Luke 16 22

Luke 16:22 kjv

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luke 16:22 nkjv

So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

Luke 16:22 niv

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.

Luke 16:22 esv

The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,

Luke 16:22 nlt

"Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried,

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 22 Meaning

Luke 16:22 reveals the contrasting destinies immediately following death for the two central figures of the parable: Lazarus, the poor man, and the unnamed rich man. The poor man, after enduring earthly suffering, is honored with a direct escort by angels to a place of comfort and intimate communion with Abraham, signifying blessedness and paradise. In stark contrast, the rich man, after a life of luxury and indifference, simply dies and is buried, with no mention of divine intervention or a favorable destination, foreshadowing his subsequent torment. This verse underscores the divine reversal of earthly fortunes based not on material possessions but on spiritual state and compassionate actions.

Luke 16 22 Context

Luke chapter 16 focuses heavily on Jesus' teachings concerning stewardship, the right use of material wealth, and the eternal consequences of earthly choices. It begins with the parable of the shrewd manager (16:1-13), highlighting foresight in preparing for one's future and serving God or money. The Pharisees, "lovers of money" (16:14), scoff at Jesus' words, prompting Him to warn them about their self-justification before men being an abomination to God (16:15). He then declares the unchangeable nature of God's law while pointing to a new era initiated by John (16:16-18). Luke 16:19-31, the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, directly follows these admonitions. Verse 22, therefore, serves as the critical turning point in this parable, revealing the immediate, distinct, and irreversible post-mortem fates of two individuals whose earthly lives stood in stark contrast. It builds on the earlier themes of the deceitfulness of riches and the spiritual reality that transcends temporal appearances, offering a dramatic illustration of divine justice applied to those who ignore the needy and God's law.

Luke 16 22 Word analysis

• The poor man (ὁ πτωχὸς, ho ptōchos): Signifies deep poverty, destitute, begging, dependent. In the Bible, the "poor" often denote not just material lack but also humility and reliance on God. This man, Lazarus, uniquely given a name in Jesus' parables, highlights his individual identity and divine recognition despite his societal insignificance.
• died (ἀπέθανεν, apethanen): A simple statement of physical death, the cessation of earthly life common to all humanity. It marks the end of his suffering on earth.
• and was carried by (καὶ ἀπηνέχθη ὑπὸ, kai apenēchthē hupo): A passive verb indicating an action performed upon him by another. This signifies a purposeful, respectful, and divine escort. Unlike the simple burial of the rich man, Lazarus is not just 'taken,' but 'carried away,' implying careful transport to a designated, honorable destination.
• the angels (τῶν ἀγγέλων, tōn angelōn): Heavenly messengers, agents of God. Their involvement signifies divine care, validation, and a pre-ordained passage to his eternal destiny. This is an honor not bestowed on all, highlighting Lazarus's blessed standing before God.
• to Abraham's side (εἰς τὸν κόλπον Ἀβραάμ, eis ton kolpon Abraam): A Jewish idiom representing a place of comfort, honor, and intimacy, akin to reclining at a banquet beside the host or an honored guest. It signifies paradise, the blessed state of the righteous dead, being gathered to one's spiritual forefathers, and participation in the eschatological feast. It implies intimate fellowship and security in God's presence.
• The rich man (ὁ δὲ πλούσιος, ho de plousios): Represents extreme wealth and luxury. Unlike Lazarus, he remains unnamed, perhaps symbolizing his spiritual anonymity and lack of recognition by God despite his earthly fame. His wealth, coupled with his indifference, sealed his fate.
• also died (καὶ ἐθάπτω, kai ethaptō): Emphasizes the universal inevitability of death. Like Lazarus, his physical life ended.
• and was buried (καὶ ἐτάφη, kai etaphē): This simple phrase stands in stark contrast to Lazarus's divine escort. While it implies a formal funeral (likely grand, fitting his status), it notably lacks any mention of angels or a specific, blessed destination, leaving an ominous silence about his eternal state, which is revealed in the subsequent verses.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The poor man died and was carried by the angels": This phrase directly contrasts human perception with divine reality. While earthly society disregarded Lazarus, heavenly beings intervened to provide an honorable and supernatural escort for his spirit, immediately validating his status before God. It emphasizes divine attention and care for the humble and afflicted.
• "to Abraham's side": This imagery provides immediate comfort and assurance of ultimate blessing and spiritual kinship. It implies not just a resting place, but a position of favor, echoing the ancient practice of banqueting and the concept of sharing a blessed inheritance with the patriarch. This highlights the rich spiritual inheritance of the faithful, contrasting sharply with worldly riches.
• "The rich man also died and was buried": This stark and laconic statement provides a grim counterpoint. There is no divine escort, no mention of paradise, no comforting destination. The burial simply marks the end of his earthly existence and material glory. It underlines the spiritual bankruptcy that can accompany outward prosperity and the stark reality that earthly pomp is utterly meaningless in the face of divine judgment.

Luke 16 22 Bonus Section

• No Name for the Rich Man: While Lazarus is explicitly named, emphasizing his individuality and recognition by God, the rich man remains unnamed, possibly to underscore his lack of personal spiritual significance or perhaps to generalize him as representing any individual whose wealth has led to spiritual blindness and neglect.
• Angel's Role: The mention of angels carrying Lazarus highlights their consistent role as ministering spirits, serving the heirs of salvation (Heb 1:14). It underscores a divinely ordained, gentle transition for the righteous.
• Conscious Existence After Death: This verse, and the subsequent events of the parable, are often cited as strong biblical evidence for the immediate, conscious existence of the soul after physical death, in a state of blessedness for the righteous and torment for the wicked, rather than soul-sleep or annihilation.
• Parable vs. Historical Event: While the narrative structure suggests a parable, Jesus’ unusual naming of Lazarus could hint at a basis in a real event, or at least imbues the narrative with striking realism to emphasize its profound truths about eternal destinies and social justice. Regardless, the truths conveyed – conscious afterlife, distinct destinies, and the importance of earthly actions for eternal outcomes – are universally applicable and foundational to Christian teaching.

Luke 16 22 Commentary

Luke 16:22 encapsulates the central reversal theme of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. It meticulously contrasts their immediate post-mortem experiences, showcasing divine judgment based on one's earthly life and heart condition rather than outward appearance or material wealth. Lazarus, despite his destitution and suffering (implied from being at the rich man's gate), receives the honor of an angelic escort to "Abraham's side," a well-understood Jewish metaphor for paradise, signifying a place of rest, comfort, and fellowship with the patriarchs. This is a scene of immense honor and spiritual vindication. The rich man, who lived in self-indulgent luxury while neglecting the suffering at his gate (implicit in the earlier verses and fundamental to the parable's moral), simply "died and was buried." The lack of divine escort or glorious destination for him is telling and ominous. This simple, factual statement concerning his burial implies the end of his earthly pomp and the commencement of his unblessed, conscious, eternal state of separation. The verse highlights that one's true value and eternal destiny are not determined by earthly status or wealth, but by one's relationship with God, evidenced by compassion and obedience to His word.