Luke 15:13-19
New English Translation
13 After[a] a few days,[b] the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered[c] his wealth[d] with a wild lifestyle. 14 Then[e] after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and worked for[f] one of the citizens of that country, who[g] sent him to his fields to feed pigs.[h] 16 He[i] was longing to eat[j] the carob pods[k] the pigs were eating, but[l] no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to his senses[m] he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food[n] enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned[o] against heaven[p] and against[q] you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me[r] like one of your hired workers.”’
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- Luke 15:13 tn Grk “And after.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 15:13 tn Grk “after not many days.”
- Luke 15:13 tn Or “wasted.” This verb is graphic; it means to scatter (L&N 57.151).
- Luke 15:13 tn Or “estate” (the same word has been translated “estate” in v. 12).
- Luke 15:14 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the sequence of events in the parable. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style generally does not.
- Luke 15:15 tn Grk “joined himself to” (in this case an idiom for beginning to work for someone).
- Luke 15:15 tn Grk “and he.” Here the conjunction καί (kai) and the personal pronoun have been translated by a relative pronoun to improve the English style.
- Luke 15:15 sn To a Jew, being sent to the field to feed pigs would be an insult, since pigs were considered unclean animals (Lev 11:7).
- Luke 15:16 tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Luke 15:16 tn Or “would gladly have eaten”; Grk “was longing to be filled with.”
- Luke 15:16 tn This term refers to the edible pods from a carob tree (BDAG 540 s.v. κεράτιον). They were bean-like in nature and were commonly used for fattening pigs, although they were also used for food by poor people (L&N 3.46).
- Luke 15:16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Luke 15:17 tn Grk “came to himself” (an idiom).
- Luke 15:17 tn Grk “bread,” but used figuratively for food of any kind (L&N 5.1).
- Luke 15:18 sn In the confession “I have sinned” there is a recognition of wrong that pictures the penitent coming home and “being found.”
- Luke 15:18 sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God.
- Luke 15:18 tn According to BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνωπιον 4.a, “in relation to ἁμαρτάνειν ἐ. τινος sin against someone Lk 15:18, 21 (cp. Jdth 5:17; 1 Km 7:6; 20:1).”
- Luke 15:19 tn Or “make me.” Here is a sign of total humility.
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