BibleWord.ai› Bible› Luke› Chapter 16› Verse 23

Luke 16:23

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 16:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21and desiring to be fed with the [crumbs] that fell from the rich man`s table; yea, even the dogs come and licked his sores.
22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham`s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried.
23And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24And 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 in anguish in this flame.
25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted and thou art in anguish.
26And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.
← Luke 16:22Luke 16:24 →
← Full Chapter 16 Luke Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, etc.] Which may design the place of torment, and the miserable state the Scribes and Pharisees, as all wicked men, enter immediately into upon death, (<190917>Psalm 9:17) who in their lifetime were blind, and are called blind guides, blind watchmen, blind leaders of the blind, and who were given up to judicial blindness and hardness of heart; but in hell their eyes are opened, and they see their mistakes about the Messiah, and find themselves in torments, under dreadful gnawings, and remorse of conscience; and having a terrible sensation of divine wrath, their worm dies not, and their fire is not quenched: or this may regard the vengeance…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“in hell--not the final place of the lost (for which another word is used), but as we say "the unseen world." But as the object here is certainly to depict the whole torment of the one and the perfect bliss of the other, it comes in this case to much the same. seeth Abraham--not God, to whom therefore he cannot cry [BENGEL].”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In hell - The word here translated hell (“Hades”) means literally a dark, obscure place; the place where departed spirits go, but especially the place where “wicked” spirits go. See the Job 10:21-22 notes; Isaiah 14:9 note. The following circumstances are related of it in this parable: It is “far off” from the abodes of the righteous. Lazarus was seen “afar off.” It is a place of torment. There is a great gulf fixed between that and heaven, Luke 16:26. The suffering is great. It is represented by “torment” in a flame, Luke 16:24. There will be no escape from it, Luke 16:26. The word “hell” here means, therefore, that dark, obscure, and miserable place, far from heaven, where the wicked shall…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He seeth Abraham afar off - And yet knew him at that distance: and shall not Abraham's children, when they are together in paradise, know each other! Luke 16:24”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“16:23 The place of the dead (Greek Hades) can refer to the grave (death) generally, or to the place where the wicked go after death, as here.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“in hell: Psa 9:17, Psa 16:10, Psa 49:15, Psa 86:13; Pro 5:5, Pro 7:27, Pro 9:18, Pro 15:24; Isa 14:9, Isa 14:15; Mat 5:22, Mat 5:29, Mat 18:9, Mat 23:33; Co1 15:55 \*marg. Pe2 2:4; Rev 20:13, Rev 20:14 being: Luk 16:28, Luk 8:28; Mat 8:29; Rev 14:10, Rev 14:11, Rev 20:10 seeth: Luk 13:28, Luk 13:29; Mat 8:11, Mat 8:12 Luke 16:24”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Luke 16 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification