Quick Definition
λυσιτελέω v. it profits
Strong's Definition
impersonally, it answers the purpose, i.e. is advantageous
Derivation: third person singular present indicative active of a derivative of a compound of G3080 (λύσις) and G5056 (τέλος);
KJV Usage: it is better
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | λύω + τελέω
65.44 · (λυσιτελεῖ) · Value · Advantageous, Not Advantageous
to be advantageous, to be better off, to be to someone’s advantage to be of an advantage to someone In a number of languages the idea of ‘advantage’ implies some comparison, either a benefit which is greater than someone else has or a benefit which makes one’s later state better off than the previous state. For example, in the case of JHN 11:50 one may translate ‘don’t you realize that if one man dies for the people, then you are much better off.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
λυσιτελέω, -ὥ ; (fr. λυσιτελής, and this fr. λύω to pay, and τὰ τέλη [ef. τέλος, 2]); [fr. Hdt. down]; prop. to pay the taxes; to return expenses, hence to be useful, advantageous ; impers. λυσιτελεῖ, it profits; foll. by ἤ (see ἢ, 3 £.), it is better: τινί foll. by εἰ, Lk. xvii. 2.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
λυσιτελέω lysiteleō 1x
pr. to compensate for incurred expense; by impl. to be advantageous to, to profit, advantage; impers. Lk. 17:2*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** λυσιτελέω, -ῶ
(< λυσιτελής, useful, prop., τὰ τέλη λύων), [in LXX: To 3:6, Si 20:10, 14 29:11*;]
prop., to indemnify, pay expenses.
to be useful, to profit; usually impers., λυσιτελεῖ, it profits: c, dat. pers., seq. εἰ . . . ἤ, Lk 17:2.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
λυσιτελέω. For the impersonal λυσιτελεῖ, as in Lk 17? (cf. Tobit 3°), cf. P Hamb I. 2727 (B.c. 250) ὥστε λυσιτελεῖ μισθώσασθαι ἢ χορτάσματα ἵητεῖν. The adj. is common—P Petr II. 13(6)7 (B.c. 258--3) ὅτι εἴη λυσιτελὴς ἡ ἐργολαβία (contract for work), 2. III. 41 verso® λυσιτελέστερον οὖν φαίνεται, P Par 625-8 (c. B.C. 170) ἐὰν μὴ ἐπί τινων ἄλλο τι λυσιτελέστερον συγχωρηθῇ ἐπὶ τῆς πράσεως. Avotoa. The laxity in the declension of this place-name (Ac 14° Λύστραν, ® Λύστροις : cf. 161%) can be readily paralleled from the papyri, cf. e.g. P Grenf II. 46* (A.D. 137) ἐν Κερκεσούχῃ and " ἀπὸ Κερκεσούχων, and the fem. Tevtipy in 26. 7438 (A.D. 302) instead of the more usual neut. plur. Tévrvpa: see further Moulton Proleg. p. 48, Gr. ii. ὃ 60(10), and for similar heteroclisis in the LXX, Thackeray G7. i. p- 167 f.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
λυσιτελεῖ (lusitelei) — to profit. λῡσῐτελ-έω, properly indemnify for expenses incurred, or pay what is due, and then 'pay', i.e. profit, avail (compare λύω see 2), with dative,
I. with subject expressed, οὔ φημ᾽ ἂν λυσιτελεῖν σφῷν [τοῦτο] [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.2. mostly impersonal, λυσιτελεῖ μοι it profits me, is better for me, with participle, οἷς οὐδ᾽ ἅπαξ ἐλυσιτέλησε πειθομένοις [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, λ. προϊέναι [Refs]; τεθνάναι νομίσασα λυσιτελεῖν ἢ ζῆν thinking it better to be dead than alive, [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.: with dative person, it profits one to do so and so, οὐ γάρ οἱ λυσιτελέειν.. δικάζειν [Refs 5th c.BC+]: sometimes with accusative person, it is good that.., λυσιτελεῖ τὸν μέλλοντα κακῶς ἰητρεύεσθαι ἀμφότερα καταγῆναι τὰ σκέλεα [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.3. in bad sense, conspire, as gloss on{ἐς τὸ κακὸν ἀλλήλοισι συντιμωρεῖ} [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. neuter participle as substantive, τὸ λυσιτελοῦν profit, gain, advantage, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; a wrong etymology is given in [Refs 5th c.BC+]