The Prodigal Son

The words

Luke 15:11–32 (opens a new tab)

1. Alive Again

   The father describes his returned son as dead and alive again, lost and found; he repeats the image to the elder brother when explaining why celebration is fitting.

   Luke 15:24, 32 (opens a new tab)

2. Best Robe

   After the returning son confesses his wrongdoing, the father tells his servants to bring the best robe and put it on him, alongside orders for a ring, shoes and a feast.

   Luke 15:21–23 (opens a new tab)

3. Elder Son

   The elder son hears the celebration on returning from the field, learns his brother is home and refuses to enter. His father comes out to appeal to him; the story ends without his final response.

   Luke 15:25–32 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:11-32 (opens a new tab)

4. Famine

   A severe famine strikes the distant country after the younger son has spent everything. In need, he begins feeding pigs and longs for their food before deciding to return to his father.

   Luke 15:14–18 (opens a new tab)

5. Far Country

   The younger son travels to a distant country soon after receiving his share, wastes his wealth there and faces famine; his later decision to return begins with remembering his father’s well-fed workers.

   Luke 15:12–18 (opens a new tab)

6. Fatted Calf

   A calf fattened for eating.

   The father orders the fattened calf killed for the welcome feast. Later, the elder son complains about that choice, contrasting it with the goat he says he never received for his friends.

   Luke 15:23, 27, 29–30 (opens a new tab)

7. Great Way Off

   Still a long distance away.

   The father sees the returning son while he is still far away, feels compassion and runs to embrace and kiss him. This welcome comes before the son’s spoken confession in the reunion scene.

   Luke 15:20–21 (opens a new tab)

8. Husks

   Carob pods, in the NET’s wording here.

   The hungry younger son longs for the pigs’ food while working in the fields. The NET identifies these husks as carob pods; his next speech contrasts his hunger with his father’s workers having food to spare.

   Luke 15:15–17 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:11-32 (opens a new tab)

9. Merry

   Joyful; celebrating the return.

   The father calls for eating and celebration after his son returns. When the elder brother objects, the father explains that joy is fitting because the younger son was lost and has been found.

   Luke 15:23–24, 32 (opens a new tab)

10. Musick

    Music; an older spelling.

    “Musick” is what the elder son hears, together with dancing, as he approaches the house from the field. He asks a servant what is happening before learning about his brother’s return.

    Luke 15:25–27 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:11-32 (opens a new tab)

11. Portion

    A share of the father’s property.

    The younger son asks for the share of property that will belong to him. The father then divides his possessions between both sons, before the younger one leaves for the distant country.

    Luke 15:12–13 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:11-32 (opens a new tab)

12. Ring

    The father orders a ring placed on the returning son’s hand, along with the best robe and shoes. Luke names the object without describing its material or a design on it.

    Did you know?

    The Met describes the pictured ring’s stone as plain and convex and lists its diameter as 15/16 inch (2.4 cm). Luke does not specify those details for the parable’s ring.

    Luke 15:22 (opens a new tab) · The Met: Roman gold and garnet ring (opens a new tab)

13. Riotous Living

    A wasteful, wild way of life.

    Luke says the younger son wastes his wealth through riotous living. The later claim about spending with “harlots” comes from the angry elder brother; the NET notes that this charge is unverified.

    Luke 15:13, 30 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:11-32 (opens a new tab)

14. Shoes

    Sandals, in the NET’s wording here.

    Shoes are among the father’s instructions to the servants when his younger son returns. The NET renders the footwear as sandals, alongside the robe and ring in the welcome scene.

    Luke 15:22 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 15:11-32 (opens a new tab)

15. Younger Son

    The younger son requests his share, leaves home and spends it, then returns after hunger leads him to reconsider. He confesses his wrongdoing, and his father orders a welcome feast.

    Luke 15:12–24 (opens a new tab)