Luke 15:19

KJV

And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} am {G1510} no more {G3765} worthy {G514} to be called {G2564} thy {G4675} son {G5207}: make {G4160} me {G3165} as {G5613} one {G1520} of thy {G4675} hired servants {G3407}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.” ’

Berean Standard Bible

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

American Standard Version

I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 15:19 captures the profound humility and brokenness of the prodigal son, who, having squandered his inheritance and faced utter destitution, resolves to return to his father's house. This verse articulates his prepared confession, revealing a deep conviction of his unworthiness to be called a son and a desperate willingness to accept the lowest possible status as a hired servant, reflecting a genuine repentance and a longing for any place within his father's household.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment within Jesus's profound Parable of the Prodigal Son, recorded in [Luke 15:11-32](/luke/15-11-32 "The Parable of the Prodigal Son"). It immediately follows the younger son's "coming to himself" ([Luke 15:17](/luke/15-17 "Luke 15:17 - The Prodigal Son's Realization")) in the pigsty, where he contrasts his dire situation with the abundance in his father's house. His decision to return home and his planned confession, articulated in [Luke 15:18-19](/luke/15-18-19 "Luke 15:18-19 - The Prodigal Son's Confession"), set the stage for the dramatic and heartwarming reunion with his father. The verse marks the culmination of his journey from rebellious independence to humble repentance, preceding the father's overwhelming display of unconditional love and restoration.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish society, demanding one's inheritance prematurely, as the younger son did ([Luke 15:12](/luke/15-12 "Luke 15:12 - The Son Demands His Inheritance")), was a grave insult, akin to wishing the father dead. Squandering it in "riotous living" ([Luke 15:13](/luke/15-13 "Luke 15:13 - The Son Squanders His Inheritance")) brought further shame upon the family. The subsequent famine and the son's employment feeding pigs ([Luke 15:15](/luke/15-15 "Luke 15:15 - The Son Feeds Pigs")) were particularly humiliating for a Jew, as pigs were unclean animals. The distinction between a "son" (with full rights and inheritance), a "slave" (permanent property, often treated as part of the household), and a "hired servant" (a temporary day laborer with no familial ties, rights, or security, often the lowest rung of society) is crucial. The son's request to be a "hired servant" underscores his profound self-abasement and recognition that he had forfeited all claims to sonship.

* **Key Themes:** Luke 15:19 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the parable and [Luke's Gospel](/luke/1 "The Gospel of Luke"):
* **Profound Humility and Repentance:** The son's confession is a model of genuine repentance, characterized by a complete acknowledgment of his sin and unworthiness, without excuse or self-justification. This deep humility is a prerequisite for true reconciliation.
* **Consequences of Sin:** The son's journey from heir to destitution vividly illustrates the destructive and isolating nature of sin and rebellion against familial and divine authority. His willingness to accept the lowest status highlights the severe consequences he faced.
* **Desire for Restoration (even partial):** Despite his perceived unworthiness, the son's deepest longing is to be back in his father's house, valuing relationship and security over his former independence. This desire, however modest, sets the stage for the father's radical grace.
* **Anticipation of Grace:** Though the son expects only a servant's wage, his journey home is an act of faith, however small, that his father might show him some mercy. This anticipation, contrasted with the father's overwhelming response in [Luke 15:20-24](/luke/15-20-24 "Luke 15:20-24 - The Father's Lavish Welcome and Restoration"), highlights the boundless nature of divine grace.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **worthy (Greek, _áxios'_):** This term (G514) signifies "deserving," "comparable," or "suitable." The son's declaration "no more worthy" indicates a profound internal conviction that his actions have entirely forfeited his right to the status, honor, and privileges associated with being his father's son. It reflects a deep sense of shame and a recognition of his moral and relational bankruptcy.
* **no more (Greek, _oukéti'_):** This adverb (G3765) means "not yet" or "no longer." Its use here emphasizes the irreversible change in the son's self-perception and his understanding of his relationship with his father. He believes the previous state of sonship is irrevocably lost due to his own actions, highlighting the finality of his perceived forfeiture.
* **hired servants (Greek, _místhios'_):** This noun (G3407) refers to a "wage-earner" or "day laborer." Unlike slaves who were permanent property and often part of the household, hired servants were temporary, at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and had no familial rights, security, or claim to the household's inheritance. The son's willingness to accept this lowest possible position profoundly underscores his humility and his desperate desire for *any* place, no matter how menial, within his father's household.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And am no more worthy to be called thy son":** This clause reveals the son's profound self-assessment and the depth of his repentance. He recognizes that his rebellious actions—demanding his inheritance, squandering it, and living dissolutely—have severed his moral claim to the esteemed status of "son." This is not false modesty but a genuine acknowledgment of his unworthiness and the shame he has brought upon himself and his family.
* **"make me as one of thy hired servants":** This is the practical request stemming from his confession of unworthiness. The son does not ask for forgiveness or restoration to sonship; instead, he humbly requests the lowest possible position in the household. This demonstrates his willingness to work off his debt, accept the consequences of his choices, and forgo all former privileges, simply to be under his father's roof, even if only as a laborer. It highlights his desire for a physical return to his father's presence, even if his relational status is diminished.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Contrast** is central, starkly juxtaposing the son's former status as an heir with his desired status as a "hired servant," emphasizing the dramatic fall from privilege to profound humility. This contrast also highlights the chasm between his self-perception of unworthiness and the father's subsequent display of overwhelming grace. There is an element of **Irony** in the son's request; having demanded his inheritance and freedom, he now willingly seeks the lowest form of servitude. This reversal underscores the bitter lessons learned through his rebellion. Furthermore, the son's deep humility and willingness to accept the lowest position serve as **Foreshadowing** for the father's extravagant and unexpected response in the subsequent verses, where the father not only accepts him but restores him to full sonship, far exceeding the son's humble expectations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 15:19 powerfully illustrates the nature of true repentance: it begins with a humble acknowledgment of one's sin and unworthiness before God. The son's confession is not an attempt to earn his way back, but a recognition that he has forfeited all rights, leaving him utterly dependent on his father's mercy. This profound humility is precisely what positions him to receive the father's overwhelming and undeserved grace. Theologically, this verse sets the stage for understanding that God's love and forgiveness are not contingent on our ability to make ourselves "worthy," but are freely given to those who, like the prodigal, turn back to Him in brokenness and faith.

