God’s Word Translation
Luke 12:16
16Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops.
Luke 12:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
- New International Version (NIV)And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
Context of Luke 12:16
14Jesus said to him, “Who appointed me to be your judge or to divide ⌞your inheritance⌟?” 15He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.” Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. 17He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ 18He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them.
Read all of Luke 12Luke 12:16 word by word
Εἶπεν δὲ παραβολὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγων· ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- he spakeλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- a parableπαραβολήparabolē · parableG3850
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- The groundὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- The groundχώραchōra · countryG5561
- of a certainτιςtis · oneG5100
- richπλούσιοςplousios · richG4145
- manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- brought forth plentifullyεὐφορέωeuphoreō · be fruitfulG2164
Cross-references for Luke 12:16
- Genesis 26:12Isaac planted ⌞crops⌟ in that land. In that same year he harvested a hundred times as much as he had planted because the Lord had blessed him.
- Genesis 41:47During the seven good years the land produced large harvests.
- Job 12:6⌞But⌟ robbers’ tents are prosperous, and there is security for those who provoke God, for those whose god is their power.
- Psalms 73:3because I was envious of arrogant people when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
- Hosea 2:8“She doesn’t believe that I gave her grain, new wine, and olive oil. I gave her plenty of silver and gold, but she used it to make statues of Baal.
- Matthew 5:45In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust.
- Acts 14:17Yet, by doing good, he has given evidence of his existence. He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. He fills you with food and your lives with happiness.”
Commentaries on Luke 12:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The ground of a certain rich man, etc. - He had generally what is called good luck in his farm, and this was a remarkably plentiful year.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16A parable - See the notes at Matthew 13:3. Plentifully - His land was fertile, and produced even beyond his expectations, and beyond what he had provided for.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-21Verses 13-21 Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. Christianity does not meddle with politics; it obliges all to do justly, but wordly dominion is not founded in grace. It does not encourage expectations of worldly advantages by religion. The rewards of Christ's disciples are of another nature. Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-20On the surface, the rich man’s plan seemed wise. But he thought only about himself (compare Ecclesiastes 5:10). He did not think about giving any of his crops to people in need. He assumed that his wealth would last. He only wanted a place to store it and did not include God in his plans (see James 4:13–17). So God’s judgment against him was just.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1916-19. a certain rich man, &c.--Why is this man called a "fool?" (Lu 12:20) (1) Because he deemed a life of secure and abundant earthly enjoyment the summit of human felicity. (2) Because, possessing the means of this, through prosperity in his calling, he flattered himself that he had a long lease of such enjoyment, and nothing to do but give himself up to it. Nothing else is laid to his charge.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 12:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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