Luke 15:31
What does Luke 15:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 15:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 15:31 means
The father gently responds to the elder son, affirming his constant presence and reminding him, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine." This statement underscores the elder son's privileged position and continuous access to all the family's wealth, suggesting he had no need to envy his brother's ephemeral inheritance or demand a special feast. The father's words point to the blessings of an unbroken relationship, which the elder son, ironically, undervalued while focusing on perceived slights.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he said to him, Son, you are with me at all times, and all I have is yours.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And he said to him, Child, thou art always with me, and all my things are thine;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But he said to him: Son, thou art always with me; and all I have is thine.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But he said to him, Child, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.
Context
This verse begins the father's gentle but firm response to the elder son's bitter complaints. He lovingly reminds the elder son of his secure and privileged position within the family. This affirmation of constant presence and shared inheritance is meant to reorient the elder son's perspective, highlighting the blessings he already possesses rather than what he feels he is owed or what his brother has received.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 7:27
And he said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs.
- Luke 19:22
He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;
- Romans 9:4
who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
- Matthew 20:13
But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling?
- Romans 11:1
I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Romans 11:35
or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
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