Luke 15:25 kjv

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

Luke 15:25 nkjv

"Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luke 15:25 niv

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luke 15:25 esv

"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luke 15:25 nlt

"Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,

Luke 15 verses

Luke 15 25 Meaning

This verse introduces the elder son into the narrative, placing him diligently in the field. As he returns towards the house, he discerns the sounds of exuberant celebration – music and dancing. This immediate sensory experience signals an unexpected event and sets the stage for his reaction, contrasting his dutiful work with the unrestrained joy taking place indoors due to his younger brother's return.

Luke 15 25 Context

Luke 15 features a triad of parables: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son. All three were told by Jesus in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes, who murmured because He welcomed and ate with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 15:1-2). This setting highlights Jesus's divine compassion for those deemed "lost" by religious society. Verse 25 follows the highly anticipated return of the prodigal son and the father's overwhelming joy and lavish celebration, including giving the son the best robe, ring, sandals, and killing the fattened calf. The arrival of the elder son immediately shifts the narrative focus from the younger son's redemption to the challenge posed by legalistic self-righteousness. Culturally, the elder son was responsible for working the family land and upheld family honor, making his perspective on the younger brother's profligacy and subsequent joyous reception highly significant for the original Jewish audience, many of whom identified with the strict observance of the Law.

Luke 15 25 Word analysis

• Now his elder son (ὁ πρεσβύτερος υἱός, ho presbyteros huios): The "elder son" carries immense cultural weight in a patriarchal society. He represents faithfulness to duty, heir to the father's estate, and generally the one who stayed "at home" and was "obedient." However, his character serves as a stark foil to the father's grace and directly mirrors the self-righteous Pharisees and scribes who were listening to Jesus's parable. His primogeniture status contrasts with his spiritual "lostness."
• was in the field (ἐν ἀγρῷ, en agrō): This signifies his diligent labor and responsible nature, being "where he was supposed to be." It immediately establishes a contrast with the younger son, who left home. The field also represents the sphere of the son's expected work and contribution, implying a focus on works.
• and as he came and drew near (ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισεν, erchomenos ēngisen): These are participles emphasizing a process of approach, rather than an instant arrival. It suggests a gradual re-entry into the immediate vicinity of the home, allowing for the sounds to become progressively clearer and more overwhelming.
• to the house (τῇ οἰκίᾳ, tē oikiā): The house is the symbolic center of the family, warmth, and belonging. Ironically, despite being "in" the house, the elder son will soon reveal he is spiritually alienated from the heart of the home's true joy and generosity.
• he heard (ἤκουσεν, ēkousen): A simple yet powerful verb. It implies direct, sensory perception of the commotion, which triggers his inquiry and eventual discontent. The act of hearing is crucial; it’s an external prompt to an internal, brewing resentment.
• music (συμφωνίας, symphōnias): From which we get "symphony." It denotes harmony, instruments playing together, suggesting an orchestrated, formal, and substantial musical performance, not just simple singing. This signifies a large and significant celebration.
• and dancing (καὶ χορῶν, kai chorōn): "Dancing" refers to circular, lively group dances often performed at joyful celebrations. This is a visible and boisterous expression of extreme happiness. Together with "music," it paints a picture of lavish, uninhibited festivity—a far cry from everyday activities—making the father’s joy palpable and public. This magnitude of celebration immediately raises questions and provokes the elder son's suspicion.

Luke 15 25 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of the elder son "in the field" and the "music and dancing" at the house highlights the two different perspectives on what truly constitutes "being home." For the elder son, home was a place of work, duty, and entitlement based on performance. For the father, and by extension, for God, "home" signifies a place of unmerited favor, unconditional love, and overflowing joy, particularly for the lost who are found. The elder son's immediate response to the sounds of joy, rather than the reality of his brother's safe return, reveals his deep-seated issues of unforgiveness and envy, serving as a powerful allegory for those who rigidly uphold religious rules but miss the very heart of God's redemptive grace. He never asked to enter the celebration, demonstrating a profound spiritual alienation despite his physical proximity.

Luke 15 25 Commentary

Luke 15:25 meticulously sets the scene for the elder son's reaction to his brother's return. The detail of him "in the field" establishes his hardworking and dutiful nature, painting him as the "good" son who remained faithful to his responsibilities. However, his dutifulness also underscores a rigid adherence to law and merit, contrasting sharply with the father's radical, unconditional grace shown to the prodigal. The immediate hearing of "music and dancing" signals not merely a pleasant gathering, but an extravagant and highly unusual celebration. This sensory explosion forces the elder son to confront a reality that challenges his preconceived notions of justice and fairness. The sounds are a prelude to the elder son's self-righteous indignation, revealing that despite his physical presence at home, his heart lacked the joyous compassion of the father for the lost and found. He epitomizes a "lostness" rooted in legalism, inability to forgive, and unwillingness to share in grace-filled joy, mirroring the very Pharisees Jesus was addressing.