Luke 16:28

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Complete Jewish Bible:

where I have five brothers, to warn them; so that they may be spared having to come to this place of torment too.’

Berean Standard Bible:

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.’

American Standard Version:

for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For^{G1063} I have^{G2192} five^{G4002} brethren^{G80}; that^{G3704} he may testify^{G1263} unto them^{G846}, lest^{G3363} they^{G846} also^{G2532} come^{G2064} into^{G1519} this^{G5126} place^{G5117} of torment^{G931}.

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Commentary for Luke 16:28

Luke 16:28 is part of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, a story found only in the Gospel of Luke. This verse occurs within the dialogue between the rich man, who is in Hades (the realm of the dead), and Abraham, who is in a place of comfort often interpreted as Heaven or Paradise. In the parable, the rich man, while suffering in the afterlife, sees Abraham with Lazarus, a poor man who used to beg outside the rich man's gate and is now in comfort. The rich man pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus back to the living to warn his five brothers so that they might repent and avoid the same fate.

The historical context of this verse reflects the Jewish beliefs of the afterlife during the Second Temple period, which included concepts of Hades, Abraham's bosom (a place of comfort for the righteous dead), and the idea that the dead could not return to the living to offer warnings or testimony. This belief is evident in the rich man's request being denied by Abraham, emphasizing the finality of the afterlife conditions as described in the parable.

The themes of Luke 16:28 include the reality of divine justice, the importance of repentance and compassion for the poor during one's earthly life, and the irreversible consequences of one's actions after death. The rich man's concern for his brothers suggests a belief in the possibility of repentance before death, but also highlights the inability of the dead to influence the living, reinforcing the idea that moral choices in life have eternal significance. The verse underscores Jesus' teachings on the proper use of wealth and the necessity of heeding God's word during one's lifetime, as the opportunity for change is not guaranteed after death.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1063
   There are 1016 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: γάρ
   Transliteration: gár
   Pronunciation: gar
   Description: a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: G2192
   There are 628 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔχω
   Transliteration: échō
   Pronunciation: skheh'-o
   Description: a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
   
3. Strong's Number: G4002
   There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: πέντε
   Transliteration: pénte
   Pronunciation: pen'-teh
   Description: a primary number; "five":--five.
   
4. Strong's Number: G80
   There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀδελφός
   Transliteration: adelphós
   Pronunciation: ad-el-fos'
   Description: from Α (as a connective particle) and (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like Α):--brother.
   
5. Strong's Number: G3704
   There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅπως
   Transliteration: hópōs
   Pronunciation: hop'-oce
   Description: from ὅς and πῶς; what(-ever) how, i.e. in the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual):--because, how, (so) that, to, when.
   
6. Strong's Number: G1263
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: διαμαρτύρομαι
   Transliteration: diamartýromai
   Pronunciation: dee-am-ar-too'-rom-ahee
   Description: from διά and μαρτυρέω; to attest or protest earnestly, or (by implication) hortatively:--charge, testify (unto), witness.
   
7. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
8. Strong's Number: G3363
   There are 95 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἵνα μή
   Transliteration: hína mḗ
   Pronunciation: hin'-ah may
   Description: i.e. ἵνα and μή; in order (or so) that not:--albeit not, lest, that, no(-t, (-thing)).
   
9. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
10. Strong's Number: G2064
    There are 604 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἔρχομαι
    Transliteration: érchomai
    Pronunciation: el'-tho
    Description: middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) , or (active) , which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.
    
11. Strong's Number: G1519
    There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰς
    Transliteration: eis
    Pronunciation: ice
    Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
    
12. Strong's Number: G5126
    There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τοῦτον
    Transliteration: toûton
    Pronunciation: too'-ton
    Description: accusative case singular masculine of οὗτος; this (person, as objective of verb or preposition):--him, the same, that, this.
    
13. Strong's Number: G5117
    There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τόπος
    Transliteration: tópos
    Pronunciation: top'-os
    Description: apparently a primary word; a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas χώρα is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard:--coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.
    
14. Strong's Number: G931
    There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: βάσανος
    Transliteration: básanos
    Pronunciation: bas'-an-os
    Description: perhaps remotely from the same as βάσις (through the notion of going to the bottom); a touch-stone, i.e. (by analogy) torture:--torment.