Luke 16:23 Meaning and Explanation
“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In torment after death, the rich man lifts up his eyes and sees Abraham far off, with Lazarus at his side.
What Does Luke 16:23 Mean?
The word rendered hell here is hades, the unseen realm of the departed. There, in anguish, the rich man looks up and sees — far away — the patriarch he claims as father, and beside him the beggar who once lay within reach of his own table.
For the first time in the story, the rich man truly sees Lazarus. The distance between them is the same distance that ran between banquet and gate; only now no door can simply be opened across it. Jesus lifts the curtain on the unseen world not to satisfy curiosity but to press one truth: how we treat the person at our gate is seen, weighed, and answered — and the time to see him is now, while the gate still opens.
Luke 16:23 in the Original Language
hades (ᾅδης), 'hell' -- the Greek name for the unseen realm of the dead.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 16:23
What does Luke 16:23 mean?
In torment after death, the rich man lifts up his eyes and sees Abraham far off, with Lazarus at his side.