He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
Show the surrounding paragraph
Luke 12:17-19 sits inside this longer paragraph.
He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
Parallel Translations
-
He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’
He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
-
and he thought in himsilfe sayinge: what shall I do? because I have noo roume where to bestowe my frutes?
And he sayde: This will I do. I will destroye my barnes and bilde greater and therin will I gadder all my frutes and my goodes:
and I will saye to my soule: Soule thou hast moch goodes layde vp in stoore for many yeares take thyne ease: eate drinke and be mery.
Show all 3 translations
-
Therefore he thought with himselfe, saying, What shall I doe, because I haue no roume, where I may lay vp my fruites?
And he said, This wil I do, I wil pul downe my barnes, and builde greater, and therein will I gather all my fruites, and my goods.
And I wil say to my soule, Soule, thou hast much goods laide vp for many yeeres: liue at ease, eate, drinke and take thy pastime.
Cross-references (58)
- Proverbs 27:1 (v19) Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
- James 4:13-15 (v19) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” Whereas you don’t…
- Matthew 6:19-21 (v19) “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for…
- 1 Corinthians 15:32 (v19) If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let’s eat and drink, for…
- James 3:15 (v18) This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
Show all 57 cross-references
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 (v19) Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the…
- Isaiah 5:11 (v19) Woe to those who rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, who stay late into the night, until wine inflames them!
- Philippians 3:19 (v19) whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
- James 4:15 (v18) For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.”
- Matthew 5:42 (v17) Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
- Luke 12:21 (v18) So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
- Luke 18:6 (v18) The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
- James 5:5 (v19) You have lived in luxury on the earth, and taken your pleasure. You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
- Psalms 62:10 (v19) Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.
- Proverbs 18:11 (v19) The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
- Isaiah 58:7 (v17) Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that…
- Job 31:24-25 (v19) “If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’ If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and…
- Psalms 17:14 (v18) from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons…
- Isaiah 22:13 (v19) and behold, joy and gladness, killing cattle and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: “Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we will…
- Luke 18:4 (v18) He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,
- Romans 12:13 (v17) contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (v17) Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each man give…
- 2 Timothy 3:4 (v19) traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
- Revelation 18:7 (v19) However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen,…
- Deuteronomy 6:11-12 (v19) and houses full of all good things which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees which you…
- Deuteronomy 8:12-14 (v19) lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses and lived in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and…
- Job 14:1 (v19) “Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
- Proverbs 23:5 (v19) Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
- Isaiah 5:8 (v19) Woe to those who join house to house, who lay field to field, until there is no room, and you are made to dwell alone in the middle of the…
- Hosea 12:8 (v19) Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”
- Luke 11:41 (v17) But give for gifts to the needy those things which are within, and behold, all things will be clean to you.
- Luke 16:9 (v17) I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.
- Luke 18:22 (v17) When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. Then you…
- Luke 19:17 (v17) “He said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
- Acts 16:30 (v17) brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- James 5:1-3 (v19) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.…
- 1 Peter 4:3 (v19) For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies,…
- 1 John 3:16 (v17) By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
- 1 Timothy 6:17 (vv17, 19) Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the…
- Psalms 49:18 (v19) Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
- Psalms 52:5-7 (v19) God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. The…
- Ecclesiastes 11:2 (v17) Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
- Amos 6:3-6 (v19) Those who put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; Who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their…
- Habakkuk 1:16 (v19) Therefore he sacrifices to his net, and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious, and his food is good.
- Luke 3:11 (v17) He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”
- Luke 10:25 (v17) Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
- Luke 12:22 (v17) He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will…
- Luke 12:29 (v17) Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.
- Luke 12:33 (v17) Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that…
- Luke 14:13-14 (v17) But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources…
- Luke 16:3 (v17) “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have…
- Luke 16:19 (v19) “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
- Luke 21:34 (v19) “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you…
- Acts 2:37 (v17) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
- 1 Timothy 5:6 (v19) But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
- Job 21:11-13 (v19) They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the…
- Psalms 49:5-13 (v19) Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me? Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude…
57 distinct cross-references across this passage (58 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (12 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv17, 19 Made his reckoning within himself, which is the property…
Made his reckoning within himself, which is the property of covetous churls that spend their life in those trifles.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv17–19 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall…
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Ver. 17. And he thought within himself] He was up with the more and down with the less; he cast up his reckonings, as covetous men’s manner is, and after long debate to and fro, concluded what to do.
