Luke 15:13
What does Luke 15:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 15:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 15:13 means
Soon after receiving his portion, the younger son gathers everything he has and travels to a distant land. His immediate departure signifies a complete severance from his family and home, both physically and spiritually. There, he foolishly squanders his inheritance on "riotous living," indulging in a life of wasteful excess and moral abandon. This swift decline underscores the consequences of his initial choices, leading him away from his father's guidance and into destitution.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And not long after, the younger son got together everything which was his and took a journey into a far-away country, and there all his money went in foolish living.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And not many days after, having gathered all together, the younger son went abroad to a far country, and there he scattered his substance, living riotously;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And not many days after, the younger son, gathering all together, went abroad into a far country: and there wasted his substance, living riotously.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And after not many days the younger son gathering all together went away into a country a long way off, and there dissipated his property, living in debauchery.
Context
This verse describes the younger son's swift departure and reckless behavior, detailing the immediate consequences of his demand for the inheritance. It illustrates the destructive path he chose, setting up the inevitable decline and hardship that will follow. This period of wasteful living is crucial for understanding the depth of his eventual repentance and the father's subsequent grace.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 22:13
and, behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
- Micah 6:3
O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
- Proverbs 21:20
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
- Proverbs 27:8
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.
- Isaiah 56:12
Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to-morrow shall be as this day, a day great beyond measure.
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