New International Version
Luke 15:14
14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
Context of Luke 15:14
12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Read all of Luke 15Luke 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 against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
- Ezekiel 16:27So I stretched out my hand against you and reduced your territory; I gave you over to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were shocked by your lewd conduct.
- Hosea 2:9“Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens, and my new wine when it is ready. I will take back my wool and my linen, intended to cover her naked body.
- Amos 8:9“In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and 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
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries