Luke 16:19
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Study Note
Study Note
The parable's nameless rich man, 'clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day,' is depicted through markers of extreme luxury — purple dye was among the most expensive commodities in antiquity — while Lazarus lay at his gate, unnamed in life but named in death. The reversal structure (rich man in torment, poor man in Abraham's bosom) fulfils Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:52-53: 'he hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away') and the Beatitudes' woes. The parable does not condemn wealth per se but the hardened indifference to suffering at one's own threshold — a form of practical atheism that treats neighbour-love as optional. James 2:14-17 provides epistolary commentary on the same failure to translate faith into concrete material solidarity.
Other Translations
Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:
`And--a certain man was rich, and was clothed in purple and fine linen, making merry sumptuously every day,
Now there was a certain man of great wealth, who was dressed in fair clothing of purple and delicate linen, and was shining and glad every day.
Cross References
And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside …
And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a …
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; …
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her …
Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple …
That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, …