After the analogies of the lost sheep and lost coin, Jesus continues the analogy of the prodigal son
Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
And after not many days getting together all, the younger son, went abroad in a distant land and there scatter abroad the property of his living destructively.
There are two unique words here, one meaning "far" and the other, an adverb, means "unsafely”, "in desperate” and “extravagantly”.
This verse contains another clue to the most mysterious of Christ's words discussing the previous verse (see this article). This word is only used in these to two verses. Here they are translated as "substance" and "worth" and in the previous server, what is "substance" here was translated as "good," and what is "wealth" here was translated as "substance”.
There is much confusion in translation when you are not consistent.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and(IW) took(WF) his journey into a far country, and there wasted his (MWthe) substance(CW) with(IW) riotous(WF) living.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "and" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "taking”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "substance" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "substance" is the same Greek word translated in earlier verses as "goods”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "with" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - This is not an adjective but an adverb, "extravagantly”.
“(MWand) Not long (MWdays)after that, the younger son got together all [he had(IW)], set(WF) off for a distant country and there squandered his (MWthe) wealth(CW) in(IW wild (WF) living.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The "days" after "together" is not shown in the English translation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "he had" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "setting”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "substance" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "wealth" is the same Greek word translated in earlier verses as "substance”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "in" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - This is not an adjective but an adverb, "wildly”.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just”.
not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no”, "not” or "no truly”. It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.
days -- The Greek word translated as "day" also means "time”, in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime".
after -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of”. It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the”, which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these”, "those") than the English "the". See this article for more.
younger -- "Younger" is the adjective that means "young", "youthful”, "suited to a youth”, "new”, "fresh”. It is in a comparative form.
son -- The word translated as "son" is the Greek word for "son”, "scion”, "heir” or "descendant”. Like most male words, it can be used in the plural as a generic term for both sexes when they are descendants of someone. It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. More about it in this article.
gathered--The Greek word translated as "gather together" means "to bring together", "gather together”, "unite” and "reconcile”. It has many different uses, but it does not specifically mean gathering in the crops, but Jesus most often uses this word to mean bringing in a crop and bringing people together.
all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all”, "the whole”, "every” and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything”. As an adverb, it means "in every way”. "on every side" and "altogether”.
together, - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
and -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
took his journey - - (WF) The verb translated as"took his journey" means "went to a far country”, "to be far from home" and "to go abroad”. This word is used five times by Jesus.This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "word."
into -- The word translated as "into" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)”, "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to”.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
far -- "Far" is an adjective that means in length, "long”, in height, "tall”, "high”, "deep", in distance, "long”, "far”, "remote”, generally, "large in size or degree”, "great", of Time, "long", and "tedious”, As a noun, it means "length”. As an adverb, "lengthy”.
country, - "Country" is a word that means "space”, "place”, "spot”, "the position”, "the proper place for a thing or person”, "land” and "landed estate”. It is a metaphor for "station”, "place" or "position”, in society.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also”, and "just”.
there --The word translated as "there" means "there" or "in that place" but it also means "the intelligible world”, that is, the world we understand. It refers to a place much more strongly than our word "there" which can be a simple helper to introduce a verb of being. In Greek, the verb used alone has the sense of "there is" or "there are”.
wasted -- The word used for "Scattered" means "to scatter among”, "to disperse among" and "to winnow”, which is separating the wheat from the straw. It is often used as the opposite of "gathered”.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his”.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the”, which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these” and "those"). See this article for more.
substance (CW) This translation is inconsistent with how it is translated earlier in the verse.
with -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
riotous -- -- (WF) "Riotous" is from an adjective/adverb that means "having no hope of safety”, "in a desperate case”, "abandoned”, "spendthrift”, "profligate” and "bringing destruction on”. As an adverb, it means "unsafely”, "in desperate”, and extravagantly”. This is not an adjective but an adverb. WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an adjective but an adverb.
living. The verb means "live”, "to be alive”, “to be full of life”, "to be strong” and "to be fresh". So it is life in the sense of having a vital life, strong and growing. Perhaps in English, “thrive” would be more precise.
missing "And" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just”.