* [James 4:10](/james/4-10 "James 4:10 - Humbling Oneself Before the Lord")
* [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")
* [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Still Sinners")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The prodigal son's confession in Luke 15:19 serves as a profound mirror for our own spiritual journey. It challenges us to honestly assess our own "worthiness" before a holy God, not in a way that leads to despair, but in a way that cultivates genuine humility and a deep appreciation for His grace. Like the son, we often squander the blessings and relationship God offers, finding ourselves in spiritual destitution. This verse reminds us that true repentance involves a willingness to shed our pride, admit our failures, and return to God, even when we feel utterly undeserving. It teaches us that our worthiness is not self-generated but is a gift bestowed by a loving Father who longs for our return and restoration. Our only "qualification" for God's grace is our desperate need for it, coupled with a humble heart that acknowledges that need.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the prodigal son's confession of unworthiness challenge my own understanding of repentance?**
* **In what areas of my life do I need to humble myself before God and acknowledge my dependence on His grace?**
* **Do I truly believe that God's love and forgiveness for me are greater than any sin or perceived unworthiness I might feel?**

### FAQ
**Why did the son ask to be a hired servant instead of a slave?**

Answer: The distinction between a "slave" and a "hired servant" (or "wage-earner") is crucial for understanding the depth of the son's humility. In the ancient world, a slave was typically a permanent part of a household, often treated as family members, and provided with food, shelter, and security, even if they lacked freedom. A hired servant, however, was a day laborer, temporary, and at the very bottom of the social hierarchy. They had no familial ties, no security, no inheritance rights, and were paid only for the work they did. By asking to be a "hired servant," the son was expressing his willingness to accept the absolute lowest position, completely forfeiting any claim to family status or even the basic security a slave might enjoy. He desired only to be under his father's roof, earning his keep, acknowledging that he had forfeited all rights as a son and was willing to be treated as an outsider, without any claim on his father's household beyond a daily wage. This choice underscores his profound self-abasement and sincere desire for *any* place within the father's domain, however humble, rather than remaining in destitution.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The prodigal son's journey and confession in [Luke 15:19](/luke/15-19 "Luke 15:19 - The Prodigal Son's Confession") find their ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. We, like the prodigal son, are estranged from God through our sin, utterly unworthy to be called His children ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). Yet, the Father's heart, so beautifully depicted in the parable, yearns for our return. It is Christ, the true and obedient Son, who, though "being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a **servant**" ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6-7 "Philippians 2:6-7 - Christ's Humility")). He became the ultimate "hired servant," enduring the lowest depths of humiliation and suffering on the cross, to bridge the chasm our sin created. Through His sacrifice, we, who were once aliens and strangers, are now brought near and adopted as sons and daughters, not based on our worthiness or our ability to earn a place, but purely by the Father's lavish grace ([Ephesians 1:5](/ephesians/1-5 "Ephesians 1:5 - Adoption Through Christ"); [Galatians 4:4-7](/galatians/4-4-7 "Galatians 4:4-7 - Adoption as Sons")). The son's humble plea for a servant's place is answered by the Father's grand restoration to full sonship through the redemptive work of Christ, who makes us worthy by His own perfect obedience and sacrifice.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 42:6

Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.

Luke 5:8

When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Psalms 84:10

For a day in thy courts [is] better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

James 4:8

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Joshua 9:24

And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

Joshua 9:25

And now, behold, we [are] in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.