The Meaning of Luke 15:25 Explained

Luke 15:25

KJV: Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

YLT: 'And his elder son was in a field, and as, coming, he drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing,

Darby: And his elder son was in the field; and as, coming up, he drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

ASV: Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the field:  and  as  he came  and drew nigh  to the house,  he heard  musick  and  dancing. 

What does Luke 15:25 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 15:25-32 - The Son Who Never Came To His Father
Notice the difference between the Father's care for his elder son and the son's own estimate of his position, and you will see how easily you may miss the holy possibilities of your own life, if you allow yourself to be blinded by jealousy!
Ever with me; life was meant to be irradiated and blessed by the constant sense of God's nearness. We were meant to live in God and God in us. All that I have is thine; such is our wealthy condition, in the purpose of God, that all His divine resources, stored in Jesus, await the appropriation of our faith.
But if we fail to recognize our brother in the penitent thy son; if we shut ourselves out of the joy, because of some fancied slight, or of pharisaic pride, we miss our own truest blessedness. But God entreats us to come into it.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 15

1  The parable of the lost sheep;
8  of the piece of silver;
11  of the prodigal son

Greek Commentary for Luke 15:25

As he came and drew nigh [ως ερχομενος ηγγισεν]
More exactly, “As, coming, he drew nigh,” for ερχομενος — erchomenos is present middle participle and ηγγισεν — ēggisen is aorist active indicative. [source]
Music [συμπωνιας]
Our word “symphony.” An old Greek word from συμπωνος — sumphōnos An old word again, but here alone in the N.T. Origin uncertain, possibly from ορχος — orchos by metathesis (ορχεομαι — orcheomai to dance). A circular dance on the green. [source]
harmony, concord []
, by a band of musicians. Here alone in the N.T. And dancing (και χορων — kai chorōn). An old word again, but here alone in the N.T. Origin uncertain, possibly from ορχος — orchos by metathesis (ορχεομαι — orcheomai to dance). A circular dance on the green. [source]
And dancing [και χορων]
An old word again, but here alone in the N.T. Origin uncertain, possibly from ορχος — orchos by metathesis A circular dance on the green. [source]
Music [συμφωνίας]
A symphony: concerted music. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 15:25

