Paragraph 16:22–23

In this paragraph, the setting of the parable changes. This paragraph describes the situation of the poor man and the rich man in the places where their spirits went after they died.

16:22a

One day: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as One day is more literally “Now it happened that.” Some versions, such as the New American Standard Bible and New Jerusalem Bible, translate it that way. This phrase introduces an important event, the death of the poor man. This event is a turning point in the story. Many modern English versions do not translate this phrase explicitly. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

The time came when (New International Version)
-or-
Later (New Century Version)
-or-
Finally (New Living Translation (2004))

Use a natural way in your language to introduce this event.

the beggar died: The word beggar is the same word as in 16:20a and refers back to Lazarus.

16:22b

was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side: The clause was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side means that some angels took or accompanied the poor man’s soul/spirit to be with Abraham. The verse does not say what happened to the poor man’s body.

the angels: The phrase the angels refers to some angels, not all the angels. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

angels (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
there were angels
-or-
some angels

angels: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angels means “messengers.” It refers here to spirit-beings who serve God. Some ways to translate this term are:

• Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:

messengers ⌊from God/heaven⌋
-or-

⌊good/holy⌋ spirit-beings
-or-
spirit-being servants of God

• Use a local term that fits the biblical meaning.

• In some areas the churches may use a borrowed term or a transliterated word for angels. If some people do not understand the right meaning from this word, you may need to indicate the meaning. For example:

angelos messengers ⌊from God⌋
-or-
sacred angelos spirits

Be sure that your term for angels is different from your terms for “prophet” and “apostle.” See angel, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

was carried: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as carried means to carry or take away from one place to another. The expression “the beggar…was carried” refers to the poor man’s inner being (his soul or spirit), not his body. In some languages, using a word such as carried may wrongly imply that the angels carried the poor man’s body. Some other ways to translate the phrase was carried are:

took him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
led/accompanied his soul/spirit

to Abraham’s side: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Abraham’s side is literally “Abraham’s bosom/chest.” This was a Jewish expression that figuratively referred to God’s people having close fellowship with their great ancestor, Abraham. For example:

to be with Abraham (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to the place of honor next to Abraham (Contemporary English Version)

Many scholars think that this expression specifically implies a place of honor next to Abraham at the Messianic feast. (See 13:28–29, which mentions Abraham in connection with the feast in the kingdom of God.) For example:

to sit beside Abraham at the feast in heaven (Good News Translation)

However, other scholars think that the expression “Abraham’s bosom” implies close fellowship with Abraham, but not necessarily a feast. The parable itself does not mention a feast. It is recommended that you avoid specifying a feast and its location “in heaven.” Scholars do not agree exactly where the spirits of righteous dead people were located, and the verse does not make this detail explicit.

16:22c

And the rich man also died: Jesus did not say when the rich man died. This does not matter, but it was probably after Lazarus died.

and was buried: The verb was buried is a passive verb. If it is more natural to use an active verb in your language, you may supply “his family” or “people” as the subject. For example:

and ⌊his family⌋ buried him

In some languages it may be more natural to speak of a person’s body being buried. For example:

and his body/corpse was buried

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