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 verse highlights that even in torment, the rich man's first action is to "lift up his eyes," suggesting a dawning awareness or a desperate longing for what he's lost. This isn't just about suffering, but the profound realization of separation from Abraham and Lazarus, who represent comfort and God's favor.
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 unfolds the immediate aftermath of death for both the rich man and Lazarus, as depicted in Jesus' parable. The rich man, who lived a life of self-indulgence and ignored Lazarus' suffering, now finds himself in a place of torment. He looks up and sees Lazarus, not in suffering but in a place of comfort with Abraham, highlighting the stark reversal of their earthly circumstances.
The rich man's first conscious act in the afterlife wasn't a peaceful rest, but an awakening to torment. What does this tell us about the nature of Hades?
The verse clearly distinguishes between "Hades" and "Gehenna." While Gehenna is the final place of punishment after judgment, Hades is depicted here as the realm of the dead where suffering begins immediately.
What's worse than personal suffering? Realizing you could have, and should have, chosen differently. The rich man's torment is magnified by memory and the sight of what he's missed.
The rich man's suffering isn't just internal pain; it's deeply connected to his awareness of his past actions and his present separation from God's comfort.
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Understand the original words
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 parable, though presented as a narrative, offers a powerful glimpse into the Jewish understanding of the afterlife prevalent in Jesus' day. The stark contrast between the rich man's torment and Lazarus' comfort at Abraham's side served as a dramatic warning about the eternal consequences of earthly priorities and compassion.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches the Parable
Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, likely in response to the Pharisees' criticism of his association with tax collectors and sinners. He uses this story to illustrate the consequences of earthly choices on eternal destiny.
c. 1st Century AD
Luke Compiles His Gospel
The Apostle Luke, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, records Jesus' teachings and ministry, including this parable, for a wider audience, likely Theophilus and other early Christians. The parable's depiction of the afterlife reflects Jewish understanding of the time.
c. 70-90 AD
Gospel of Luke is Circulated
The Gospel of Luke, containing this parable, is distributed among early Christian communities, influencing their understanding of judgment, repentance, and the separation between the righteous and the unrighteous.
This is the entire parable, which provides the immediate context and full narrative arc for the rich man's experience in the afterlife, highlighting the consequences of his earthly choices and the stark contrast with Lazarus's eternal state.
Matthew 25:41-46This passage describes the eternal separation between the righteous and the wicked, mirroring the 'great gulf' mentioned in the larger parable and illustrating the final judgment that solidifies the states seen in Luke 16:23.
2 Corinthians 5:8This verse speaks about being 'away from the body and at home with the Lord,' offering a perspective on the immediate presence with Christ for believers, which contrasts with the rich man's torment and separation from Abraham and Lazarus.
Psalm 16:10This verse states that the Lord 'will not abandon me to the grave, nor let your faithful servant be corrupted,' pointing to the expectation of deliverance from Sheol/Hades and a future resurrection, which aligns with Lazarus being in Abraham's 'bosom' rather than enduring eternal torment.
Philippians 1:23Paul expresses his desire 'to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,' reflecting the hope of being with the Lord that Lazarus experienced, in contrast to the rich man's conscious suffering and separation.
vincentLuke 16:23: "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."
HellRev., Hades. Where Lazarus also was, but in a different region. See on Matthew 16:18.
pulpitLuke 16:23: "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."
Verse 23. - And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments; more accurately, in Hades (the unseen world of the dead) he lift up his eyes. The idea of suffering does not lie in these first words, but in the participle "being in torments," which immediately follows. It is noticeable that, in this Divine picture of unhappy life in the other world there is no coarse, vulgar wo…
The verse highlights that even in torment, the rich man's first action is to "lift up his eyes," suggesting a dawning awareness or a desperate longing for what he's lost. This isn't just about suffering, but the profound realization of separation from Abraham and Lazarus, who represent comfort and God's favor.
This passage unfolds the immediate aftermath of death for both the rich man and Lazarus, as depicted in Jesus' parable. The rich man, who lived a life of self-indulgence and ignored Lazarus' suffering, now finds himself in a place of torment. He looks up and sees Lazarus, not in suffering but in a place of comfort with Abraham, highlighting the stark reversal of their earthly circumstances.
This passage unfolds the immediate aftermath of death for both the rich man and Lazarus, as depicted in Jesus' parable. The rich man, who lived a life of self-indulgence and ignored Lazarus' suffering, now finds himself in a place of torment. He looks up and sees Lazarus, not in suffering but in a place of comfort with Abraham, highlighting the stark reversal of their earthly circumstances.
"and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side." — The verse highlights that even in torment, the rich man's first action is to "lift up his eyes," suggesting a dawning awareness or a desperate longing for what he's lost. This isn't just about suffer…
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Last reviewed October 2026