Luke 16:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At the rich man's gate lies a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores.
What Does Luke 16:20 Mean?
Opposite the daily banquet lies a man with nothing. Lazarus is laid at the gate — carried there by others, too sick to walk — diseased, hungry, and in plain view of everyone who passes in to dine. The two men live a few steps and a whole world apart.
Strikingly, Lazarus is the only character in Jesus' parables who is given a personal name — and the name means God has helped. The world has filed him under nameless misery; heaven knows him by name. The reversal at the story's heart has already begun in the telling. And the gate is the story's question aimed at every reader: who has been laid, not by accident, where I cannot say I never saw him?
Luke 16:20 in the Original Language
Lazaros (Λάζαρος), 'Lazarus' -- a Greek form of the Hebrew name Eleazar, meaning God has helped.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 16:20
What does Luke 16:20 mean?
At the rich man's gate lies a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores.