King James Version

What Does Luke 12:16 Mean?

Luke 12:16 in the King James Version says “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:” — study this verse from Luke chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:”

Luke 12:16 · KJV

Context

14

And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

15

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17

And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully (Εἶπεν δὲ παραβολὴν πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγων· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα). Jesus introduces the Parable of the Rich Fool in response to a request for arbitration over inheritance (v. 13), redirecting from legal disputes to eternal priorities. The term parabole (παραβολή, parable) means a comparison or illustration that conveys spiritual truth through earthly story.

The phrase a certain rich man (anthropou tinos plousiou, ἀνθρώπου τινός πλουσίου) describes someone already wealthy—his problem is not poverty but prosperity. The verb euphoresen (εὐφόρησεν, brought forth plentifully) combines eu (well, good) and phero (to bear, bring forth), indicating exceptional agricultural abundance. This was blessing from God (Deuteronomy 28:11-12), yet the man's response reveals his spiritual bankruptcy. The ground (chora, χώρα) brought forth—passive voice emphasizing that fertility comes from God, not human effort. The rich man did not create this abundance; he merely received it.

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Historical & Cultural Context

First-century Palestine was primarily agrarian, with wealth measured in land ownership and crop yields. Good harvests were unpredictable, dependent on rainfall, soil quality, and absence of locust plagues. A bumper crop was considered divine blessing and could dramatically increase a farmer's wealth. However, storage was limited—grain spoiled if not properly kept. The cultural expectation was that the wealthy would share abundance with the community through hospitality, employment, and charity. The rich man's solitary focus on self-preservation violates covenant expectations of generosity toward the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7-11).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does viewing material abundance as God's gift rather than personal achievement change your response to blessing?
  2. In what ways do prosperity and success pose spiritual dangers that poverty does not?
  3. When has abundance tempted you toward self-sufficiency rather than dependence on God and generosity toward others?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 12 words
Εἶπεν1 of 12

“he spake”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

δὲ2 of 12

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

παραβολὴν3 of 12

“a parable”

G3850

a similitude ("parable"), i.e., (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage

πρὸς4 of 12

“unto”

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

αὐτοὺς5 of 12

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

λέγων,6 of 12

“saying”

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

Ἀνθρώπου7 of 12

“man”

G444

man-faced, i.e., a human being

τινὸς8 of 12

“of a certain”

G5100

some or any person or object

πλουσίου9 of 12

“rich”

G4145

wealthy; figuratively, abounding with

εὐφόρησεν10 of 12

“brought forth plentifully”

G2164

to bear well, i.e., be fertile

ἡ11 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

χώρα12 of 12

“The ground”

G5561

room, i.e., a space of territory (more or less extensive; often including its inhabitants)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 12:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 12:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 26:12-14Hosea 2:8Genesis 41:47-49Psalms 73:12Psalms 73:3Job 12:6

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