Luke 15:25

Luke 15:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
• New International Version (NIV)“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Context of Luke 15:25

23And bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field; and when he returned and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he summoned one of the servants and began asking what this [celebration] meant. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’

Luke 15:25 word by word

Ἦν δὲ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐν ἀγρῷ. καὶ ὡς ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισεν τῇ οἰκίᾳ, ἤκουσεν συμφωνίας καὶ χορῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• elderπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder: oldG4245
• sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the fieldἀγρόςagros · fieldG68
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• he cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• and drew nighἐγγίζωeggizō · to come nearG1448
• to the houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
• he heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• musickσυμφωνίαsumphōnia · musicG4858
• dancingχορόςchoros · a danceG5525

Cross-references for Luke 15:25

• Luke 15:11Then He said, “A certain man had two sons.
• Luke 7:32They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, and saying, ‘We played the flute for you [pretending to be at a wedding], and you did not dance; we sang a dirge [pretending to be at a funeral], and you did not weep [so nothing we did appealed to you].’
• Exodus 15:20Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron [and Moses], took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her with timbrels and dancing.
• 2 Samuel 6:14And David was dancing before the Lord with great enthusiasm, and David was wearing a linen ephod [a priest’s upper garment].
• Psalms 30:11You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
• Psalms 126:1When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion (Jerusalem), We were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal].
• Psalms 149:3Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre.
• Psalms 150:4Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.
• Ecclesiastes 3:4A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
• Jeremiah 31:4Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel! You will again be adorned with your tambourines and timbrels And go out to the dances of those who celebrate.

Commentaries on Luke 15:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25His elder son - Meaning probably persons of a regular moral life, who needed no repentance in comparison of the prodigal already described. In the field - Attending the concerns of the farm. He heard music - , a number of sounds mingled together, as in a concert. Dancing - . But Le Clerc denies that the word means dancing at all, as it properly means a choir of singers. The symphony mentioned before may mean the musical instruments which accompanied the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25In the field - At work. This eldest son is designed to represent the Pharisees who had found fault with the Saviour. Their conduct is likened to that of this envious and unnatural brother. Music and dancing - Dancing was not uncommon among the Hebrews, and was used on various occasions. Thus Miriam celebrated the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt in dances as well as songs, Exodus 15:20. David danced before the ark, 2 Samuel 6:14. It was…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-32Verses 25-32 In the latter part of this parable we have the character of the Pharisees, though not of them alone. It sets forth the kindness of the Lord, and the proud manner in which his gracious kindness is often received. The Jews, in general, showed the same spirit towards the converted Gentiles; and numbers in every age object to the gospel and its preachers, on the same ground. What must that temper be, which stirs up a man to despise and abhor…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. 2525. in the field--engaged in his father's business: compare Lu 15:29, "These many years do I serve thee."Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 15:25

• Dancing
• Feasts
• God Continued...
• Inheritance
• Jealousy
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joy
• Penitent
• Prodigal Son
• Readings, Select
• Salvation
• Self-Righteousness
• Young Men

In the dictionaries

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

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