Luke 16:31
New International Version
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

New Living Translation
“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

English Standard Version
He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Berean Standard Bible
Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Berean Literal Bible
But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, not even will they be persuaded if one should rise out from the dead.'"

King James Bible
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

New King James Version
But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

NASB 1995
“But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

NASB 1977
“But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Amplified Bible
And he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to [the messages of] Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Christian Standard Bible
“But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“But he told him, If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’”

American Standard Version
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.

Contemporary English Version
So Abraham said, "If they won't pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even to someone who comes back from the dead."

English Revised Version
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Abraham answered him, 'If they won't listen to Moses' [Teachings] and the Prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone comes back to life.'"

Good News Translation
But Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone were to rise from death.'"

International Standard Version
"Then Abraham told him, 'If your brothers do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.'"

Majority Standard Bible
Then Abraham said to him, ?If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.??

NET Bible
He replied to him, 'If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

New Heart English Bible
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one shall rise from the dead.

Weymouth New Testament
"'If they are deaf to Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham, 'they would not be led to believe even if some one should rise from the dead.'"

World English Bible
“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one may rise out of the dead.”

Berean Literal Bible
But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, not even will they be persuaded if one should rise out from the dead.'"

Young's Literal Translation
And he said to him, If Moses and the prophets they do not hear, neither if one may rise out of the dead will they be persuaded.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither if any rise from the dead, will they be persueded.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But he said to him: ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe even if someone has resurrected from the dead.’ ”

New American Bible
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Abraham said to him, If they will not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe even if a man should rise from the dead.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Abraham said to him, 'If they will not hear Moses and The Prophets, they will not believe him, even though a man would rise from the dead.' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded, though one should rise from the dead.

Godbey New Testament
But he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if one may rise from the dead.

Haweis New Testament
Then he said to him, If they hearken not to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

Mace New Testament
Abraham replied, if they disregard Moses and the prophets, they will not believe any one, though he rose from the dead.

Weymouth New Testament
"'If they are deaf to Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham, 'they would not be led to believe even if some one should rise from the dead.'"

Worrell New Testament
But he said to him, 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rose from the dead.'"

Worsley New Testament
And he replied, If they hearken not to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one should rise from the dead.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Rich Man and Lazarus
30‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Cross References
John 5:46-47
If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. / But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Matthew 12:39-41
Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. / For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. / The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

Acts 28:23-27
So they set a day to meet with Paul, and many people came to the place he was staying. He expounded to them from morning to evening, testifying about the kingdom of God and persuading them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. / Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. / They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit was right when He spoke to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: ...

John 12:37-41
Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him. / This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” / For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says: ...

Romans 10:16-21
But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” / Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. / But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” ...

Hebrews 3:7-19
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ...

John 8:45-47
But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me! / Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? / Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Matthew 11:20-24
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. / “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ...

Acts 13:40-41
Watch out, then, that what was spoken by the prophets does not happen to you: / ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. / The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Jeremiah 5:21
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Deuteronomy 18:15-19
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him. / This is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die!” / Then the LORD said to me, “They have spoken well. ...

Psalm 95:7-11
For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

neither.

John 11:43-53
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth…

John 12:10,11
But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; …

2 Corinthians 4:3
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

be persuaded.

Genesis 9:27
God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

Acts 19:8
And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Acts 26:28
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

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Luke 16
1. The parable of the unjust steward.
14. Jesus reproves the hypocrisy of the covetous Pharisees.
19. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar.














But Abraham replied
This phrase introduces the response of Abraham, a central patriarchal figure in Jewish history, symbolizing faith and obedience to God. In the context of the parable, Abraham represents the voice of divine wisdom and authority. The Greek word for "replied" (ἀποκρίνομαι, apokrinomai) suggests a thoughtful and authoritative response, emphasizing the weight of Abraham's words. Historically, Abraham is revered as the father of many nations, and his presence in this parable underscores the continuity of God's covenantal promises from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

If they do not listen
The phrase highlights the importance of heeding divine revelation. The Greek word for "listen" (ἀκούω, akouō) implies not just hearing but understanding and obeying. This reflects a recurring biblical theme: the call to listen to God's word with an open heart. The historical context here is the Jewish tradition of oral teaching, where listening was a primary means of learning and spiritual growth.

to Moses and the prophets
This phrase refers to the Law and the Prophets, which constitute the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Old Testament. Moses, as the lawgiver, and the prophets, as God's messengers, represent the foundation of Jewish faith and practice. The Greek text emphasizes the continuity and sufficiency of these scriptures in revealing God's will. Historically, Moses and the prophets were seen as authoritative voices, and their writings were central to Jewish religious life.

they will not be persuaded
The Greek word for "persuaded" (πείθω, peithō) suggests being convinced or brought to belief. This phrase underscores the hardness of heart that can prevent individuals from accepting truth, even when it is plainly presented. In a historical context, this reflects the resistance Jesus often encountered from religious leaders who were unwilling to accept His teachings despite the evidence of His miracles.

even if someone rises from the dead
This phrase is prophetic, foreshadowing Jesus' own resurrection. The Greek word for "rises" (ἀνίστημι, anistēmi) is often used in the New Testament to describe resurrection. The historical and scriptural context here is profound, as Jesus' resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian faith. Despite this miraculous event, many still refused to believe, illustrating the parable's message about the necessity of faith and the sufficiency of the Scriptures.

(31) If they hear not Moses and the prophets.--We are accustomed, rightly enough, to look on our Lord's own Resurrection as leading to the great fulfilment of these words. We should not forget, however, that there was another fulfilment more immediately following on them. In a few weeks, or even days, according to the best harmonists, tidings came that Lazarus of Bethany was sick (John 11:1). In yet a few days more that Lazarus did "rise from the dead;" cured, we may believe, of whatever love of this world's good things had checked his spiritual growth, a witness of the power of Christ to raise, as from the shadow-world of Hades, so also from the darkness of spiritual death to newness of life. And yet that wonder also brought about no repentance, Scribes and Pharisees, and Sadducees and priests simply took counsel together that they might put Lazarus also to death (John 12:10). We can hardly believe the coincidence of name and fact in this instance to have been undesigned.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[Abraham] said
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to him,
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

‘If
Εἰ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

they do not listen to
ἀκούουσιν (akouousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

Moses
Μωϋσέως (Mōuseōs)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3475: Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prophets,
προφητῶν (prophētōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.

they will not be persuaded even
πεισθήσονται (peisthēsontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3982: A primary verb; to convince; by analogy, to pacify or conciliate; reflexively or passively, to assent, to rely.

if
ἐάν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

someone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

rises
ἀναστῇ (anastē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 450: To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up.

from
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

[the] dead.’”
νεκρῶν (nekrōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3498: (a) adj: dead, lifeless, subject to death, mortal, (b) noun: a dead body, a corpse. From an apparently primary nekus; dead.


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