And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

LUKE 16:24KJV
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Luke 16:24 (KJV)

What does Luke 16:24 mean?

Luke 16:24 describes a rich man, now suffering after death, calling out to Abraham and begging for mercy. He asks Abraham to send Lazarus to give him even a drop of water to cool his tongue, because he is in agony in the flames.

In this verse, Jesus is telling a story where the rich man, who ignored Lazarus in life, now finds himself in torment while Lazarus is comforted. The rich man addresses Abraham as "Father," showing his Jewish heritage, and pleads for relief, highlighting the reversal of fortunes after death. This moment sets up the contrast between the two men and emphasizes the seriousness of their situations.

The Greek behind Luke 16:24

  • The word for "tormented" (βασανίζομαι, basanizomai) carries the sense of severe pain or distress, not just mild discomfort. This highlights the intensity of the rich man's suffering.
  • The word for "cool" (καταψύχω, katapsychō) means to refresh or relieve, even in a small way. The rich man is not asking for escape, but for the smallest comfort, showing his desperation.
  • The word for "mercy" (ἐλεέω, eleeō) is often used in the New Testament for asking compassion or pity. Here, it underlines the rich man's helplessness and need for kindness, which he did not show Lazarus in life.

Why Luke 16:24 matters

  • Luke 16:24 makes clear that the rich man is fully aware of his suffering and is able to communicate, which shows a conscious experience after death in this parable.
  • The verse highlights a dramatic reversal: the man who once had everything now begs for the smallest relief from the man he once ignored.
  • This request for mercy from Abraham, rather than from God directly, fits the Jewish context of the story and helps set up the rest of Jesus’ teaching about responsibility, compassion, and the consequences of one’s choices.

Where else these words appear

“dip” Greek G911 · used in 3 verses

  • John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
  • Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

“tip” Greek G206 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
  • Mark 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
  • Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

“tormented” Greek G3600 · used in 4 verses

  • Luke 2:48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
  • Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
  • Acts 20:38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

“flame” Greek G5395 · used in 7 verses

  • Acts 7:30 And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
  • Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
  • Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;