GAIN. In the OT this word is the rendering of three Heb. nouns: בֶּ֫צַע, H1299, “gain made by violence,” “unjust gain” or “profit” (Judg 5:19 KJV “gain,” RSV “spoils”; Job 22:3; Prov 1:19; 15:27; Isa 33:15; 56:11; Mic 4:13); מְחִיר֒, H4697, “price,” “hire”; in Daniel 11:39 it means “reward,” “gain” (RSV “price”); תְּבוּאָה, H9311, “increase,” “fruit” (Prov 3:14). Two Heb. verbs also are thus rendered: בָּצַע, H1298, “to gain by violence” or “dishonestly” (Job 27:8 KJV); זְבַן, H10223, “to gain,” “buy” (Dan 2:8).

In the NT there are three Gr. nouns that are tr. work: ἐργασία, G2238, “work,” “business” (Acts 16:16, 19; 19:24 KJV “gains,” RSV “business”; κέρδος, G3046, “gain” (Phil 1:21—Paul says that for him to live is Christ and to die is gain, 3:7); πορισμός, G4516, “a means of gain” (1 Tim 6:5, 6—Paul says that godliness with contentment is great gain). Three Gr. verbs mean “to gain”: κερδαίνω, G3045, “to make gain” or “profit” (Matt 16:26; 18:15; 25:17, 20, 22, KJV “gain,” RSV “made”; Mark 8:36; Luke 9:25; Acts 27:21—KJV “gain,” RSV “incurred”; 1 Cor 9:19, 20, 21, 22, KJV “gain,” RSV “win”); προσεργάζομαι, G4664, “to gain besides,” by working or trading (Luke 19:16 KJV; RSV “made”); ποιέω, G4472, “to make” (Luke 19:18 KJV; RSV “made”).