Not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no”, "not” or "no truly”. It makes a negative statement of fact. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.
long -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size.
missing "days " -- (MW) The untranslated word "days" also means "time”, in general, and refers specifically to the "daytime”.
after -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of”. It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the”, which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these”, "those") than the English "the”. See this article for more.
younger -- "Younger" is the adjective that means "young", "youthful”, "suited to a youth”, "new”, "fresh". It is in a comparative form.
son -- The word translated as "son" is the Greek word for "son”, "scion”, "heir” or "descendant”. Like most male words, it can be used in the plural as a generic term for both sexes when they are descendants of someone. It can refer to all offspring in later generations, just like "father" refers to all previous generations. More about it in this article.
got --The Greek word translated as "got together" means "to bring together”, "gather together”, "unite” and "reconcile”. It has many different uses, but it does not specifically mean gathering in the crops, but Jesus most often uses this word to mean bringing in a crop and bringing people together.
together, - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix.
all -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all”, "the whole", "every” and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything". As an adverb, it means "in every way”, "on every side” and "altogether”.
he had, -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
set off - - (WF) The verb translated as"set off for" means "went to a far country”, "to be far from home" and "to go abroad”. This word is used five times by Jesus. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "word”.
for -- The word translated as "into" means "for" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)”, "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object. Used with the Greek "from" it means "from...to”.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
distant -- "Distant" is an adjective that means in length, "long", in height, "tall”, "high”, "deep", in distance, "long”, "far”, "remote”, generally, "large in size or degree”, "great”, of Time, "long” and "tedious”. As a noun, it means "length”. As an adverb, "lengthy”.
country, - "Country" is a word that means "space”, "place”, "spot”, "the position”, "the proper place for a thing or person”, "land" and "landed estate”. It is a metaphor for "station”. "place" or "position” in society.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also”, and "just”.
there --The word translated as "there" means "there" or "in that place" but it also means "the intelligible world”, that is, the world we understand. It refers to a place much more strongly than our word "there" which can be a simple helper to introduce a verb of being. In Greek, the verb used alone has the sense of "there is" or "there are".
squandered -- The word used for "Scattered" means "to scatter among”, "to disperse among" and "to winnow”, which is separating the wheat from the straw. It is often used as the opposite of "gathered”.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word correctly translated as third-person "his/him" in English. The word appears after the noun so the sense is "of his”.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the”, which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these” and "those"). See this article for more.
wealth (CW) This translation is inconsistent with how it is translated earlier in the verse.
in -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
wild-- -- (WF) "Riotous" is from an adjective/adverb that means "having no hope of safety”, "in a desperate case”, "abandoned”, "spendthrift”, "profligate” and "bringing destruction on”. As an adverb, it means "unsafely”, "in desperate”, and extravagantly". This is not an adjective but an adverb. WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an adjective but an adverb.
living. The verb means "live”, "to be alive”, “to be full of life”, "to be strong” and "to be fresh". So it is life in the sense of having a vital life, strong and growing. Perhaps in English, “thrive” would be more precise.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and" or "also”. After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also”. Also used to give emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just”. In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also”. After words implying sameness "as”.
μετ᾽ [103 verses](prep) "With" is meta, which means "with”, "in the midst of”, "among”, "between”, "in common”, "along with”, "by the aid of”, "in one's dealings with”, "into the middle of”, "coming into”, "in pursuit of”, "after”, "behind”, "according to”, "after”, "behind” and "next afterward”. With genitive, it means generally, "with”, "together with”, "in the midst of”, "among”, "between”, "in common”, "along with”, "by the aid of”, and "in conjunction with”. With genitive, with pl. Nouns "in the midst of”, "among”, "between”, "in common”, "along with”, of things, "in conjunction with”, rarely of Time, "during”. With dative, "between", "among”, "in company with”, with a number "complete” and "over and above”. generally, "among”, "between”, with both indirect (dative) and direct (accusative) object. With direct objects: of motion, "into the middle of”, "coming into or among”, esp. where a number of persons is implied, in pursuit or quest of, of persons, "to go after”, "in quest of”, of sequence or succession, of Place, "after”, "behind”, "on the far side of”, of Time, "after”, "next to”, in order of Worth, Rank, etc., "next after”, "following”, "to be inferior to”, As a prefix, it means "of community”, "in common with another”, "in the midst of”, "succession of time”, "pursuit”, "letting go”, "after, behind”, and "reversely”.
οὐ [269 verses](adv) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The negative, οὐ, denies, is absolute, and objective.
πολλὰς [61 verses] (adj pl fem acc) "Many" is polys, which means "many (in number)”, "great (in size or power or worth)” and "large (of space)”. As an adverb, it means "far”, "very much”, "a great way” and "long”.
ἡμέρας [96 verses] (noun pl fem acc) "Days" is hemera, which, as a noun, means "day", "a state or time of life”, "a time (poetic)”, "day break" and "day time." It also has a second meaning, of "quiet”, "tame (animals)”, "cultivated (crops)” and "civilized (people)”.
