New International VersionAnd he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
New Living TranslationThen he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.
English Standard VersionAnd he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,
Berean Standard BibleThen He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.
Berean Literal BibleAnd He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.
King James BibleAnd he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
New King James VersionThen He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
New American Standard BibleAnd He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
NASB 1995And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
NASB 1977And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a certain rich man was very productive.
Legacy Standard BibleAnd He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
Amplified BibleThen He told them a parable, saying, “There was a rich man whose land was very fertile and productive.
Christian Standard BibleThen he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThen He told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive.
American Standard VersionAnd he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Contemporary English VersionSo Jesus told them this story: A rich man's farm produced a big crop,
English Revised VersionAnd he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThen he used this illustration. He said, "A rich man had land that produced good crops.
Good News TranslationThen Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops.
International Standard VersionThen he told them a parable. He said, "The land of a certain rich man produced good crops.
NET BibleHe then told them a parable: "The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop,
New Heart English BibleHe spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Weymouth New TestamentAnd He spoke a parable to them. "A certain rich man's lands," He said, "yielded abundant crops, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.
World English BibleHe spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd He spoke an allegory to them, saying, “Of a certain rich man the field brought forth well;
Berean Literal BibleAnd He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.
Young's Literal Translation And he spake a simile unto them, saying, 'Of a certain rich man the field brought forth well;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd he spake a parable to them, saying, The farm of a certain rich man bore well: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he spoke a similitude to them, saying: The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits.
Catholic Public Domain VersionThen he spoke to them using a comparison, saying: “The fertile land of a certain wealthy man produced crops.
New American BibleThen he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
New Revised Standard VersionThen he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen he told them a parable. The land of a rich man brought him a great many crops.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishAnd he told a parable to them: “A certain rich man's land brought him many crops.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd he spoke a parable to them, saying: The farm of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.
Godbey New TestamentHe spake a parable to them, saying, The farm of a certain rich man was very productive:
Haweis New Testament
And he spake a parable unto them, saying,The estate of a certain rich man bore plentifully:
Mace New Testament
to which purpose he propos'd to them this parable: a rich man had some land that was very fruitful.
Weymouth New Testament
And He spoke a parable to them. "A certain rich man's lands," He said, "yielded abundant crops,
Worrell New Testament
And He spake a parable to them, saying,"A certain rich man's field yielded bountifully;
Worsley New Testament
And He spake a parable to them, saying,The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Parable of the Rich Fool… 15And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16ThenHe toldthema parable:“Thegroundof a certainrichmanproduced an abundance.17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’…
Cross References Matthew 6:19-21Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Ecclesiastes 5:10-15He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? / The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. ...
James 4:13-15Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” / You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. / Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
Proverbs 11:28He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.
1 Timothy 6:17-19Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Matthew 13:22The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Psalm 49:16-20Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases. / For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down. / Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper— ...
Mark 4:18-19Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word, / but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Proverbs 23:4-5Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. / When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
1 John 2:15-17Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Ecclesiastes 2:18-21I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. / And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. / So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun. ...
Matthew 19:21-24Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” / When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. / Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ...
Psalm 39:6Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.
Colossians 3:2-5Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. / For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. / When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. ...
Proverbs 28:22A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.
Treasury of Scripture And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: The ground. Genesis 26:12-14 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him… Genesis 41:47-49 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls… Job 12:6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringethabundantly. Jump to Previous AbundantAbundantlyCropCropsFieldForthGoodGroundLandsParablePlentifullyProducedRichSimileStoryYieldedJump to Next AbundantAbundantlyCropCropsFieldForthGoodGroundLandsParablePlentifullyProducedRichSimileStoryYieldedLuke 12 1.Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy13.and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns.22.We must not worry about earthly things,31.but seek the kingdom of God;33.give alms;35.be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes.41.Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges,49.and look for persecution.54.The people must take this time of grace;57.because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation.Then He told them a parable:Parables are a teaching method used by Jesus to convey spiritual truths through simple stories. They often contain a moral or spiritual lesson. In the context of Luke 12, Jesus uses parables to address issues of greed, trust in God, and the proper attitude towards wealth. Parables were a common teaching tool in Jewish culture, allowing listeners to engage with the story and derive personal meaning. The ground of a certain rich man:
The mention of "the ground" highlights the agricultural context of first-century Palestine, where farming was a primary occupation. The "rich man" indicates someone who has been materially blessed, possibly suggesting a person of influence or status. In biblical terms, wealth is often seen as a blessing from God, but it also comes with responsibilities. The rich man in this parable represents those who have been given much but must consider how they use their resources. Produced an abundance:
An abundant harvest would be seen as a sign of God's favor and blessing. However, the focus here is on the man's response to his wealth rather than the wealth itself. The abundance can be seen as a test of character, revealing the man's priorities and values. In the broader biblical narrative, abundance is often linked to stewardship, where individuals are called to manage God's gifts wisely and generously. This phrase sets the stage for the lesson on the dangers of greed and the importance of being "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe speaker of the parable, Jesus uses this account to teach His disciples and the crowd about the dangers of greed and the importance of being rich toward God. 2. The Rich ManA central figure in the parable, he represents those who place their trust in material wealth rather than in God. 3. The GroundSymbolizes the source of the rich man's wealth, emphasizing that the abundance comes from the land, which is ultimately under God's control. 4. The ParableA teaching tool used by Jesus to convey spiritual truths through simple, relatable accounts. 5. The CrowdThe audience to whom Jesus is speaking, including His disciples and others gathered to hear His teachings. Teaching Points The Source of AbundanceRecognize that all material blessings come from God, and we are merely stewards of His resources. The Danger of GreedUnderstand that greed can lead us away from God and cause us to focus on temporary, earthly gains rather than eternal, spiritual wealth. Being Rich Toward GodPrioritize spiritual growth and generosity over accumulating material possessions, aligning our lives with God's purposes. The Temporary Nature of Earthly WealthRemember that earthly wealth is fleeting and cannot provide true security or fulfillment. Trust in God's ProvisionCultivate a heart of contentment and trust in God's provision, knowing that He will meet our needs. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Luke 12
Is worldly success worth losing your soul?
Is hoarding wealth more important than spiritual richness?
What are the key teachings and events in Luke?
What does the Bible say about Christian stockpiling?Verse 16. - The ground of a certain richman brought forth plentifully. The unhappy subject of the Lord's story was a common figure in Palestine in an ordinarily prosperous time. We have the portrait of a landowner whose farms do not seem to have been acquired by any unjust means. This man, after years of successful industry, having acquired great wealth, wholly devotes himself to it and to its further increase. He does not give himself up to excess or profligacy, but simply, body and soul, becomes the slave of his wealth; utterly, hopelessly selfish, he forgets alike God and his neighbor.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Thenδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.He toldΕἶπεν(Eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.themαὐτοὺς(autous)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.a parable:παραβολὴν(parabolēn)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3850:From paraballo; a similitude, i.e. fictitious narrative, apothegm or adage.“Theἡ(hē)Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.groundχώρα(chōra)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5561:Feminine of a derivative of the base of chasma through the idea of empty expanse; room, i.e. A space of territory.of a certainτινὸς(tinos)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100:Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.richπλουσίου(plousiou)Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4145:Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.manἈνθρώπου(Anthrōpou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 444:A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.produced an abundance.εὐφόρησεν(euphorēsen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2164:To bear well, bring a good harvest, yield abundantly. From eu and phoreo; to bear well, i.e. Be fertile.
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NT Gospels: Luke 12:16 He spoke a parable to them saying (Luke Lu Lk) |
