Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.
Parallel translations
- WEB He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.
- KJV And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
- ESV And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,
- NKJV Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
- NASB And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.
- NLT Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus tells a parable of a rich man whose land produced an abundant harvest. The story exposes the folly of trusting in earthly wealth.
Overview
The parable opens with a man already wealthy who receives an unusually large crop, a picture of worldly prosperity. There is nothing wrong with the harvest itself; the issue will be the man's response to it. Jesus uses this scenario to illustrate the warning against covetousness and the danger of living as though this life is all there is.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Gen 26:12–14Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him,
- Hos 2:8For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold—which they crafted for Baal.
- Gen 41:47–49During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully.
- Job 12:6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.
- Ps 73:12Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.
- Ps 73:3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Matt 5:45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
- Acts 14:17Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 12:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.