Luke 16 26

Luke 16:26 kjv

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Luke 16:26 nkjv

And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

Luke 16:26 niv

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

Luke 16:26 esv

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'

Luke 16:26 nlt

And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.'

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 26 Meaning

Luke 16:26 declares the absolute and unalterable separation between the blessed and the tormented after death. It reveals that an immense, divinely established chasm exists between these two eternal states, making any passage from one to the other utterly impossible, regardless of desire. This emphasizes the finality of an individual's spiritual condition at the time of physical death and highlights the permanence of the divine judgment, precluding any post-mortem repentance or change of destiny.

Luke 16 26 Context

Luke 16:26 is part of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31), delivered by Jesus to the Pharisees, who were often characterized by their love of money (Lk 16:14). This parable starkly contrasts the fate of a wealthy, self-indulgent man and a poor, suffering man who trusts in God. The setting immediately after death, depicting an intermediate state where the righteous (Lazarus with Abraham) are comforted and the unrighteous (the rich man) are in torment, challenges the common Jewish belief that material prosperity signified divine favor and that Abrahamic lineage guaranteed a place in God's kingdom. The verse directly refutes the idea of a potential shift in eternal destiny or an opportunity for repentance after death, implicitly opposing any contemporary Jewish practices or folk beliefs that suggested prayers for the dead could alter their condition, or that a wealthy status would automatically grant access to "Abraham's bosom." The chasm represents God's fixed judgment, sealing the destinies of individuals based on their life choices.

Luke 16 26 Word analysis

• And beside all this (καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις - kai epi pasi toutois):

  • Literally "and on all these things" or "in addition to all these."
  • Signifies a further, definitive reason or condition beyond what was already described (i.e., the contrasting states of comfort and torment). It's an overriding, insurmountable factor.
  • Highlights that this separation is not merely a consequence of their choices but an absolute decree.

• between us and you (μεταξὺ ἡμῶν καὶ ὑμῶν - metaxu hēmon kai hymon):

  • Metaxu means "in the midst of," "between."
  • "Us" refers to Abraham and Lazarus, representing the blessed in "Abraham's bosom."
  • "You" refers to the rich man, representing the tormented in Hades.
  • Emphasizes a distinct, irreconcilable, and personal separation. The divide is not theoretical but a lived reality for the inhabitants of these states.

• there is a great gulf fixed (χάσμα μέγα ἐστήρικται - chasma mega esteriktai):

  • great (μέγα - mega): An adjective meaning "large, great, mighty." Intensifies the magnitude and immensity of the gulf, implying its unbridgeable nature.
  • gulf (χάσμα - chasma): A noun meaning "a gaping hole, a chasm, an abyss." It depicts a vast, profound opening, emphasizing the impassable depth and breadth of the divide.
  • fixed (ἐστήρικται - esteriktai):
    • Perfect passive indicative of sterizō (στηρίζω), meaning "to make firm, to establish, to fix securely."
    • The perfect tense indicates a completed action with lasting, enduring results; it has been fixed and remains fixed.
    • The passive voice implies a divine agent ("it has been fixed by God"). This chasm is not accidental or temporary; it is God's purposeful and unchangeable decree. It speaks of divine ordinance and permanence.

• so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

  • so that (ὅπως - hopōs): Introduces the purpose or result of the "great gulf fixed."
  • they which would pass from hence to you cannot (οἱ θέλοντες διαβῆναι ἔνθεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς μὴ δύνωνται - hoi thelontes diabēnai enthen pros hymas mē dynōntai):
    • Thelontes (from thelō) means "desiring, wishing to." Even if there is a desire to cross, the ability is entirely lacking.
    • Diabēnai (from diabainō) means "to cross over."
    • Mē dynōntai (from dynamai, with negation mē) means "they are not able." This emphatically states the absolute impossibility.
  • neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (μηδὲ οἱ ἐνθεν ἐκεῖθεν πρὸς ἡμᾶς διαπερῶσιν - mēde hoi enthen ekeithen pros hēmas diaperōsin):
    • Reinforces the two-way impossibility. The barrier is absolute from both sides. No one can cross from torment to comfort, nor from comfort to torment.
    • Diaperōsin (from diaperaō) is another verb for "to cross over."
    • The use of both verbs (diabainō and diaperaō) subtly underscores the utter impossibility of traversing this divinely set boundary, emphasizing finality from all perspectives.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "between us and you there is a great gulf fixed": This phrase conveys the irreversible divine decree of separation between the righteous and unrighteous after death. The emphasis is on God's active role in establishing this impassable barrier. It speaks to the finality of the decision point in this earthly life.
  • "so that they which would pass... cannot; neither can they pass...": This entire clause elucidates the purpose and effect of the fixed gulf. It is not merely a separation but an active prevention of any movement between the two states. The repetition of the impossibility from both directions strongly communicates that one's post-mortem state is immutable and eternal. There is no transfer, no escape, and no redemption after death.

Luke 16 26 Bonus section

• This verse refers to an intermediate state (often termed Hades or Sheol), not the final resurrection or ultimate judgment that leads to the Lake of Fire (Gehenna). However, the separation shown here prefigures and is consistent with the ultimate, permanent judgment.
• The parable, and particularly this verse, strongly counter any notion that a relationship to Abraham by descent alone guarantees salvation, or that wealth is a sign of God's exclusive blessing, directly challenging the Pharisees' materialistic theology.
• The impassability highlights the importance of faith and repentance during one's lifetime, as death fixes the spiritual condition without recourse. It underscores the urgency of responding to "Moses and the Prophets" (God's revealed Word) as sufficient guidance for salvation.

Luke 16 26 Commentary

Luke 16:26 serves as a foundational declaration regarding the afterlife in Christ's teachings. It unequivocally asserts the irreversible nature of human destiny once physical death occurs. The "great gulf fixed" is a powerful metaphor for God's permanent judgment, establishing an impassable barrier between the realm of the righteous in comfort and the realm of the wicked in torment. This implies that one's spiritual condition, determined by their life and response to God's word in their earthly existence, is sealed. There is no second chance, no purgatorial transition, nor any mechanism by which either those in blessing or those in torment can alter their state or assist others across the divide. The desire to cross is acknowledged but met with absolute impossibility, underlining the sufficiency of the earthly life for determining eternal standing.