Focused Passage

Luke 16:19-31

Faithful Stewardship, the Danger of Wealth, and the Finality of Judgment

Jesus teaches disciples to use wealth with eternal foresight, exposes the Pharisees’ love of money, affirms the enduring authority of God’s Word, and warns through the rich man and Lazarus that neglect of Scripture and mercy ends in irreversible judgment.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

19 Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.

20 And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores

21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.

23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

24 So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

25 But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.

26 And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’

27 ‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house,

28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.’

29 But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’

30 ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’

31 Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 19

Original words

Now δέ G1161 Conjunction there was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular rich πλούσιος G4145 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular man Ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction dressed in ἐνεδιδύσκετο G1737 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular purple πορφύραν G4209 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction fine linen βύσσον G1040 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular who lived each day in joyous εὐφραινόμενος G2165 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . καθ’ G2596 Preposition . . . ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular splendor λαμπρῶς G2988 Adverb
Verse 20

Original words

And δέ G1161 Conjunction a τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular beggar πτωχὸς G4434 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular named ὀνόματι G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular Lazarus Λάζαρος G2976 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular lay ἐβέβλητο G906 Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular at πρὸς G4314 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular gate πυλῶνα G4440 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular covered with sores εἱλκωμένος G1669 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 21

Original words

and καὶ G2532 Conjunction longing ἐπιθυμῶν G1937 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to be fed χορτασθῆναι G5526 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive with ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural crumbs that fell πιπτόντων G4098 Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular rich man’s πλουσίου G4145 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular table τραπέζης G5132 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction Even καὶ G2532 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural dogs κύνες G2965 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural came ἐρχόμενοι G2064 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural [and] licked ἐπέλειχον G621 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural sores ἕλκη G1668 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 22

Original words

One day δὲ G1161 Conjunction . . . Ἐγένετο G1096 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular beggar πτωχὸν G4434 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular died ἀποθανεῖν G599 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular was carried ἀπενεχθῆναι G667 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive by ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural angels ἀγγέλων G32 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Abraham’s Ἀβραάμ G11 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular side κόλπον G2859 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular And δὲ G1161 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular rich man πλούσιος G4145 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular also καὶ G2532 Conjunction died ἀπέθανεν G599 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction was buried ἐτάφη G2290 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Greek into Abraham’s bosom; similarly in verse 23
Verse 23

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction In ἐν G1722 Preposition - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Hades ᾅδῃ G86 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular where he was ὑπάρχων G5225 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition torment βασάνοις G931 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural he looked up ἐπάρας G1869 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular . . . τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . ὀφθαλμοὺς G3788 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] saw ὁρᾷ G3708 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Abraham Ἀβραὰμ G11 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition afar μακρόθεν G3113 Adverb with καὶ G2532 Conjunction Lazarus Λάζαρον G2976 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular by ἐν G1722 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural side κόλποις G2859 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 24

Original words

So Καὶ G2532 Conjunction he αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular cried out φωνήσας G5455 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Father Πάτερ G3962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular Abraham Ἀβραάμ G11 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular have mercy on ἐλέησόν G1653 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction send πέμψον G3992 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Lazarus Λάζαρον G2976 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction dip βάψῃ G911 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular tip ἄκρον G206 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular finger δακτύλου G1147 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular in water ὕδατος G5204 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction cool καταψύξῃ G2711 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular tongue γλῶσσάν G1100 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I am in agony ὀδυνῶμαι G3600 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition this ταύτῃ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular fire φλογὶ G5395 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction Abraham Ἀβραάμ G11 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Child Τέκνον G5043 Noun - Vocative Neuter Singular remember μνήσθητι G3403 Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction during ἐν G1722 Preposition your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular lifetime ζωῇ G2222 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular you received ἀπέλαβες G618 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular good ἀγαθά G18 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural [things] τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural [while] καὶ G2532 Conjunction Lazarus Λάζαρος G2976 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular [received] ὁμοίως G3668 Adverb - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural bad [things] κακά G2556 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural But δὲ G1161 Conjunction now νῦν G3568 Adverb he is comforted παρακαλεῖται G3870 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular here ὧδε G5602 Adverb while δὲ G1161 Conjunction you σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular are in agony ὀδυνᾶσαι G3600 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 26

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction besides ἐν G1722 Preposition all πᾶσι G3956 Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural this τούτοις G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Plural a great μέγα G3173 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular chasm χάσμα G5490 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular has been fixed ἐστήρικται G4741 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular between μεταξὺ G3342 Preposition us ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural so that [even] ὅπως G3704 Conjunction those who οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural wish θέλοντες G2309 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb cannot δύνωνται G1410 Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural cross διαβῆναι G1224 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active from here ἔνθεν G1759 Adverb to πρὸς G4314 Preposition you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural nor μηδὲ G3366 Conjunction can [anyone] cross διαπερῶσιν G1276 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural from there ἐκεῖθεν G1564 Adverb to πρὸς G4314 Preposition us ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural
Verse 27

Original words

Then οὖν G3767 Conjunction I beg Ἐρωτῶ G2065 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular father πάτερ G3962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular - δέ G1161 Conjunction he said Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - ἵνα G2443 Conjunction send πέμψῃς G3992 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular [Lazarus] αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular father’s πατρός G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular house οἶκον G3624 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 28

Original words

for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I have ἔχω G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular five πέντε G4002 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural brothers ἀδελφούς G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural - ὅπως G3704 Conjunction Let him warn διαμαρτύρηται G1263 Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction they αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb vvv καὶ G2532 Conjunction will not also end up ἔλθωσιν G2064 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural in εἰς G1519 Preposition this τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular place τόπον G5117 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of torment βασάνου G931 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 29

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction Abraham Ἀβραάμ G11 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular They have Ἔχουσι G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Moses Μωϋσέα G3475 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural Prophets προφήτας G4396 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural let [your brothers] listen to ἀκουσάτωσαν G191 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Plural them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 30

Original words

No Οὐχί G3780 Adverb father πάτερ G3962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular Abraham Ἀβραάμ G11 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular he said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction if ἐάν G1437 Conjunction someone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is sent πορευθῇ G4198 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition [the] dead νεκρῶν G3498 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural they will repent μετανοήσουσιν G3340 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 31

Original words

Then δὲ G1161 Conjunction [Abraham] said Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular If Εἰ G1487 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb they do not listen to ἀκούουσιν G191 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Moses Μωϋσέως G3475 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Prophets προφητῶν G4396 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural vvv οὐδ’* G3761 Adverb they will not be persuaded even πεισθήσονται G3982 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural if ἐάν G1437 Conjunction someone τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular rises ἀναστῇ G450 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition [the] dead νεκρῶν G3498 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.