Luke 12:16
New International Version
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.

New Living Translation
Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.

English Standard Version
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,

Berean Standard Bible
Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.

Berean Literal Bible
And He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.

King James Bible
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

New King James Version
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

New American Standard Bible
And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.

NASB 1995
And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.

NASB 1977
And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a certain rich man was very productive.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.

Amplified Bible
Then He told them a parable, saying, “There was a rich man whose land was very fertile and productive.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive.

American Standard Version
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

Contemporary English Version
So Jesus told them this story: A rich man's farm produced a big crop,

English Revised Version
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then he used this illustration. He said, "A rich man had land that produced good crops.

Good News Translation
Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops.

International Standard Version
Then he told them a parable. He said, "The land of a certain rich man produced good crops.

Majority Standard Bible
Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.

NET Bible
He then told them a parable: "The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop,

New Heart English Bible
He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

Weymouth New Testament
And He spoke a parable to them. "A certain rich man's lands," He said, "yielded abundant crops,

World English Bible
He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He spoke an allegory to them, saying, “Of a certain rich man the field brought forth well;

Berean Literal Bible
And 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 Translation
And he spake a parable to them, saying, The farm of a certain rich man bore well:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he spoke a similitude to them, saying: The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then he spoke to them using a comparison, saying: “The fertile land of a certain wealthy man produced crops.

New American Bible
Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.

New Revised Standard Version
Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then he told them a parable. The land of a rich man brought him a great many crops.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he told a parable to them: “A certain rich man's land brought him many crops.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he spoke a parable to them, saying: The farm of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.

Godbey New Testament
He 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.” 16Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. 17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’…

Cross References
Matthew 6:19-21
Do 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 5:10-15
He 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 4:13-15
Come 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 11:28
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Instruct 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 13:22
The 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 49:16-20
Do 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 4:18-19
Others 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 23:4-5
Do 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 2:15-17
Do 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 2:18-21
I 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 19:21-24
Jesus 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 39:6
Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

Colossians 3:2-5
Set 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 28:22
A 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 bringeth abundantly.

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Luke 12
1. Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy
13. 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.














And He told them this parable
The introduction of a parable by Jesus is significant. The Greek word for "parable" is "παραβολή" (parabolē), which means a comparison or analogy. Parables were a common teaching method used by Jesus to convey deep spiritual truths through simple, relatable stories. This method allowed listeners to engage with the message on multiple levels, often revealing the state of their hearts. In the context of Luke 12, Jesus uses this parable to address issues of greed and the proper attitude towards wealth.

The ground of a certain rich man
The phrase "the ground" refers to the agricultural context of the time, where land was a primary source of wealth and sustenance. The Greek word "γῆ" (gē) signifies the earth or soil, emphasizing the natural provision from God. The "certain rich man" is a character in the parable representing those who have been blessed with abundance. Historically, wealth was often measured by land ownership and agricultural yield, making this parable relatable to Jesus' audience.

produced an abundance
The word "produced" comes from the Greek "εὐφόρησεν" (euphorēsen), meaning to yield or bring forth plentifully. This abundance is not attributed to the man's efforts but to the ground's natural fertility, highlighting God's provision. The concept of abundance in Scripture often serves as a test of character, revealing one's priorities and trust in God. In the historical context, a bountiful harvest was seen as a blessing, yet it also posed a challenge regarding stewardship and generosity.

Verse 16. - The ground of a certain rich man 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
Then
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

He told
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

them
αὐτοὺς (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.

“The
(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.

ground
χώρα (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 certain
τινὸς (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.

rich
πλουσίου (plousiou)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4145: Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.

man
Ἀνθρώπου (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)
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