συναγαγὼν [20 verses](part sg aor act masc nom) "Gathered..together" is synago, which means "bring together”, "gather together”, "pit [two warriors against each other]”, "join in one”, "unite”, "make friends of”, "lead with one”, "receive”, "reconcile”, "draw together”, "narrow”, "contract”, "conclude [from premises]”, "infer” and "prove”.
πάντα [212 verses] (adj pl neut acc) "All" is pas, which means "all”, "the whole”, "every”, "anyone”, "all kinds”, "anything”. In the adverbial form, it means "every way”, "on every side”, "in every way” and "altogether”,
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.
νεώτερος [8 verses] (adj sg masc nom comp) "The younger" is neos, which means "young”, "youthful”, "suited to a youth”, "new”, "fresh” and as an adverb of time, "lately”, "just now”, "anew” and "afresh”.
υἱὸς [158 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Son" is huios, which means a "son," and more generally to refer to any descendant, of any generation. It can refer to male sons or descendants of both sexes, but not purely female descendants. It can and often does refer to adults who are not "children”. When it refers to "sons" specifically, it should be translated that way, but when it can be applied to both sexes, the less familiar "descendant" is better than "children”, especially since this word can refer to adults. It is often a reference to the role of "heir”, but Jesus uses another word that specifically means "heir." Jesus also used it metaphorically to describe those who follow a way of thought or set of beliefs that descend from an individual.
ἀπεδήμησεν [5 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "Took his journey" is apodemeo, which means "to be far from home”, "to be abroad", "to be on one's travels” and "to go abroad”. - - The verb translated as "took his journey" means "went to a far country”, "to be far from home" and "to go abroad". This word is used five times by Jesus, always in parables, always about a master going and trusting his property to others.
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)", "up to (of time)", "until (of time)”, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)", "as far as (of measure or limit)”, "towards (to express relation)”, "in regard to (to express relation)”, "of an end or limit” and "for (of purpose or object)”. With verbs of speaking, it is the person spoken "to". With time, a limit "until” or a duration "for”, "throughout” or a date, "on”, "at". Used with ek, it means "from...to”.
χώραν [8 verses] (noun sg fem acc) "Country" is from chora, which means "space", "the spot in a room where a thing is”, "place”, "spot", "the position”, "the proper place for a thing or person", "land” and "landed estate". It is a metaphor for "station", "place" or "position”, in society.
μακράν, [1 verse](noun sg fem acc ) "Far" is from markos, which means in length, "long", in height, "tall”, "high", "deep”, in distance, "long”, "far”, "remote”, generally, "large in size or degree”, "great”, of time, "long” and "tedious”. As a noun, it means "length". As an adverb, "lengthy”.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and” or "also”. After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also”. Also used to give emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just". In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also”. After words implying sameness "as”.
ἐκεῖ: [33 verses](adv) "Yonder place" is ekei, which means "there”, "in that place” and in philosophy means "the intelligible world”.
διεσκόρπισεν [6 verses] (verb 2nd sg aor ind act) "Wasted "is from diaskorpizo, which means literally, to "scatter among" or "disperse among” and "to scatter abroad”. In the passive, it means "to squander”, "to confound”, and "to winnow”.
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.
οὐσίαν [2 verses] (CW) (noun sg fem acc) "Substance" is ousia, which means "that which is one's own”, "one's substance”, "property”, "substance", "essence”, "true nature”, "substantiality” and in magic, "a material thing by which a connection is established between the person to be acted upon and the supernatural agent”.
αὐτοῦ [142 verses](adv/adj sg masc gen) "His/" is autou, which means is the singular adjective used as the genitive pronoun, which is used as a possessive form or the object of prepositions and sometimes verbs as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord”. In its adverbial form, this means "just here" or "exactly there’. This form is often used as the object of a preposition, him”. This form of an object of a preposition means a movement away from something or a position away from something else. The time sense of a genitive object is that the event occurred within a specified time. Though the form is masculine, it refers to masculine words, not people. The masculine form is used to refer to people in general, not just men.
ζῶν [15 verses](part sg pres act neut acc) "Living" "is zao, which means "to live”, "the living” and "to be alive". It is a metaphor for "to be full of life”, "to be strong" and "to be fresh".
ἀσώτως. [1 verse](adv/adj pl fem acc) "Riotous" is from asotos, which is an adjective/adverb that means "having no hope of safety”, "in a desperate case”, "abandoned”, "spendthrift”, "profligate” and "bringing destruction on”. As an adverb, it means "unsafely”, "in desperate” and extravagantly”.