Luke 15:8

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find [it]?

Either {G2228} what {G5101} woman {G1135} having {G2192} ten {G1176} pieces of silver {G1406}, if {G1437} she lose {G622} one {G3391} piece {G1406}, doth not {G3780} light {G681} a candle {G3088}, and {G2532} sweep {G4563} the house {G3614}, and {G2532} seek {G2212} diligently {G1960} till {G2193}{G3755} she find {G2147} it?

“Another example: what woman, if she has ten drachmas and loses one of these valuable coins, won’t light a lamp, sweep the house and search all over until she finds it?

Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?

Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?

Commentary

Luke 15:8 introduces the second of three parables Jesus tells to illustrate God's heart for the lost, following the Parable of the Lost Sheep and preceding the famous Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Context

Jesus shared this parable with Pharisees and scribes who were criticizing Him for welcoming and eating with tax collectors and "sinners" (Luke 15:2). Through this story, Jesus subtly rebukes their judgmental attitude and reveals the immense joy in heaven over a single sinner who repents, a theme central to the entire chapter.

Historical and Cultural Context

The "ten pieces of silver" (Greek: drachmē) likely represented a significant sum for a poor woman in ancient Judea, possibly even her dowry or a family's savings. Losing one coin was a serious financial setback, not just a minor inconvenience. Ancient homes were often small, dark, and had dirt floors, meaning that finding a small coin required considerable effort. The woman would indeed "light a candle" (as natural light was limited) and "sweep the house" meticulously, stirring up dust to reveal the coin, indicating a thorough and desperate search.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Value of Each Soul: Just as one lost coin was profoundly valuable to the woman, so is each individual soul precious in God's sight. No one is too insignificant to be sought by God.
  • God's Diligent Search: The woman's tireless efforts to find the coin symbolize God's persistent and active pursuit of those who are spiritually lost. He does not passively wait but actively seeks.
  • Joy Over Repentance: The joy of the woman upon finding her lost coin mirrors the immense joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. This highlights God's passionate desire for reconciliation with humanity.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "seek diligently" translates the Greek word ekzēteō (ἐκζητέω), which implies a thorough, earnest, and persistent search. It's not a casual glance but an exhaustive effort, reflecting the depth of God's desire to find and restore those who are lost.

Practical Application

This parable encourages us to understand the profound value God places on every individual. It assures those who feel lost or distant from God that He is actively seeking them with great love and diligence. For believers, it serves as a powerful reminder to share in God's heart for the lost, participating in the work of seeking and celebrating those who come to repentance, knowing that such efforts bring heavenly rejoicing.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 34:12

    As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

  • Luke 19:10

    For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

  • John 10:16

    And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

  • John 11:52

    And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

  • Ephesians 2:17

    And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
← Back