After the analogies of the lost sheep and lost coin, Jesus continues the analogy of the prodigal son.
Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Because here this son of mine was dead. And he returned to life. He was lost and he has been found. And they began to enjoy themselves.
The repeated "and" conjunctions are an element of humor, creating natural pause points to build anticipation. The first phrase contains a word that Jesus only uses twice. "Alive again" is a Greek verb Jesus only uses here and in a later verse in this story. It means to "return to life" and "be alive again”. Jesus never uses this word to refer to his own resurrection, but it seems subtle reference to it.
The punchline, last word hear is the word translated as "to be merry" and "to celebrate," ending on an upnote.
We want others to choose a found life instead of losing.
For this(CW) my (MWthe) son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "this" works better in this situation as "here”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "son" is not shown in the English translation.
For this(CW) (MWthe) son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
For this(CW) my (MWthe) son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "this" works better in this situation as "here”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "son" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "so”.
For -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what”, "because”, "since”, "seeing that”, "that” and "wherefore”. Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. Another common word is used for "for”.
this -- (CW) The "this" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that”, the nearer, "here”, or "there". It often follows the noun to further identify it as the one "here" or “there”. When preceded by a definite article that also functions as a "this"l this word more clearly means "here". CW --Confusing Word -- The "this" works better in this situation as "here."
my - "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my”, "me" and "mine”. Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
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.
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.
was -- 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.
dead, -- The word translated as "the dead" means "corpse”, "a dying man” and "inanimate, non-organic matter." Christ uses it in all three senses, referring to the actual dead, the spiritually dead, and inanimate matter.
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”.
is -- This is used to translate the verb into an adjective, which is sometimes required in forming an English version of the concept.
alive again; - "Alive again" is a Greek verb Jesus only uses here and in a later verse in this story. It means to "return to life" and "be alive again”.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
was -- The verb "was" 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.
lost, -- The word translated as "lost" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from”. It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves.
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”.
is -- This helping verb "is" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
found. - The term used for "find" is the source of our word, "heuristic”, meaning enabling a person to find out something for themselves. It means "find out" and "discover".
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”.
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
began -- "Began" is from a verb in the form of an adjective that means "to be first”, "to begin” and "to make a beginning”, "to rule”, "to govern”, and "to command”. The two meanings, "to start" and "to command" create different meanings when paired with the following verbs. The form is someone acting on themselves, so "make a start for yourself" or "command yourself”.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
be merry. - The Greek verb translated as "be merry" means "cheer", "gladden", and in the passive, "make merry" and "enjoy oneself". It is used only in parables by Luke, most commonly in the parable of the prodigal son. It is in the form of an infinitive.
For -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what”, "because”, "since”, "seeing that”, "that”, and "wherefore”. Jesus usually uses this word to mean "because" in statements that seem like an answer to a question because of the change of context. It means "because" when answering a "why" question and "that" when explaining a "what" question. Another common word is used for "for”.
this -- (CW) The "this" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that”, the nearer, "here” or "there". It often follows the noun to further identify it as the one "here" or “there”. When preceded by a definite article that also functions as a "this”, this word more clearly means "here”.
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.
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.
of mine- "Of mine" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my”, "me” and "mine”. Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
was -- 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.
dead, -- The word translated as "the dead" means "corpse”, "a dying man” and "inanimate, non-organic matter”. Christ uses it in all three senses, referring to the actual dead, the spiritually dead, and inanimate matter.
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".
is -- This is used to translated the verb into as an adjective, which is sometimes required in forming an English version of the concept.
alive again; - "Alive again" is a Greek verb Jesus only uses here and in a later verse in this story. It means to "return to life" and "be alive again”.
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
was -- The verb "was" 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.
lost, -- The word translated as "lost" means to "destroy" or "demolish" and means "perish" in the passive. However, it can also mean to "lose" things. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from." It is often used in the middle voice to describe people losing or destroying themselves.
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”.
is -- This helping verb "is" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
found. - The term used for "find" is the source of our word, "heuristic”, meaning enabling a person to find out something for themselves. It means "find out" and "discover”.
So -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "so" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis, "even”, "also” and "just". This is not the word usually translated as "so”.
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
began -- "Began" is from a verb in the form of an adjective that means "to be first”, "to begin”, and "to make a beginning”, "to rule”, "to govern” and "to command”. The two meanings, "to start" and "to command" create different meanings when paired with the following verbs. The form is someone acting on themselves, so "make a start for yourself" or "command yourself”.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
celebrate - The Greek verb translated as "celebrate" means "cheer", "gladden", and in the passive, "make merry" and "enjoy oneself". It is used only in parables by Luke, most commonly in the parable of the prodigal son. It is in the form of an infinitive.
ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "for" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that", "seeing that”, and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what”, "because”, "since” and "wherefore”. This is the same word that can be translated as both "because" and "that" in the same verse when answering two different types of questions.
οὗτός [83 verses](adj sg masc nom) "This" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this”, "that”, "the nearer”. When οὗτος and ἐκεῖνος refer to two things ἐκεῖνος, which normally means "the nearer" as well belongs to the more remote, "the latter" in time, place, or thought, οὗτος to "the nearer".
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) 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”.
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.
μου [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "My" is from mou (emou), which means "me” and "mine”. It is in a possessive (genitive) form. As a genitive of a preposition here, it implies movement away from something or a position away from something else.-- "My" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun, "my”, "me” and "mine”. Usually follows the noun so, "of mine”.
νεκρὸς [21 verses](adj/noun sg masc nom) "Dead" is nekros, which specifically means "a corpse" as well as a "dying person”, "the dead as dwellers in the nether world”, "the inanimate” and "the inorganic".
ἦν [614 verses] (verb 3rd sg imperf ind act) "Was" 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”.
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”.
ἀνέζησεν, [2 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "Alive again" is anazao, which means to "return to life" and "be alive again”.
ἦν [614 verses] (verb 3rd sg imperf ind act) "Was" 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”.
ἀπολωλὼς [43 verses] (part sg perf act masc nom) "Lost" is apollymi, which means "to demolish”, "to lay waste”, "to lose" things, "to perish”, "to die”, "to cease to exist” and "to be undone”. Its literal meaning from its root is "destroy from" or "ruin from”. The passive, "to be lost" is formed by the middle voice.
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”.
εὑρέθη. [43 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "Is found" is heurisko, which means "to find”, "to find out”, "to discover”, "to devise", "to invent”, "to get" and "to gain”.
Kαὶ [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”.
ἤρξαντο [14 verses](verb 3rd pl aor ind mid) "They began" "Shall ye begin" is from archomai, which is a form of archô, which means "to be first”, "to begin", "to make a beginning”, "to rule”, "to govern” and "to command”.
εὐφραίνεσθαι. [7 verses] (verb pres inf mp) "To be merry" is euphraino, which means "cheer", "gladden"o and in the passive, "make merry", "enjoy oneself".
This verse's vocabulary is repeated again in Luke 15:32.
At this point, the prodigal son story becomes a very different view of Jesus's own life. Did he come to earth to party? Did he regret his decision? No one then would have heard it that way, of course, and certainly not now.