Luke 12:17
New International Version
He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

New Living Translation
He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’

English Standard Version
and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’

Berean Standard Bible
So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’

Berean Literal Bible
And he was reasoning within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere I will store up my fruits?'

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

New King James Version
And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

New American Standard Bible
And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’

NASB 1995
“And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’

NASB 1977
“And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’

Legacy Standard Bible
And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’

Amplified Bible
And he began thinking to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place [large enough in which] to store my crops?’

Christian Standard Bible
He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He thought to himself, What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops?

American Standard Version
and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?

Contemporary English Version
and he said to himself, "What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything."

English Revised Version
and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He thought, 'What should I do? I don't have enough room to store my crops.'

Good News Translation
He began to think to himself, 'I don't have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do?

International Standard Version
So he began to think to himself, 'What should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'

Majority Standard Bible
So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’

NET Bible
so he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'

New Heart English Bible
He reasoned within himself, saying, 'What will I do, because I do not have room to store my crops?'

Webster's Bible Translation
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to deposit my fruits?

Weymouth New Testament
and he debated within himself, saying, "'What am I to do? for I have no place in which to store my crops.'

World English Bible
He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he was reasoning within himself, saying, What will I do, because I have nowhere I will gather together my fruits?

Berean Literal Bible
And he was reasoning within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere I will store up my fruits?'

Young's Literal Translation
and he was reasoning within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where I shall gather together my fruits?

Smith's Literal Translation
And he calculated in himself, saying, What shall I do, for I have not where I shall collect together my fruits?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he thought within himself, saying: What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he thought within himself, saying: ‘What should I do? For I have nowhere to gather together my crops.’

New American Bible
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’

New Revised Standard Version
And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he reasoned within himself and said, What shall I do, for I have no place to gather my crops?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And he thought to himself and said, 'What shall I do, for there is no place for me to gather my crops?' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he reasoned within himself, saying: What shall I do? for I have no place in which I can store my fruits.

Godbey New Testament
and he was reasoning in himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no place where I shall store my fruits?

Haweis New Testament
and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do? for I have not room where I may house my crops.

Mace New Testament
and thus he reason'd with himself, what shall I do for want of room to store up my crop?

Weymouth New Testament
and he debated within himself, saying, "'What am I to do? for I have no place in which to store my crops.'

Worrell New Testament
and he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, because I have not where to store my fruits?'

Worsley New Testament
and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do? for I have not room to lay up my corn.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Rich Fool
16Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. 17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.…

Cross References
Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

James 4:13-15
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” / You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. / Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”

Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? / The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Matthew 19:21-24
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” / When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. / Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ...

Psalm 49:10-12
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others. / Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes. / But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19
I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. / And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

Mark 8:36-37
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? / Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Proverbs 11:28
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Job 31:24-28
If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security, / if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much, / if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, ...

Matthew 13:22
The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Psalm 39:6
Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

Ecclesiastes 4:8
There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.


Treasury of Scripture

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

What.

Luke 12:22,29
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on…

Luke 10:25
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luke 16:3
Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

shall.

Luke 12:33
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luke 3:11
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Luke 11:41
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

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Bestow Crops Debated Deposit Fruit Fruits Gather Lay Nowhere Reasoned Reasoning Room Store Thought Together What Within
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Bestow Crops Debated Deposit Fruit Fruits Gather Lay Nowhere Reasoned Reasoning Room Store Thought Together What Within
Luke 12
1. Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy
13. and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns.
22. We must not worry about earthly things,
31. but seek the kingdom of God;
33. give alms;
35. be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes.
41. Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges,
49. and look for persecution.
54. The people must take this time of grace;
57. because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation.














So he thought to himself
This phrase indicates an internal dialogue, a moment of introspection. The Greek word used here is "dielogizeto," which implies a reasoning or deliberation within oneself. In the context of the parable, this reflects the rich man's self-centeredness, as he consults only himself rather than seeking divine guidance or considering the needs of others. Historically, this introspection highlights the cultural emphasis on self-reliance and personal wealth during the time of Jesus, contrasting with the biblical call to community and reliance on God.

What shall I do
This question reveals a moment of decision-making. The Greek "ti poieso" suggests a sense of urgency and personal responsibility. In the broader scriptural context, this question is pivotal, as it reflects the human condition of facing choices that have moral and spiritual implications. The rich man's focus is on his own problem-solving rather than seeking God's will, illustrating a common biblical theme of human autonomy versus divine dependence.

since I have nowhere to store my crops?
The phrase "nowhere to store" uses the Greek "ou echo pou sunaxo," indicating a lack of space or capacity. This reflects the man's material abundance, yet it also underscores his spiritual poverty. The historical context of agrarian society in ancient Palestine highlights the significance of crops as a symbol of wealth and security. However, the man's concern is solely about physical storage, ignoring the biblical principle of using wealth to bless others and honor God. This phrase challenges readers to consider how they manage their resources and the eternal implications of their earthly decisions.

(17) And he thought within himself.--The parable, like that of the Good Samaritan, is more than a similitude, and reads like an actual history. There is an almost dramatic vividness in the rich man's soliloquy. It was the very "superfluity" of the man's goods that became a new cause of anxiety. In such a case half was more than the whole. So far as life depended on property, it would have been better had the property been less.

Verses 17, 18. - And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater. "No place to bestow my fruits." Well answers St. Ambrose," Thou hast barns - the bosoms of the needy, the houses of the widows, the mouths of orphans and of infants." Some might argue, from the sequel of the story, that God looks with disfavour on riches as riches. St. Augustine replies to such a mistaken deduction, "God desires not that thou shouldest lose thy riches, but that thou shouldest change their place" ('Serm.,' 36:9). The Greek word rendered "barns" (ἀποθήκας - whence our word "apothecary") has a broader signification than merely barns; it signifies store or warehouses of all kinds, thus suggesting that the hero of the story was more than a mere wealthy farmer - he was probably also a trader. And there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. As he grew richer, he grew more covetous. Absolutely no care or thought for anything save his loved possessions seems to have crossed the threshold of that poor mistaken heart of his. This strange hunger after riches for riches' sake is, alas! a very usual form of soul-disease. Can it be cured? Alas! it is one of the most hopeless of soul-maladies. This unhappy love in countless cases becomes a passion, and twines itself round the heart, and so destroys all the affections and higher aspirations.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

he thought
διελογίζετο (dielogizeto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1260: To reason (with), debate (with), consider. From dia and logizomai; to reckon thoroughly, i.e. to deliberate.

to
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

himself,
ἑαυτῷ (heautō)
Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

‘What
Τί (Ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

shall I do,
ποιήσω (poiēsō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

since
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

I have
ἔχω (echō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

nowhere
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

to store
συνάξω (synaxō)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4863: From sun and ago; to lead together, i.e. Collect or convene; specially, to entertain.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

crops?’
καρπούς (karpous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2590: Probably from the base of harpazo; fruit, literally or figuratively.


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