Read full note →
He talked to himself, &c.] διελογιζετο. A marvellous proper word for the purpose.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv17–19 And, he thought within himself,.... And foolish thoughts they…
And, he thought within himself,.... And foolish thoughts they were; he did not think of God, or that there was one, and much less that he was the author, of all his outward prosperity and plenty; and was still further off of thinking of returning thanks to God for it: or of asking counsel of him, what he should do with it; but he consults himself only, and thought only within, and for himself; and not at all of his poor neighbours, or for the good of others; nor did he think even of his own soul, but altogether about his worldly substance:
saying, what shall I do? he does not say what shall I do for God? for his interest service, and glory? for the poor, the hungry, and thirsty, and naked? or for my own soul, that that may be eternally saved? but what shall I do with my goods?
Read full note →
because I have no room where to bestow my fruits: he had gathered in his harvest, and filled his barns as full as they could hold, so that they had no room for more; and yet had still an abundance to lay up, and about which he was anxiously concerned; not thinking of the empty bellies, barns, and houses of the poor, where he might have stowed much.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v17 What shall I do? - The very language of…
What shall I do? - The very language of want! Do? Why, lay up treasure in heaven.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Verse 17. He thought within himself] Began to be…
Verse 17. He thought within himself] Began to be puzzled in consequence of the increase of his goods. Riches, though ever so well acquired, produce nothing but vexation and embarrassment.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv17–19 He thought within himself - He reasoned or inquired.…
He thought within himself - He reasoned or inquired. He was anxious and perplexed. Riches increase thought and perplexity. Indeed, this is almost their only effect - to engross the thoughts and steal the heart away from better things, in order to take care of the useless wealth.
No room - Everything was full.
Read full note →
To bestow - To place, to hoard, to collect.
My fruits - Our word “fruits” is not applied to “grain;” but the Greek word is applied to all the produce of the earth - not only “fruit,” but also grain. This is likewise the old meaning of the English word, especially in the plural number.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v19 Much goods, &c. It is evident how far this…
Much goods, &c. It is evident how far this poor man was mistaken, when he called these things goods, which with more reason ought to be esteemed evils. The only things that can rightly be called goods, are humility, modesty, and its other attendants. The opposite to these ought to be esteemed evils; and riches we ought to consider as indifferent. (St. John Chrysostom)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv17–19 17. What shall I do—Other men are perplexed to…
17. What shall I do—Other men are perplexed to get wealth; this man is perplexed to dispose of it.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv17–19 17. What shall I do] “He that loveth silver…
17. What shall I do] “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase,” Ecc_5:10.
my fruits] So “my barns,” “my fruits and my goods,” and “my soul.” This touch is evidently intended and is most vividly natural. So Nabal says, “Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers,” &c., 1Sa_25:11. So
Read full note →
“Their child.” “Our child!” “Our heiress!” “Ours!” for still
Like echoes from beyond a hollow, came
Her sicklier iteration.” Aylmer’s Field.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv17–19 (17) And he thought within himself.—The parable, like that…
(17) And he thought within himself.—The parable, like that of the Good Samaritan, is more than a similitude, and reads like an actual history. There is an almost dramatic vividness in the rich man’s soliloquy. It was the very “superfluity” of the man’s goods that became a new cause of anxiety. In such a case half was more than the whole. So far as life depended on property, it would have been better had the property been less.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv17, 19 Vers. 17, 18. And he thought within himself, saying,…
Vers. 17, 18. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater. "No place to bestow my fruits. Well answers St. Ambrose," Thou hast barns the bosoms of the needy, the houses of the widows, the mouths of orphans and of infants." Some might argue, from the sequel of the story, that God looks with disfavour on riches as riches. St. Augustine replies to such a mistaken deduction, "God desires not that thou shouldest lose thy riches, but that thou shouldest change their place" ("Serm.," 36:9). The Greek word rendered "barns" (apoyhkav whence our word "apothecary") has a broader signification than merely barns; it signifies store or warehouses of all kinds, thus suggesting that the hero of the story was more than a mere wealthy farmer he was probably also a trader. And there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. As he grew richer, he grew more covetous. Absolutely no care or thought for anything save his loved possessions seems to have crossed the threshold of that poor mistaken heart of his. This strange hunger after riches for riches" sake is, alas! a very usual form of soul-disease. Can it be cured? Alas! it is one of the most hopeless of soul-maladies. This unhappy love in countless cases becomes a passion, and twines itself round the heart, and so destroys all the affections and higher aspirations.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v19 12:19-20 My friend: Literally Soul. The man was speaking…
12:19-20 My friend: Literally Soul. The man was speaking to himself. • You fool! In Scripture, a fool is not someone with a low intelligence, but one who dishonors and disobeys God (Ps 14:1-5). • You will die (literally Your soul will be demanded from you): The man was satisfied with his soul, but God was not.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.