Luk 16:24 | NETfull | STEP | So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.’

Luke 16:24

24 So ^{▼▼ Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of previous actions in the narrative.} he called out, ^{▼▼ Grk “calling out he said”; this is redundant in contemporary English style and has been simplified to “he called out.”} ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus ^{▼▼ The rich man had not helped Lazarus before, when he lay outside his gate (v. 2), but he knew him well enough to know his name. This is why the use of the name Lazarus in the parable is significant. (The rich man’s name, on the other hand, is not mentioned, because it is not significant for the point of the story.)} to dip the tip of his finger ^{▼▼ The dipping of the tip of his finger in water is evocative of thirst. The thirsty are in need of God’s presence (Ps 42:1–2; Isa 5:13). The imagery suggests the rich man is now separated from the presence of God.} in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish ^{▼▼ Or “in terrible pain” (L&N 24.92).} in this fire.’ ^{▼▼ Fire in this context is OT imagery; see Isa 66:24.}