God’s Word Translation
Luke 15:25
25“His older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing.
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
23Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s celebrate with a feast. 24My son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’ Then they began to celebrate. “His older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called to one of the servants and asked what was happening. 27“The servant told him, ‘Your brother has come home. So your father has killed the fattened calf to celebrate your brother’s safe return.’
Read all of Luke 15Luke 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 Jesus said, “A man had two sons.
- Luke 7:32They are like children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other, ‘We played music for you, but you didn’t dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn’t cry.’
- Exodus 15:20Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women, dancing with tambourines, followed her.
- 2 Samuel 6:14Wearing a linen ephod, David danced in the Lord’s presence with all his might.
- Psalms 30:11You have changed my sobbing into dancing. You have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy
- Psalms 126:1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, it was as if we were dreaming.
- Psalms 149:3Let them praise his name with dancing. Let them make music to him with tambourines and lyres,
- Psalms 150:4Praise him with tambourines and dancing. Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.
- Ecclesiastes 3:4a time to cry and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
- Jeremiah 31:4Once again I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, my dear people Israel. Once again you will take your tambourines, and you will go dancing with happy people.
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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries