Luke 15:14

Luke 15:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
• New International Version (NIV)After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

Context of Luke 15:14

12The younger of them [inappropriately] said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided the estate between them. 13A few days later, the younger son gathered together everything [that he had] and traveled to a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and immoral living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to do without and be in need. 15So he went and forced himself on one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16He would have gladly eaten the [carob] pods that the pigs were eating [but they could not satisfy his hunger], and no one was giving anything to him.

Luke 15:14 word by word

δαπανήσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἰσχυρὰ κατὰ τὴν χώραν ἐκείνην, καὶ αὐτὸς ἤρξατο ὑστερεῖσθαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• when heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• had spentδαπανάωdapanaō · to spendG1159
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• there aroseγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• a mightyἰσχυρόςischuros · strongG2478
• famineλιμόςlimos · hungerG3042
• inκατάkata · according toG2596
• thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• landὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• landχώραchōra · countryG5561
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• beganἄρχομαιarchomai · to rule/beginG756
• to be in wantὑστερέωhustereō · to lackG5302

Cross-references for Luke 15:14

• 2 Chronicles 33:11So the Lord brought the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria against them, and they captured Manasseh with hooks [through his nose or cheeks] and bound him with bronze [chains] and took him to Babylon.
• Ezekiel 16:27Behold now [listen very carefully], I have stretched out My hand against you, reduced your portion, and handed you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your infamous behavior.
• Hosea 2:9Therefore, I will return and take back My grain at harvest time And My new wine in its season. I will also take away My wool and My flax Given to cover her nakedness.
• Amos 8:9It shall come about in that day,” says the Lord God, “That I shall cause the sun to go down at noon, And I shall darken the earth in broad daylight.

Commentaries on Luke 15:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14A mighty famine in that land - As he was of a profligate turn of mind himself, it is likely he sought out a place where riot and excess were the ruling characteristics of the inhabitants; and, as poverty is the sure consequence of prodigality, it is no wonder that famine preyed on the whole country.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14A mighty famine - Famines were common in Eastern nations. They were caused by the failure of the crops - by a want of timely rains, a genial sun, or sometimes by the prevalence of the plague or of the pestilence, which swept off numbers of the inhabitants. In this case it is very naturally connected with the luxury, the indolence, and the dissipation of the people in that land,Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 The parable of the prodigal son shows the nature of repentance, and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to him. It fully sets forth the riches of gospel grace; and it has been, and will be, while the world stands, of unspeakable use to poor sinners, to direct and to encourage them in repenting and returning to God. It is bad, and the beginning of worse, when men look upon God's gifts as debts due to them. The great folly…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-32Like the previous two parables (15:3–7, 8–10), the parable of the lost son demonstrates God’s love for the lost and the joy God experiences when they return. It also reflects the ministry of Jesus. The father represents God, the younger son represents the tax collectors and sinners Jesus welcomed, and the older son represents the religious leaders.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. when he had spent all ... a mighty famine--a mysterious providence holding back the famine till he was in circumstances to feel it in all its rigor. Thus, like Jonah, whom the storm did not overtake till on the mighty deep at the mercy of the waves, does the sinner feel as if "the stars in their courses were fighting against" him (Jud 5:20). in want--the first stage of his bitter experience, and preparation for a change.Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 15:14

• Afflictions and Adversities
• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joy
• Penitent
• Prodigal Son
• Readings, Select
• Salvation
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

• Alive
• Compassion
• Devour
• Divide
• Fain
• Heaven
• Living
• Meet
• Mighty
• Seek

Commentaries on Luke 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings