Luke 15:13 kjv

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.

Luke 15:13 nkjv

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

Luke 15:13 niv

"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

Luke 15:13 esv

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

Luke 15:13 nlt

"A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.

Luke 15 verses

Luke 15 13 Meaning

Luke 15:13 describes the immediate action of the younger son after receiving his inheritance: he quickly liquidated all his assets, departed for a distant land, and there squandered his entire fortune through unrestrained and wasteful living. This act represents a complete break from his family, a rejection of his father's authority, and an embrace of independence marked by self-indulgence and dissipation.

Luke 15 13 Context

Luke 15:13 is part of the third and longest parable in a series of three told by Jesus in response to the Pharisees and scribes grumbling about Him associating with "tax collectors and sinners" (Lk 15:1-2). These parables—the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son (or Prodigal Son)—collectively illustrate God's boundless joy and initiative in seeking and receiving repentant sinners. This particular verse marks the turning point where the son physically and metaphorically distances himself from the father's household. In the original Jewish cultural context, demanding an early inheritance was a profound insult, akin to wishing one's father dead, and severing ties with family honor and security. His departure to a "far country" signifies a desire for complete autonomy, escaping familial and community accountability, enabling him to live without restraint.

Luke 15 13 Word analysis

• "And not many days after" (καὶ μετ’ οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας - kai met’ ou pollas hēmeras): This phrase indicates the swiftness of the son's departure. There was no hesitation or reconsideration once he obtained his inheritance. It suggests an impetuous and immediate gratification of his desire for freedom and independence.
• "the younger son" (ὁ νεώτερος υἱός - ho neōteros huios): Refers to the junior male heir. In Jewish custom, the firstborn received a double portion; the younger son's portion would be smaller, yet he receives a significant share. His audacity in demanding it and his swift departure amplify the societal shock of his actions.
• "gathered all together" (συνναγαγὼν ἅπαντα - synagagōn hapanta): The Greek verb synagō means to collect, assemble, or bring together. Here it implies selling all his received assets – likely converting land or property into movable wealth, cash, or valuables. This indicates a complete liquidation, a full severance of ties with his past life and his father’s estate. He left nothing behind to ensure a clean break.
• "and took his journey" (ἀπεδήμησεν - apedēmēsen): The Greek verb apodēmeō means "to go away to a foreign land," or "to go abroad." It implies a relocation, not just a temporary trip. The son intentionally removed himself from the physical and moral sphere of his family and community, seeking anonymity and freedom from accountability.
• "into a far country" (εἰς χώραν μακράν - eis chōran makran): This "far country" is more than geographical distance. It symbolizes a place of moral and spiritual estrangement. In such a place, the family's honor, reputation, and social expectations would have no bearing on his actions, allowing him unchecked freedom and self-indulgence. It represents a state of being removed from God's presence and principles.
• "and there wasted his substance" (καὶ ἐκεῖ διεσκόρπισεν τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ - kai ekei dieskorpisen tēn ousian autou): The Greek verb diaskorpizō means to scatter, disperse, or squander, often used for scattering seed. Here, it signifies dissipating or mismanaging wealth. Ousia refers to one's property, wealth, or resources. This emphasizes the destructive, unthinking way he handled his inheritance, suggesting a rapid depletion through reckless expenditure.
• "with riotous living" (ζῶν ἀσώτως - zōn asōtōs): The Greek adverb asōtōs describes how he lived – "dissolutely," "prodigally," "extravagantly," or "wastefully." The root asōtos literally means "not saveable," or "having no hope of salvation," pointing to moral dissoluteness and unchecked vice. This covers a range of unrestrained behaviors like drunkenness, gambling, and promiscuity (implied by the later consequences and ancient understanding of such waste). It is the opposite of disciplined, prudent, or God-fearing living.

Luke 15 13 Bonus section

• The son's action highlights the dangerous human tendency to mistake absolute freedom from authority for true liberation. His self-proclaimed autonomy leads directly to his bondage and starvation, demonstrating that life lived outside of the Father's loving boundaries results in waste and desolation.
• The "far country" serves as a powerful metaphor for any realm or lifestyle that separates one from God's presence, wisdom, and protection. It suggests a journey away from truth, community, and divine purpose, into a domain of self-rule that inevitably brings scarcity and emptiness.
• The narrative focuses on the active choice of the son: he gathered, he journeyed, he wasted. This emphasizes personal accountability for actions driven by a desire for independence over reverence.

Luke 15 13 Commentary

Luke 15:13 succinctly describes the initial stage of the prodigal son's descent, immediately after he gains his desired independence. His hasty gathering of "all" his inheritance and journey "into a far country" signifies a deliberate, radical break from his father and his home. This move to a distant land represents a seeking of autonomy from familial authority and social expectation, providing the fertile ground for reckless indulgence. The phrase "wasted his substance with riotous living" powerfully encapsulates his dissipation. The Greek word for "riotous," asōtōs, denotes an extreme lack of restraint, suggesting a lifestyle consumed by extravagant pleasure, immorality, and ultimate self-destruction. This isn't merely poor financial management but a deep moral decay, squandering not only wealth but also potential, relationships, and well-being. The verse serves as a profound illustration of how the rejection of wise counsel and true belonging—symbolized by leaving the father's house—inevitably leads to spiritual and material destitution through self-serving indulgence.