Luke 16:23

16:23 And in hell, ¹  as he was in torment, ²  he looked up ³  and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. ⁴ 

Luke 16:26

16:26 Besides all this, ⁵  a great chasm ⁶  has been fixed between us, ⁷  so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’

[16:23]  ¹ sn The Greek term Hades stands for the Hebrew concept of Sheol. It is what is called hell today. This is where the dead were gathered (Ps 16:10; 86:13). In the NT Hades has an additional negative force of awaiting judgment (Rev 20:13).

[16:23]  ² sn Hades is a place of torment, especially as one knows that he is separated from God.

[16:23]  ³ tn Grk “he lifted up his eyes” (an idiom).

[16:23]  ⁴ tn Grk “in his bosom,” the same phrase used in 16:22. This idiom refers to heaven and/or participation in the eschatological banquet. An appropriate modern equivalent is “at Abraham’s side.”

[16:26]  ⁵ tn Grk “And in all these things.” There is no way Lazarus could carry out this request even if divine justice were not involved.

[16:26]  ⁶ sn The great chasm between heaven and hell is impassable forever. The rich man’s former status meant nothing now.

[16:26]  ⁷ tn Grk “between us and you.”