Luke 15:12
What does Luke 15:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 15:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 15:12 means
The younger son's demand for his inheritance while his father is still alive is a profoundly disrespectful and culturally shocking act, essentially wishing his father dead. This unprecedented request highlights his impatience, self-centeredness, and desire for independence from his father's authority and home. The father's immediate granting of the request, dividing his living between both sons, demonstrates his loving, though perhaps sorrowful, surrender to his son's will, respecting his agency even in destructive choices.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion ofthy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion ofthy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me that part of your property which will be mine. And he made division of his goods between them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of the substance falling to <FI>me<Fi> , and he divided to them the living.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give to me the share of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided to them what he was possessed of.
Context
This verse reveals the younger son's audacious request that sets the entire parable in motion. It immediately establishes his rebellious nature and desire for autonomy. This act of premature inheritance is the inciting incident that leads to his departure and subsequent downfall, creating the necessary conditions for the themes of loss and repentance to emerge.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 17:14
From men by thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, whose portion is inthislife, And whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure: They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
- Mark 12:44
for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
- Luke 15:30
but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.
- Deuteronomy 21:16
then it shall be, in the day that he causeth his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved the first-born before the son of the hated, who is the first-born:
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