New Living Translation
Luke 15:25
25“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
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 kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his 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 15:11To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.
- Luke 7:32They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’
- Exodus 15:20Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced.
- 2 Samuel 6:14And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.
- Psalms 30:11You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
- Psalms 126:1When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
- Psalms 149:3Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.
- Psalms 150:4Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!
- Ecclesiastes 3:4A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.
- Jeremiah 31:4I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines.
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries