After the analogies of the lost sheep and lost coin, Jesus finishes the analogy of the prodigal son.
Luke 15:32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15:32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’
There is, however, a need to celebrate and rejoice! Because this brother of yours here was dead and lives again, and having been lost also is found.
The verses starts with a statement that seems convoluted in English. It puts the idea of celebrating and rejoining before any else. It then says "there is a need."
The Greek word translated as "lost" primarily means "destroyed”. It means "lost" when referring to things. We want it to be "lost" because it is juxtaposed with "found". However, that would require a passive form, "having been lost," but it isn't passive. The sense seems to have been "having ceased to exist”.
We can be found even when we cease to exist.
(MW) It was meet(CW) [that we should(IP)] make merry(WF), and be glad(WF): for this(CW) thy (MW) brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost(WF, WY), and is found.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" before "it was" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "meet" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "that we should " doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "make merry" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to celebrate”.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "be glad" is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to be glad”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "this" works better in this situation as "here”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "brother" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "having been lost”.
- " WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "was lost" is not the simple past tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "having been lost”.
But we(IW) had(WW) to celebrate and be glad, because this(CW) brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost(WF, WT), and is found.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "we" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but”.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "this" works better in this situation as "here”.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "brother" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "having been lost”.
- " WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "was lost" is not the simple past tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "having been lost”.
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word "but" 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.
It -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
was -- This helping verb indicates the past tense of the verb.
meet -- (CW) The Greek verb translated as "meet" is a special verb that means "it/he/she needed," and "there was a need”. It is not a helping verb like we have in English but an active verb. It is always singular, 3rd person, past tense. Its form is fixed and, when it refers to a verb, that verb's form is an infinitive like we say "he needed to go”, but the subject is not separate from the verb. In the English of the KJV, "meet" meant "suitable", which is not quite the meaning of the Greek.
that we should -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
make merry, --- (WF) ." The Greek verb translated as "make 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. This word is an infinitive required by the "needs" above, not an active verb.
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”.
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.
glad: -- (WF) The Greek verb translated as "rejoice" means "rejoice”, "take pleasure in" and "welcome". The thing "taken pleasure in" is an indirect object. This word is an infinitive required by the "needs" above, not an active verb.
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”.
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”.
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.
brother -- The word translated as "brother" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.
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 and clauses, "and" or "but”. 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”.
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 alive again; - "Is 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”.
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”.
was lost, -- (WF, WT) The word translated as "was 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. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "having been lost". This is not the present but the past perfect tense, "has been”.
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”.
But -- (MW) The word "but" 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.
we -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
had -- (WW) The Greek verb translated as "had" is a special verb that means "it/he/she needed” and "there is a need”. It is not a helping verb like we have in English but an active verb. It is always singular, 3rd person, past tense. Its form is fixed and, when it refers to a verb, that verb's form is an infinitive like we say "he needed to go”, but the subject is not separate from the verb. This word doesn't mean "had”.
to -- This "to" is added to create the infinitive form of the following verb.
celebrate --The Greek verb translated as "make 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.
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”.
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.
glad: -- The Greek verb translated as "rejoice" means "rejoice", "take pleasure in” and "welcome". The thing "taken pleasure in" is an indirect object.
because -- 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”.
was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.
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.
brother -- The word translated as "brother" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.
of -- This word "of" comes from the possessive form (genitive case) of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
yours -- The word translated as "yours" 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”.
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 and clauses, "and" or "but”. 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”.
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 alive again; - "Is 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”.
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”.
was lost, -- (WF, WT) The word translated as "was 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. This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, "having been lost”, This is not the present but the past perfect tense, "has been”.
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”.
εὐφρανθῆναι [7 verses] (verb aor inf pass) "That we should make merry" is euphraino, which means "cheer", "gladden", and in the passive, "make merry", "enjoy oneself".
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”.
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”.
χαρῆναι [14 verses] (verb aor inf pass) "Be glad" is chairo which means "rejoice", "take pleasure in" and "welcome”.
ἔδει, [28 verses] (verb 3rd sg imperf ind act) "meet"is dei, which means "it needs" and "there is need”. The object it takes is an infinitive. It is the past tense.
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 can be translated as both "because" and "that" in the same verse when answering two different types of questions.
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”.
ἀδελφός [37 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Brother" is adelphos, which means "son of the same mother”, "kinsman,”, "colleague”, "associate" and "brother”.
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.
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".
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”.
ἔζησεν, [2 verses](verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "Is alive again" is anazao, which means to "return to life" and "be alive again”.
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”.
ἀπολωλὼς [43 verses](part sg perf act masc nom) "Was 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”.