Luke 16:23-25

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Luke 16:23 sn The Greek term Hades stands for the Hebrew concept of Sheol. This is where the dead were gathered (Pss 16:10; 86:13). In the NT Hades sometimes has an additional negative force of awaiting judgment (Rev 20:13).
2. Luke 16:23 sn Hades is a place of torment, especially as one knows that he is separated from God.
3. Luke 16:23 tn Grk “he lifted up his eyes” (an idiom).
4. Luke 16:23 tn Grk “in his bosom,” the same phrase used in 16:22. This idiom refers to heaven and/or participation in the eschatological banquet. An appropriate modern equivalent is “at Abraham’s side.”
5. Luke 16:24 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous actions in the narrative.
6. Luke 16:24 tn Grk “calling out he said”; this is redundant in contemporary English style and has been simplified to “he called out.”
7. Luke 16:24 sn The rich man had not helped Lazarus before, when he lay outside his gate (v. 20), but he knew him well enough to know his name. This is why the use of the name Lazarus in the parable is significant. (The rich man’s name, on the other hand, is not mentioned, because it is not significant for the point of the story.)
8. Luke 16:24 sn The dipping of the tip of his finger in water is evocative of thirst. The thirsty are in need of God’s presence (Ps 42:1-2; Isa 5:13). The imagery suggests the rich man is now separated from the presence of God.
9. Luke 16:24 tn Or “in terrible pain” (L&N 24.92).
10. Luke 16:24 sn Fire in this context is OT imagery; see Isa 66:24.
11. Luke 16:25 tn The Greek term here is τέκνον (teknon), which could be understood as a term of endearment.
12. Luke 16:25 tn Or “in terrible pain” (L&N 24.92). Here is the reversal Jesus mentioned in Luke 6:20-26.