13Someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." [12:14] But he said to him, "Man, who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?" [12:15] He said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of covetousness, because a person's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, even when he has more than enough." [12:16] Then he told them a parable: "The land of a certain rich man produced abundantly. [12:17] And he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What will I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' [12:18] And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [12:19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years — rest, eat, drink, be merry.' [12:20] But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared — whose will they be?' [12:21] So is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
LUK 12:13-21
The Parable of the Rich Fool
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Judea, inheritance disputes were common and often tied to family honor and social standing. Inheritance included not just land or wealth but also the family’s identity and obligations within the community. For Jesus to be asked to arbitrate such a dispute reflects the cultural expectation that religious teachers could function as mediators in legal or familial matters. However, Jesus refuses this role, redirecting attention to the deeper issue of covetousness , a term that conveyed not just desire but an insatiable greed that disrupted social harmony. The parable of the rich fool critiques the pursuit of wealth as a source of security. In an agrarian society, abundant harvests were seen as divine blessing, but hoarding without regard for others violated communal values. The term 'fool' implied moral and practical failure, particularly in neglecting one’s duty to God and neighbor. The 'soul' here refers to the whole person, emphasizing that life’s value is not measured by possessions.
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How other translations render this
LUK 12:13
- KJV
- And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
- BSB
- Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
- Koinōnos
- Someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.
LUK 12:14
- KJV
- And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
- BSB
- But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
- Koinōnos
- But he said to him, "Man, who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?
LUK 12:15
- KJV
- And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
- BSB
- And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for oneʼs life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
- Koinōnos
- He said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of covetousness, because a person's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, even when he has more than enough.
LUK 12:16
- KJV
- And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
- BSB
- Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.
- Koinōnos
- Then he told them a parable: "The land of a certain rich man produced abundantly.
LUK 12:17
- KJV
- And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
- BSB
- So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’
- Koinōnos
- And he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What will I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?
LUK 12:18
- KJV
- And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
- BSB
- Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.
- Koinōnos
- And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
LUK 12:19
- KJV
- And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
- BSB
- Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- Koinōnos
- And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years — rest, eat, drink, be merry.
LUK 12:20
- KJV
- But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
- BSB
- But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
- Koinōnos
- But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared — whose will they be?
LUK 12:21
- KJV
- So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
- BSB
- This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
- Koinōnos
- So is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 12:13
- inheritance.:The word translated 'inheritance' refers to a portion of an estate received by legal right, often implying a fixed share or legacy passed down through family lines.
LUK 12:15
- covetousness,:The term translated 'covetousness' describes an insatiable desire for more, often at the expense of others, and can imply a grasping or overreaching attitude.
LUK 12:19
- soul:The word translated 'soul' here encompasses not just the spiritual essence but also one's life, vitality, and very being, often referring to the whole person.
LUK 12:20
- Fool!:The word translated 'Fool!' implies a lack of understanding or practical wisdom, often leading to self-destructive behavior, rather than merely a lack of intelligence.