Luke 16 28

Luke 16:28 kjv

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Luke 16:28 nkjv

for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

Luke 16:28 niv

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

Luke 16:28 esv

for I have five brothers ? so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'

Luke 16:28 nlt

For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don't end up in this place of torment.'

Luke 16 verses

Luke 16 28 Meaning

Luke 16:28 conveys the rich man's fervent desire, from his place of torment, for someone to be sent to his surviving five brothers still on Earth. His plea is for them to be warned about the terrible fate of eternal suffering that he is experiencing, so that they might repent and avoid joining him in that dreadful realm. It highlights his realization, too late, of the consequences of an unrighteous life and the reality of a conscious afterlife.

Luke 16 28 Context

Luke 16 presents a series of parables and teachings primarily addressed to the disciples, but with clear implications for the Pharisees, who were "lovers of money" (Lk 16:14). The chapter begins with the parable of the shrewd manager, illustrating wise stewardship. Jesus then stresses that no one can serve two masters, God and money, and affirms the enduring validity of God's law. This sets the stage for the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31), which Luke 16:28 is a part of. This parable directly contrasts the fates of the rich man (Dives, though unnamed in Scripture) who lived sumptuously without care for God or others, and the poor, sick Lazarus, who found comfort in Abraham's bosom. The context leading up to verse 28 details the rich man's suffering in Hades, his awareness of Lazarus' comfort, and his unfulfilled request for Lazarus to relieve his pain. Verse 28 is his second plea to Abraham, demonstrating a sudden concern for his living family members, a concern utterly lacking during his earthly life. The parable is crucial for understanding the realities of life after death, the finality of judgment, and the sufficiency of God's Word (Moses and the Prophets) over any miraculous sign. Culturally, the Jewish understanding of the afterlife often included a concept of Sheol or Hades, which could have divisions for the righteous and the unrighteous, a notion that Jesus utilizes and expands upon in this parable. It also challenges contemporary Sadducean denial of resurrection and Pharisaic materialism.

Luke 16 28 Word Analysis

• "that he may send them": The Greek here indicates the rich man's urgent, fervent desire and his attempt to instruct Abraham on a solution. It reveals his understanding that communication or intervention is necessary to alter his brothers' path. This action shows he knows his brothers are on the same destructive path he trod.
• "to my father's house": This phrase refers to his earthly home and family members—specifically, his five brothers who are still alive. It implies a shared lineage, upbringing, and potentially a similar lifestyle that led him to torment. His concern, though late, arises from familial ties and the dread of shared eternal fate.
• "to warn them": The Greek word is diamartyromai (διαμαρτύρομαι), which means "to earnestly, solemnly, and explicitly bear witness or give a warning." It carries a strong sense of urgency and direct admonition. The rich man understands that a superficial mention won't suffice; a profound and undeniable warning is needed to make them change their ways, indicating the severity of their impending judgment.
• "lest they also come": The particle mēpote (μήποτε) implies a fear or dread that something might happen. The rich man is trying to prevent his brothers from sharing his painful destiny. This highlights the horrific nature of "this place of torment" that he now desperately wants his family to avoid.
• "into this place": The demonstrative pronoun "this" (houtos, οὗτος) directly points to the topos basanou (τόπος βασάνου)—the "place of torment" or "place of torture"—where the rich man is suffering. It confirms it as a specific, tangible, and terrible location.
• "of torment": The Greek word is basanou (βασάνου), from basanos (βάσανος), referring to a touchstone used to test the purity of gold, thus by extension, intense pain, anguish, or torture, particularly from examination or punishment. It denotes conscious, excruciating suffering, confirming the physical and emotional agony the rich man is experiencing.

Words-group by Words-group Analysis

• "that he may send them to my father's house, to warn them": This phrase showcases the rich man's shift in focus. Initially, his pleas were for his own relief (Lk 16:24). Now, recognizing his irreversible condition, his "compassion" or, more accurately, his self-preservation impulse extends to his family. However, his suggested method—a messenger from the dead—demonstrates a misunderstanding of how God's divine revelation works, anticipating Abraham's direct response in Lk 16:29-31. His hope is misplaced on extraordinary intervention rather than the ordinary means God has already provided.
• "lest they also come into this place of torment": This underlines the critical and urgent stakes involved in rejecting God during one's lifetime. The phrase powerfully communicates the terrifying reality of eternal damnation and the rich man's desire for his family to escape it, revealing the finality and the severity of the conscious suffering that awaits the unrepentant. His plea underscores that even from torment, the damned are fully aware of their conscious pain and the potential for others to share it.

Luke 16 28 Bonus Section

• The rich man's sudden "concern" for his family should be understood in the context of his own excruciating pain. His past life shows no evidence of such love or care; it's born out of retrospective anguish, not proactive compassion. This late "concern" does not negate the righteous judgment he received.
• The mention of "five brothers" makes the parable feel very personal and concrete, adding a layer of realism to the story, even if it is a parable designed to teach spiritual truth. It makes the rich man's unrighteousness specific to his family unit and its potential for shared destiny.
• This verse (and the following ones) provides a strong biblical basis against the doctrines of soul sleep or annihilationism for the wicked. The rich man is not unconscious or non-existent; he is fully aware, remembering his past life, capable of thought, fear, and feeling excruciating pain.
• The parable, particularly this section, functions as a powerful polemic against any notion that extraordinary signs or personal experiences (like someone rising from the dead) are more persuasive or necessary than the standing Word of God, a view potentially held by some Jewish groups looking for signs. It indirectly challenged those who might have privileged rabbinic traditions or human interpretations over the direct revelation of Moses and the Prophets.

Luke 16 28 Commentary

Luke 16:28, part of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, is a poignant interjection from a soul experiencing the realities of eternal torment. It demonstrates that suffering in the afterlife leads to a terrifying lucidity: the rich man, once indifferent to spiritual matters, is now desperately concerned for his brothers' eternal welfare. His plea reveals several critical truths:First, it affirms the reality of a conscious afterlife with distinct destinies for the righteous and the unrighteous. The rich man's suffering is immediate, real, and undeniable.Second, it highlights the finality of judgment at death; no second chances or crossing of the "great chasm" are permitted, thus the need for a warning to those still living.Third, his request sets up Abraham's crucial counter-argument (Lk 16:29-31) about the sufficiency and authority of "Moses and the Prophets" (the written Word of God) for leading people to repentance and salvation. The parable thereby indirectly teaches that rejecting the clear teachings of Scripture is a greater impediment to faith than the lack of an extraordinary, miraculous sign, even one from the dead. The rich man’s concern, though belated, emphasizes the absolute horror of hell and the imperative for those living to heed God's warnings now, while opportunity still remains. It serves as a stark warning to those who neglect God's Word and live self-centered lives without repentance.