Luke 15:29

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he answering said to [his] father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

Complete Jewish Bible:

‘Look,’ the son answered, ‘I have worked for you all these years, and I have never disobeyed your orders. But you have never even given me a young goat, so that I could celebrate with my friends.

Berean Standard Bible:

But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

American Standard Version:

But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G1161} he answering^{G611} said^{G2036} to his father^{G3962}, Lo^{G2400}, these many^{G5118} years^{G2094} do I serve^{G1398} thee^{G4671}, neither^{G3763} transgressed I^{G3928} at any time^{G3763} thy^{G4675} commandment^{G1785}: and^{G2532} yet^{G2532} thou^{G1325} never^{G3763} gavest^{G1325} me^{G1698} a kid^{G2056}, that^{G2443} I might make merry^{G2165} with^{G3326} my^{G3450} friends^{G5384}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Luke 18:11

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luke 18:12

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luke 17:10

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Luke 19:21

For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

Isaiah 58:2

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

Isaiah 58:3

¶ Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

Romans 10:3

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

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Commentary for Luke 15:29

Luke 15:29 is part of the parable of the Prodigal Son, a well-known narrative in the Christian New Testament. This verse captures the response of the elder son when he learns that his father has killed the fatted calf to celebrate the return of his younger brother, who had squandered his inheritance in riotous living. The elder son expresses his indignation and sense of injustice, emphasizing his faithful service to his father over many years without ever disobeying his commands. Despite his loyalty and obedience, he feels overlooked and under-rewarded because he has never been given even a small goat to celebrate with his friends.

The themes present in this verse include loyalty and obedience, entitlement and fairness, as well as the complex dynamics of family relationships and sibling rivalry. The elder son's complaint reveals his own internal struggle with resentment and a sense of unappreciated duty. Historically, this parable would have resonated with Jesus's first-century audience, familiar with the cultural expectations of inheritance and family honor. It also reflects the Jewish understanding of righteousness and the potential for self-righteousness, as well as the tension between the expectations of the Law and the grace of the coming Kingdom of God that Jesus preached.

In a broader theological context, this verse speaks to the human tendency to compare ourselves with others and to expect reward for good behavior, contrasting with the boundless grace and mercy that God extends to all, regardless of merit. The father's response in the following verses underscores the message of God's unconditional love and the importance of rejoicing over the repentance and return of the lost, which is a central theme in the teachings of Jesus.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Strong's Number: G611
There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀποκρίνομαι
Transliteration: apokrínomai
Pronunciation: ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee
Description: from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer.
Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
Strong's Number: G3962
There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πατήρ
Transliteration: patḗr
Pronunciation: pat-ayr'
Description: apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):--father, parent.
Strong's Number: G2400
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἰδού
Transliteration: idoú
Pronunciation: id-oo'
Description: second person singular imperative middle voice of εἴδω; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.
Strong's Number: G5118
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: τοσοῦτος
Transliteration: tosoûtos
Pronunciation: tos-oo'-tos
Description: from (so much; apparently from ὁ and ὅς) and οὗτος (including its variations); so vast as this, i.e. such (in quantity, amount, number of space):--as large, so great (long, many, much), these many.
Strong's Number: G2094
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔτος
Transliteration: étos
Pronunciation: et'-os
Description: apparently a primary word; a year:--year.
Strong's Number: G1398
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δουλεύω
Transliteration: douleúō
Pronunciation: dool-yoo'-o
Description: from δοῦλος; to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary):--be in bondage, (do) serve(-ice).
Strong's Number: G4671
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σοί
Transliteration: soí
Pronunciation: soy
Description: dative case of σύ; to thee:--thee, thine own, thou, thy.
Strong's Number: G3763
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐδέποτε
Transliteration: oudépote
Pronunciation: oo-dep'-ot-eh
Description: from οὐδέ and ποτέ; not even at any time, i.e. never at all:--neither at any time, never, nothing at any time.
Strong's Number: G3928
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: παρέρχομαι
Transliteration: parérchomai
Pronunciation: par-er'-khom-ahee
Description: from παρά and ἔρχομαι; to come near or aside, i.e. to approach (arrive), go by (or away), (figuratively) perish or neglect, (causative) avert:--come (forth), go, pass (away, by, over), past, transgress.
Strong's Number: G4675
There are 360 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σοῦ
Transliteration: soû
Pronunciation: soo
Description: genitive case of σύ; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
Strong's Number: G1785
There are 65 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐντολή
Transliteration: entolḗ
Pronunciation: en-tol-ay'
Description: from ἐντέλλομαι; injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription:--commandment, precept.
Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Strong's Number: G1325
There are 377 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δίδωμι
Transliteration: dídōmi
Pronunciation: did'-o-mee
Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
Strong's Number: G1698
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐμοί
Transliteration: emoí
Pronunciation: em-oy'
Description: a prolonged form of μοί; to me:--I, me, mine, my.
Strong's Number: G2056
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔριφος
Transliteration: ériphos
Pronunciation: er'-if-os
Description: perhaps from the same as ἔριον (through the idea of hairiness); a kid or (genitive case) goat:--goat, kid.
Strong's Number: G2443
There are 535 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἵνα
Transliteration: hína
Pronunciation: hin'-ah
Description: probably from the same as the former part of ἑαυτοῦ (through the demonstrative idea; compare ὁ); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare ἵνα μή.
Strong's Number: G2165
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εὐφραίνω
Transliteration: euphraínō
Pronunciation: yoo-frah'-ee-no
Description: from εὖ and φρήν; to put (middle voice or passively, be) in a good frame of mind, i.e. rejoice:--fare, make glad, be (make) merry, rejoice.
Strong's Number: G3326
There are 445 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μετά
Transliteration: metá
Pronunciation: met-ah'
Description: a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between ἀπό or ἐκ and εἰς or πρός; less intimate than ἐν and less close than σύν):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.
Strong's Number: G3450
There are 471 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μοῦ
Transliteration: moû
Pronunciation: moo
Description: the simpler form of ἐμοῦ; of me:--I, me, mine (own), my.
Strong's Number: G5384
There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: φίλος
Transliteration: phílos
Pronunciation: fee'-los
Description: properly, dear, i.e. a friend; actively, fond, i.e. friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.):--friend.

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