Luke 15:29 Transgressed [παρηλτον]
Second aorist active indicative of παρερχομαι — parerchomai to pass by. Not even once (aorist) in contrast with so many years of service (linear present).A kid (εριπον — eriphon). Some MSS. have εριπιον — eriphion diminutive, a little kid. So margin of Westcott and Hort. B has it also in Matthew 25:32, the only other N.T. passage where the word occurs.That I might make merry Final clause, first aorist passive subjunctive of the same verb used in Luke 15:23, Luke 15:25. [source]
Luke 15:29 That I might make merry [ινα ευπραντω]
Final clause, first aorist passive subjunctive of the same verb used in Luke 15:23, Luke 15:25. [source]
Luke 16:19 Purple [πορπυραν]
This purple dye was obtained from the purple fish, a species of mussel or μυρεχ — murex (1 Maccabees 4:23). It was very costly and was used for the upper garment by the wealthy and princes (royal purple). They had three shades of purple (deep violet, deep scarlet or crimson, deep blue). See also Mark 15:17, Mark 15:20; Revelation 18:12.Fine linen (βυσσον — busson).Byssus or Egyptian flax (India and Achaia also). It is a yellowed flax from which fine linen was made for undergarments. It was used for wrapping mummies. “Some of the Egyptian linen was so fine that it was called woven air” (Vincent). Here only in the N.T. for the adjective βυσσινος — bussinos occurs in Revelation 18:12; Revelation 19:8, Revelation 19:14.Faring sumptuously (ευπραινομενος λαμπρως — euphrainomenos lamprōs).Making merry brilliantly. The verb ευπραινομαι — euphrainomai we have already had in Luke 12:19; Luke 15:23, Luke 15:25, Luke 15:32. Λαμπρως — Lamprōs is an old adverb from λαμπρος — lampros brilliant, shining, splendid, magnificent. It occurs here only in the N.T. This parable apparently was meant for the Pharisees (Luke 16:14) who were lovers of money. It shows the wrong use of money and opportunity. [source]
Luke 16:19 Byssus []
or Egyptian flax (India and Achaia also). It is a yellowed flax from which fine linen was made for undergarments. It was used for wrapping mummies. “Some of the Egyptian linen was so fine that it was called woven air” (Vincent). Here only in the N.T. for the adjective βυσσινος — bussinos occurs in Revelation 18:12; Revelation 19:8, Revelation 19:14.Faring sumptuously (ευπραινομενος λαμπρως — euphrainomenos lamprōs).Making merry brilliantly. The verb ευπραινομαι — euphrainomai we have already had in Luke 12:19; Luke 15:23, Luke 15:25, Luke 15:32. Λαμπρως — Lamprōs is an old adverb from λαμπρος — lampros brilliant, shining, splendid, magnificent. It occurs here only in the N.T. This parable apparently was meant for the Pharisees (Luke 16:14) who were lovers of money. It shows the wrong use of money and opportunity. [source]
Luke 16:19 woven air []
” (Vincent). Here only in the N.T. for the adjective βυσσινος — bussinos occurs in Revelation 18:12; Revelation 19:8, Revelation 19:14.Faring sumptuously (ευπραινομενος λαμπρως — euphrainomenos lamprōs).Making merry brilliantly. The verb ευπραινομαι — euphrainomai we have already had in Luke 12:19; Luke 15:23, Luke 15:25, Luke 15:32. Λαμπρως — Lamprōs is an old adverb from λαμπρος — lampros brilliant, shining, splendid, magnificent. It occurs here only in the N.T. This parable apparently was meant for the Pharisees (Luke 16:14) who were lovers of money. It shows the wrong use of money and opportunity. [source]
Luke 16:19 Making merry brilliantly []
. The verb ευπραινομαι — euphrainomai we have already had in Luke 12:19; Luke 15:23, Luke 15:25, Luke 15:32. Λαμπρως — Lamprōs is an old adverb from λαμπρος — lampros brilliant, shining, splendid, magnificent. It occurs here only in the N.T. This parable apparently was meant for the Pharisees (Luke 16:14) who were lovers of money. It shows the wrong use of money and opportunity. [source]
Acts 5:9 Ye have agreed together [συνεφωνήθη ὑμῖν]
The verb is passive. Lit., was it agreed by you. The figure in the word is that of concord of sounds. Your souls were attuned to each other respecting this deceit. See on music, Luke 15:25. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:15 Concord [συμφώνησις]
Only here in the New Testament. From σύν together φωνή voicePrimarily of the concord of sounds. So the kindred συφωνία , A.V., music, see on Luke 15:25. Compare σύμφωνος withconsent, 1 Corinthians 7:5; and συμφωνέω toagree, Matthew 18:19; Luke 5:36, etc. [source]
2 John 1:1 The elder [ὁ πρεσβύτερος]
The word is used originally of seniority in age. So Luke 15:25. Afterward as a term of rank or office. Applied to members of the Sanhedrim (Matthew 16:21; Acts 6:12). Those who presided over the Christian assemblies or churches (Acts 11:30; 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:19). The twenty-four members of the heavenly court in John's vision (Revelation 4:4, Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:5, Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:11, Revelation 5:14). Here, with reference to official position, coupled, presumably, with age. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 15:25 mean?

Was now the son of him elder in [the] field and while coming [up] he drew near to the house he heard music dancing
Ἦν δὲ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ πρεσβύτερος ἐν ἀγρῷ καὶ ὡς ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισεν τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἤκουσεν συμφωνίας χορῶν

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
υἱὸς  son 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
πρεσβύτερος  elder 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative
Root: πρεσβύτερος  
Sense: elder, of age,.
ἀγρῷ  [the]  field 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀγρός  
Sense: land.
ὡς  while 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡς 
Sense: as, like, even as, etc.
ἐρχόμενος  coming  [up] 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ἤγγισεν  he  drew  near 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐγγίζω  
Sense: to bring near, to join one thing to another.
τῇ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οἰκίᾳ  house 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: οἰκία  
Sense: a house.
ἤκουσεν  he  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
συμφωνίας  music 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: συμφωνία  
Sense: music.
χορῶν  dancing 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: χορός  
Sense: a band (of dancers and singers), circular dance, a dance, dancing.