After the analogies of the lost sheep and lost coin, Jesus continues the analogy of the prodigal son.
Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luke 15:21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
He said, however, that son to him, 'Father, I have erred in regards to the sky and before you. No longer am I worthy to be called a son of yours. [from ancient manuscripts] make me just like one of those hired servants of yours.
Though there are differences in English translation, after the "but the son said to him”, this verse combines the end of Luke 15:18 and the beginning of Luke 15:19, using the same exact Greek. adding only the narrative introduction. In the oldest manuscripts, the Greek includes all of Luke 15:19. The humor is that the son is repeating exactly the lines that he rehearsed. Shortening the verse diminishes the effect.
There is nothing wrong with a rehearsed apology.
Father, I have(WT) sinned(CW) against(WW) (MWthe) heaven(CW), and in(WW) thy sight(IW), and(OS) am no more worthy to be called thy son:
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word "sinned" has a religious meaning that the Greek word didn't have.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "against" should be something more like "regarding”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "heaven" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "in" should be something more like "regarding”.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "sight" doesn't exist in the source.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "and" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
The son said to him, ‘Father, I have(WT) sinned(CW) against(WW) (MWthe) heaven(CW), and against(WW) you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word "sinned" has a religious meaning that the Greek word didn't have.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "against" should be something more like "regarding”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "heaven" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The word, "heaven," is a religious concept, but this word just means "sky”.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "against" should be something more like "in front of you”.
And -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" means "but”, "yet”, "however”, and "on the other hand". It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better. This word doesn't mean "and”. WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
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.
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.
said - The word translated as "speak" means "to say" and "to speak”. It is one of the two most common words translated "speak”, "say" and "tell”, but it has more a sense of addressing and proclaiming.
unto-- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
to -- This word "to" comes from the indirect object form of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.
him, -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek adjective that acts like our third-person, indirect object pronoun.
Father, -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers”. It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb "go" here.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
sinned -- (CW) "Sinned" is from the verb which means "to miss the mark”, "to fail in one's purpose”, "to err”, "to be mistaken” and "to neglect”. See this article about "sin" for more detail. The word "sinned" has a religious meaning that the Greek word didn't have.
against -- (WW) The word translated as "against" 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". This word doesn't mean "against”.
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.
heaven -- (CW) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky", but it can also mean the "climate” or the "universe". It was used to indicate all higher ethics including ideals, and values. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
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”.
in -- (WW) The Greek term translated as "in" is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of". This word doesn't mean "in”.
thy - the "thee" here is the singular, possessive (genitive) form the second-person pronoun, "you". As an object, it indicates movements or positions away from something.
sight, -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. IW - Inserted Word-- The "sight" doesn't exist in the source.
And -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as this in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
am -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
no more -- "No more" is an adverb that means "no more”, "no longer”, "no further" and generally, "not now".
worthy -- The word translated here as "worthy" means "counterbalancing”. It is the idea of weighing the same as something of equal value. From this comes the idea of "being worthy" or "due" not from inherent worth but because you give value for equal value.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
called -- The term translated as "call" is like our word "call" because it means both "to summon" and also "to name”, but it does not as clearly mean "to address”.
thy -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours”.
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.
The son said to him,
Father, -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers”. It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb "go" here.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
sinned -- (CW) "Sinned" is from the verb which means "to miss the mark”, "to fail in one's purpose", "to err”, "to be mistaken” and "to neglect”. See this article about "sin" for more detail. The word "sinned" has a religious meaning that the Greek word didn't have.
against -- (WW) The word translated as "against" 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”. This word doesn't mean "against”.
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.
heaven -- (CW) The word translated as "heaven" means simply the "sky," but it can also mean the "climate”, or the "universe”. It was used to indicate all higher ethics including ideals, and values. It also meant the home of the gods in a physical sense: the sun, moon, and planets were named for the gods. More about the word in this article.
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”.
against -- (WW) The Greek term translated as "against " is not used outside of Luke except once in John. It appears here for the first time in Jesus's words here. It means "in front of". This word doesn't mean "against”.
you, - The "thee" here is the singular, possessive (genitive) form the second-person pronoun, "you”. As an object, it indicates movements or positions away from something.
I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.
am -- The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
no longer -- "No longer " is an adverb that means "no more”, "no longer”, "no further" and generally, "not now”.
worthy -- The word translated here as "worthy" means "counterbalancing". It is the idea of weighing the same as something of equal value. From this comes the idea of "being worthy" or "due", not from inherent worth but because you give value for equal value.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
called -- The term translated as "call" is like our word "call" because it means both "to summon" and also "to name”, but it does not as clearly mean "to address”.
your -- The word translated as "your" is the genitive form of the singular, second-person pronoun, which is most commonly the possessive form. This pronoun follows the noun so "of yours”.
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.
