Luk 12:12-21 | NETfull | STEP | for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you must say.”

Luke 12:12-21

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment ^{▼▼ Grk “in that very hour” (an idiom).} what you must say.” ^{▼▼ Grk “what it is necessary to say.”}

The Parable of the Rich Landowner

13 Then ^{▼▼ Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.} someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell ^{▼▼ Tell my brother. In 1st century Jewish culture, a figure like a rabbi was often asked to mediate disputes, except that here mediation was not requested, but representation.} my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But Jesus ^{▼▼ Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} said to him, “Man, ^{▼▼ This term of address can be harsh or gentle depending on the context (BDAG 82 s.v. ἄνθρωπος 8). Here it is a rebuke.} who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?” ^{▼▼ The pronoun ὑμᾶς (humas) is plural, referring to both the man and his brother; thus the translation “you two.”} 15 Then ^{▼▼ Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.} he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from ^{▼▼ See L&N 13.154 for this use of the middle voice of φυλάσσω (fulassō) in this verse.} all types of greed, ^{▼▼ Or “avarice,” “covetousness.” Note the warning covers more than money and gets at the root attitude - the strong desire to acquire more and more possessions and experiences.} because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 He then ^{▼▼ Grk “And he.” Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the connection to the preceding statement.} told them a parable: ^{▼▼ Grk “a parable, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.} “The land of a certain rich man produced ^{▼▼ Or “yielded a plentiful harvest.”} an abundant crop, 17 so ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that this is a result of the preceding statement.} he thought to himself, ^{▼▼ Grk “to himself, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.} ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ^{▼▼ I have nowhere to store my crops. The thinking here is prudent in terms of recognizing the problem. The issue in the parable will be the rich man’s solution, particularly the arrogance reflected in v. 19.} 18 Then ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.} he said, ‘I ^{▼▼ Note how often the first person pronoun is present in these verses. The farmer is totally self absorbed.} will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself, ^{▼▼ Grk “to my soul,” which is repeated as a vocative in the following statement, but is left untranslated as redundant.} “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life ^{▼▼ Grk “your soul,” but ψυχή (yucē) is frequently used of one’s physical life. It clearly has that meaning in this context.} will be demanded back from ^{▼▼ Or “required back.” This term, ἀπαιτέω (apaiteō), has an economic feel to it and is often used of a debt being called in for repayment (BDAG 96 s.v. 1).} you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ ^{▼▼ Grk “the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” The words “for yourself” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.} 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, ^{▼▼ It is selfishness that is rebuked here, in the accumulation of riches for himself. Recall the emphasis on the first person pronouns throughout the parable.} but is not rich toward God.”