The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The stark contrast in their burials highlights their fates: Lazarus is "carried by angels" to a place of honor, while the rich man, despite receiving a burial (an earthly comfort), is immediately plunged into a starkly different reality without any heavenly escort. This emphasis on their final destinations, rather than just their earthly lives, points to the ultimate spiritual reckoning.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage marks a dramatic turning point in Jesus' parable. Up until this point, the narrative focused on the stark contrast between the lives of the poor, suffering Lazarus and the rich man who ignored him. Now, their earthly lives end, and Jesus immediately shifts to their eternal realities, highlighting how drastically their circumstances have changed in the afterlife.
When the poor man took his last breath, it wasn't silence that followed. Instead, a heavenly escort arrived to guide him.
The text tells us Lazarus was 'carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.' This wasn't just a gentle transport; it reflects a deeply held Jewish belief that angelic beings actively welcome the righteous into God's presence. Think of it as a divine welcoming committee, ensuring a smooth and glorious transition from earthly suffering to eternal rest and intimacy with God, represented by 'Abraham's bosom.' This imagery assures us that our eternal destination isn't left to chance, but is a journey overseen by God's loving, ministering spirits. This 'carrying' signifies not only passage but also honor and belonging.
One man receives a pauper's end, the other a grand burial. But the story's true weight lies in where they went next.
The stark contrast between Lazarus being 'carried by the angels' and the rich man being 'buried' is incredibly significant. While Lazarus's earthly end was marked by suffering and neglect, his heavenly reception was glorious. The rich man, conversely, received earthly pomp and ceremony in his burial – a final act of worldly honor. However, the parable dramatically shifts focus, revealing that these earthly honors were utterly meaningless in the face of his eternal destiny. The rich man's burial is mentioned specifically to highlight the terrifying irony: while his body was laid to rest with worldly fanfare, his soul was facing a completely different, dreadful reality. This emphasizes that true value isn't in how the world buries us, but in how God receives us.
Understand the original words
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ptōchos · Greek Adjective/Noun
A person who lacks material possessions or status; in biblical terms, often associated with humility, reliance on God, and those whom God especially notices and protects.
angelos · Greek Noun
Heavenly beings created by God who serve as His messengers and agents in carrying out His will, including escorting the faithful at death.
Abraam · Greek Noun
The father of the Jewish nation and the patriarch of faith; in this context, he represents the place of blessed rest and fellowship with God for the faithful.
Hades · Greek Noun
The place of the dead; in the New Testament, it is often depicted as a place of conscious existence separated from God, involving suffering for the unrighteous while awaiting final judgment.
basanos · Greek Noun
Severe physical, mental, or spiritual suffering; often used in Scripture to describe the condition of those separated from God’s presence and experiencing divine judgment.
This passage speaks of many, including Abraham, reclining at a feast in the kingdom of heaven, directly connecting to the concept of 'Abraham's bosom' as a place of honor and fellowship in the afterlife.
John 13:23The imagery of 'leaning on Jesus' bosom' at the Last Supper mirrors the intimacy and favor implied by Lazarus being carried into 'Abraham's bosom,' highlighting a special closeness with a revered figure.
Hebrews 1:14This verse describes angels as 'ministering spirits sent out to serve for those who are going to inherit salvation,' which provides theological backing for the idea of angels carrying Lazarus to his eternal home.
Luke 16:25The rich man's statement, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things,' directly contrasts with Lazarus's fate and sets up the later revelation of what constituted true 'good things' in the afterlife.
vincentLuke 16:22: "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;"
Abraham's bosomA Rabbinical phrase, equivalent to being with Abraham in Paradise. "To the Israelite Abraham seems the personal centre and meeting-point of Paradise" (Goebel).
clarkeLuke 16:22: "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;"
The rich man also died, and was buried - There is no mention of this latter circumstance in the case of Lazarus; he was buried, no doubt - necessity required this; but he had the burial of a pauper, while the pomp and pride of the other followed him to the tomb. But what a difference in these burials, if we take in the reading of my old MS. Bible,…
The stark contrast in their burials highlights their fates: Lazarus is "carried by angels" to a place of honor, while the rich man, despite receiving a burial (an earthly comfort), is immediately plunged into a starkly different reality without any heavenly escort. This emphasis on their final destinations, rather than just their earthly lives, points to the ultimate spiritual reckoning.
This passage marks a dramatic turning point in Jesus' parable. Up until this point, the narrative focused on the stark contrast between the lives of the poor, suffering Lazarus and the rich man who ignored him. Now, their earthly lives end, and Jesus immediately shifts to their eternal realities, highlighting how drastically their circumstances have changed in the afterlife.
This passage marks a dramatic turning point in Jesus' parable. Up until this point, the narrative focused on the stark contrast between the lives of the poor, suffering Lazarus and the rich man who ignored him. Now, their earthly lives end, and Jesus immediately shifts to their eternal realities, highlighting how drastically their circumstances have changed in the afterlife.
"The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." — The stark contrast in their burials highlights their fates: Lazarus is "carried by angels" to a place of honor, while the rich man, despite receiving a burial (an earthly comfort), is immediately plu…
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Last reviewed October 2026