εἶπεν [162 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "Said" is eipon, which means "to speak”,"to say”, "to recite”, "to address", "to mention”, "to name”, "to proclaim”, "to plead”, "to promise” and "to offer”. This is the second most common word Jesus uses for this idea. The other word is used more for discussion. Perhaps translating it consistently as "tell" would work.
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but”, "yet", "however” and "on the other hand”. It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of an indirect cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). In an "if" (εἰ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then”. In a series begun by men, it means "on the other hand". In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet”. After an interruption, "so then". It can also be an explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then”. When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand”. In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet”. After an interruption, "so then”.
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”.
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.
αὐτῷ [106 verses](pron/adj sg masc/neut dat) "Him" is is auto, the dative case of the third-person, singular adjective that is used as a pronoun. The word also means "the same”, "one's true self” and "the soul" as opposed to the body. It also means "of one's own accord”. The form is the third person, plural as an indirect object of the verb or the object of a preposition. When used as a noun, it is preceded by a definite article, and it means "the same". A dative object of a preposition implies no movement but in a fixed position. With the "to be", it acts as a possessive, "his”.
Πάτερ, [191 verses](noun sg masc voc) "Father" is pater, which means "father", "grandfather”, "author", "parent”, and "forefathers". -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
ἥμαρτον [7 verses](verb 1st sg aor ind act) "I have sinned" is from hamartanô, which means "to miss the mark", "to fail in one's purpose”, "to err”, "to be mistaken" and "to neglect". -- "Trespass" is from the verb which means "to miss the mark”, "to fail in one's purpose”, "to err”, "to be mistaken" and "to neglect". See this article about "sin" for more detail.
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”.
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc 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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.
οὐρανὸν [111 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Heaven" is the Greek ouranos, which means "heaven as in the vault of the sky”, "heaven as the seat of the gods”, "the sky”, "the universe” and "the climate”. It was not the religious concept of heaven.
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”.
ἐνώπιον [8 verses] (prep) "Before" is from enopion, which means "facing" and "to the front".
σου [150 verses] (pron sg masc gen) "You" is from sou, the possessive (genitive) form of the second-person, singular pronoun. A genitive object 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.
οὐκέτι [17 verses](adv) "No more" is ouketi, which means "no more”, "no longer”, "no further" and generally, "not now”.
εἰμὶ [614 verses] (verb 1st sg pres ind act) "Am" is eimi, which means "to be”, "to exist”, "to be the case”, of circumstance and events "to happen”, and "is possible”. With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from”, "is the type of”, "belongs to”, "is made of”, "is a duty of”, "is at the mercy of” or " is dependent on". With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it”. With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of". When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are”.
ἄξιος [12 verses](adj sg masc nom) "Worthy" is axios, which means "counterbalancing”, "weighing as much”, "of like value", "worth as much as”, "worthy", "goodly”, "deserved”, "due”, "worthy”, "estimable”, "worthy of”, "deserving", "fit”, "due” and "as deserved”.
κληθῆναι [38 verses](verb aor inf pass) "To be called" is kaleo, which means "call”, "summon”, "invite”, "invoke”, "call by name” and "demand”. "Shall be called" is kaleo, which means "call”, "summon”, "invite”, "invoke”, "call by name” and "demand”.
υἱός [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.
σου: [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is sou is the genitive form of the second-person, singular pronoun that means "of you" and "your." As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
The following is NOT in the Greek source used by most Bible versions today, but it appears in most ancient Greek manuscripts. It is the same as the ending of Luke 15:19:
ποίησόν , [168 verses](verb 2nd sg aor imperat act) "Make" is poieo, which means "to make", "to produce”, "to create”, "to bring into existence”, "to bring about”, "to cause”, "to perform”, "to render", "to consider”, "to prepare”, "to make ready” and "to do”. The accusative object is what is made. Double accusative is to do something to someone. When it has a genitive object, it means "made from”. When it doesn't have an object, the verb is translated as "perform" or simply "do”. When used with an accusative infinitive, it means to "cause" or "bring about”. A dative object means "made with”. With the preposition "into" (eis) it means "made into”.
με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means “me”. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement.
ὡς (167 verses](adv/conj) "As" is hos, an adverb which means "thus”, "as”, "how”, "when”, "where”, "like”, "just as”, "so far as”, "as much as can be”, "that”, "in order that”, "near” (with numbers), and "know that”. It means "how" in questions and in an exclamation with an adjective or adverb like "how wonderful”.
ἕνα [85 verses](noun sg masc acc) "One" is heis, which means "one" (as opposed to other numbers), "single" and "one and the same". This noun/adjective is irregular, having a number of forms depending on gender and case. It is always singular.
τῶν [821 verses](article pl masc gen) 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 word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones”.
μισθίων [3 verses](adj pl masc gen) "Hired servants"is misthios, which means "salaried", "hired", "hired laborer", "servant", and "mercenary".
σου [144 verses](pron 2nd sg gen) "Thy" is sou is the genitive form of the second-person, singular pronoun that means "of you" and "your”. As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.