Bible Strands
Luke 16:29
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Abraham speaks to the rich man in Hades, responding directly to the man’s plea that Lazarus return to warn his five living brothers. The exchange occurs mid-dialogue, establishing the moment before the rich man proposes a post-resurrection sign.
The words — ἔχουσιν (echousin) literally means “they have,” and Μωϋσέα (Mōusea) means “Moses.” The text uses these terms to state plainly that the brothers possess the written revelation.
The thread — The reference to “Moses and the Prophets” runs through Luke 16:16, Luke 24:27, and Acts 15:21, consistently marking the Hebrew Scriptures as the established witness to God’s revelation.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to accept the sufficiency of Scripture for moral instruction and repentance. It requires immediate obedience to the written Word rather than demanding additional supernatural validation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
Cross-references
- Acts 15:21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
- Luke 16:16 The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
- Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.
- Isaiah 34:16 Search and read the scroll of the LORD: Not one of these will go missing, not one will lack her mate, because He has ordered it by His mouth, and He will gather them by His Spirit.
- Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
- John 5:39 You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me,
- Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
- 2 Timothy 3:15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Peter 1:19 We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
- Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.