[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/profitable/)

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# profitable

adjective

«profitable» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Bringing in money or some good; helpful and worth doing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/profitable/#m1)

### In the lessons

in the lessons, a business or task that brings gain; in stories, a useful job or a useful sheep

### Examples

- Selling cakes at the fair was profitable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/profitable/#x1)
- It is profitable to keep bees for honey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/profitable/#x2)
- The messenger hoped for a profitable office. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/profitable/#x3)

### Note

profit is the money left after costs are taken away, so a profitable deal is found by taking costs (-) from money earned; the word itself gives no number.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Tanakh it means useful or beneficial, and it is often used of idols that give no benefit.

**Interpretation.** The prophets mock idols as "profitable for nothing." Job's friend asks whether human goodness can truly benefit God, who needs nothing.

### Examples

- Can a man be profitable unto God? (Writings JOB.22.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/profitable/#x1)
- Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him? (Writings JOB.22.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/profitable/#x2)
- Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing? (Prophets ISA.44.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/profitable/#x3)

### Note

profit is the money left after costs are taken away, so a profitable deal is found by taking costs (-) from money earned; the word itself gives no number.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «profitable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/profitable/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«profitable» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/profitable.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «profitable» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/profitable/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«profitable» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/profitable.html) on Mova free.