Luke 16:21

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And {G2532} desiring {G1937} to be fed {G5526} with {G575} the crumbs {G5589} which {G3588} fell {G4098} from {G575} the rich man's {G4145} table {G5132}: moreover {G235}{G2532} the dogs {G2965} came {G2064} and licked {G621} his {G846} sores {G1668}.

He would have been glad to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table; but instead, even the dogs would come and lick his sores.

and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Commentary

Luke 16:21 (KJV) describes the abject poverty and suffering of Lazarus, the poor man in Jesus's powerful parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This verse vividly portrays his desperate earthly condition, setting the stage for the parable's profound spiritual lessons.

Context

This verse is part of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16:19-31. Jesus tells this story to illustrate the dangers of wealth, the importance of compassion, and the eternal consequences of earthly choices. Lazarus, whose name means "God is my help," is contrasted sharply with the unnamed rich man who lived in luxury. While the rich man feasted sumptuously, Lazarus lay at his gate, utterly destitute.

Key Themes

  • Extreme Poverty and Suffering: Lazarus's desire for mere "crumbs" (fragments) from the rich man's table highlights his starvation and utter lack of resources. His sores, licked by dogs, emphasize his physical affliction and lack of human care or hygiene.
  • Indifference and Neglect: The rich man's failure to offer even the smallest help to Lazarus, who was literally at his doorstep, underscores a profound moral and spiritual blindness. His wealth did not translate into compassion or responsibility.
  • Dignity of the Poor: Significantly, only Lazarus is named in the parable, not the rich man. This subtly elevates Lazarus's status in God's eyes, emphasizing that God knows and cares for the marginalized, a theme echoed throughout scripture.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "crumbs" is psichion (ψιχίον), meaning small fragments or morsels, which further emphasizes Lazarus's extreme destitution—he wasn't looking for a meal, but for scraps. The "dogs" (Greek kynaria, κυνάρια) mentioned were likely stray, scavenger dogs, common in ancient Near Eastern cities, rather than pets. Their licking of Lazarus's sores, while a natural behavior for dogs, here serves to highlight his complete lack of human care and his degraded state, as such an interaction would have been seen as unclean and undignified.

Practical Application

Luke 16:21 serves as a stark reminder of our responsibility towards those in need. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and resources, asking if we are indifferent to the suffering around us, or if we are actively seeking to alleviate it. The parable teaches that our earthly choices have eternal consequences, particularly regarding how we treat the poor and vulnerable. Jesus himself identifies with the needy, stating in Matthew 25:40 that "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." This verse calls believers to compassion and action, recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual, regardless of their earthly circumstances.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 15:27

    And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

  • Mark 7:28

    And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

  • John 6:12

    When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:11

    Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

  • 2 Corinthians 11:27

    In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
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