Luke 15:20

Luke 15:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Context of Luke 15:20

18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Luke 15:20 word by word

καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ἑαυτοῦ.¶ Ἔτι δὲ αὐτοῦ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντος εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he aroseἀνίστημιanistēmi · to ariseG450
• and cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• hisἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• when heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wasἀπέχωapechō · to have in fullG568
• yetἔτιeti · stillG2089
• a great way offμακράνmakran · farG3112
• sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• had compassionσπλαγχνίζωsplagchnizomai · to pityG4697
• ranτρέχωtrechō · to runG5143
• and fellἐπιπίπτωepipiptō · to fall/press uponG1968
• onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• neckτράχηλοςtrachēlos · neckG5137
• kissedκαταφιλέωkataphileō · to kissG2705

Cross-references for Luke 15:20

• Deuteronomy 30:2and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today,
• Job 33:27And they will go to others and say, ‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved.
• Psalms 86:5You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
• Psalms 103:10he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
• Isaiah 49:15“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
• Isaiah 55:6Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
• Isaiah 57:18I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
• Jeremiah 31:20Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the Lord.
• Ezekiel 16:6“ ‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”
• Hosea 11:8“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
• Acts 2:39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
• Ephesians 2:13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
• Genesis 33:4But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
• Genesis 45:14Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.
• Genesis 46:29Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.

Commentaries on Luke 15:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20And kissed him - Or, kissed him again and again; the proper import of . The father thus showed his great tenderness towards him, and his great affection for him.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20He arose, and came - Was coming. But here is no indication of “haste.” He did not “run,” but came driven by his wants, and, as we may suppose, filled with shame, and even with some doubts whether his father would receive him. A great way off - This is a beautiful description - the image of his father‘s happening to see him clad in rags, poor, and emaciated, and yet he recognized “his son,” and all the feelings of a father prompted him to go and embrace…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-24Verses 17-24 Having viewed the prodigal in his abject state of misery, we are next to consider his recovery from it. This begins by his coming to himself. That is a turning point in the sinner's conversion. The Lord opens his eyes, and convinces him of sin; then he views himself and every object, in a different light from what he did before. Thus the convinced sinner perceives that the meanest servant of God is happier than he is. To look unto God as a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20his father saw him: The father was watching the road, hoping his son would return. He ran to his son: Since running was not appropriate for the leader of the family, this expressed how happy the father was that his son came back.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. a great way off--Oh yes, when but the face is turned homeward, though as yet far, far away, our Father recognizes His own child in us, and bounds to meet us--not saying, Let him come to Me and sue for pardon first, but Himself taking the first step. fell on his neck and kissed him--What! In all his filth? Yes. In all his rags? Yes. In all his haggard, shattered wretchedness? Yes. "Our Father who art in heaven," is this Thy portraiture? It is even so…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 15:20

• Afflictions and Adversities
• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Joy
• Kiss
• Penitent
• Prodigal Son
• Readings, Select
• Repentance
• Salvation
• Sin
• 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