Luke 16:24 Meaning and Explanation
“And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus with a fingertip of water to cool his tongue in the flame.
What Does Luke 16:24 Mean?
The man who never sent crumbs now begs for a drop. He appeals to covenant ancestry — Father Abraham — and asks that Lazarus be dispatched to relieve him. He knows the beggar's name; Lazarus was never invisible to him, only ignored.
Even now, old habits hold: Lazarus is still pictured as someone to be sent on errands for his comfort. The request measures the reversal exactly — the man of daily feasts craves what the beggar once craved, one small mercy from another's hand. And the appeal to ancestry meets the warning John had already preached: God seeks Abraham's children in deed, not merely in descent (Luke 3:8; John 8:39).
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 16:24
What does Luke 16:24 mean?
The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus with a fingertip of water to cool his tongue in the flame.