Luke 15:20
18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
- KJV
- And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- WEB
- “He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- ASV
- And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- DARBY
- And he rose up and went to his own father. But while he was yet a long way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell upon his neck, and covered him with kisses.
- BLB
- And having risen up, he went to his father. But [on] his still being distant, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and having run, he fell upon his neck and kissed him.
- ÅB
- Og han sto opp og kom til sin far. Men da han enda var langt borte, så hans far ham, og han ynkedes inderlig, og løp til og falt ham om halsen og kysset ham.
- OTB
- Så reiste han seg og dro til sin far. Men mens han ennå var langt borte, så faren ham og fikk medynk; han løp til sønnen, omfavnet ham og kysset ham.
- B1930
- Og han stod op og kom til sin far. Men da han ennu var langt borte, så hans far ham, og han ynkedes inderlig, og løp til og falt ham om halsen og kysset ham.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 103:10–13
He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.
Read in contextPsalms 86:5
For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
Read in contextPsalms 86:15
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
Read in contextEphesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Read in contextIsaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!
Read in contextGenesis 46:29
Joseph prepared his chariot and went there to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, embraced him, and wept profusely.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 30:2–4
and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey His voice with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I am giving you today,
Read in contextJob 33:27–28
Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
Read in context