Devine Scripture

Luke 12:19

What does Luke 12:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 12:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 12:19 means

The man congratulates his soul: he believes he has many years guaranteed and plenty laid up to fund a life of ease—eat, drink, be merry. He treats possessions as the pathway to rest and joy, redefining the good life in terms of consumption and leisure. Yet he speaks only to himself, not to God, ignoring the Giver and the needy. His confidence rests on uncertain assumptions: long life, secure stores, stable conditions. This self-blessing unmasks his worship; his trust is in wealth’s promise of control and comfort, not in God’s providence and purpose.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have a great amount of goods in store, enough for a number of years; be at rest, take food and wine and be happy.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast many good things laid up for many years, be resting, eat, drink, be merry.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. Take thy rest: eat, drink, make good cheer.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much good things laid by for many years; repose thyself, eat, drink, be merry.

Context

After planning bigger barns, the man interprets his future through the lens of surplus. This sets up the divine interruption that will overturn his assumptions. The contrast between his self-assurance and God’s verdict is the parable’s climax, exposing the ultimate folly of defining life by possessions rather than by relationship to God.

v.18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.

v.19This passage

v.20But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 18:7

    How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.

  • James 5:1

    Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.

  • Deuteronomy 8:12

    lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

  • 1 Corinthians 15:32

    If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

  • 1 Peter 4:3

    For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:

  • Psalms 62:10

    Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart thereon.

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