', eg 'he shall not profit from his terrible crimes', but I'd simply 'translate' it as 'will'.

Best wishes, Clive

"Shall" and "profited"

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