Luke 15:26 kjv

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

Luke 15:26 nkjv

So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

Luke 15:26 niv

So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

Luke 15:26 esv

And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

Luke 15:26 nlt

and he asked one of the servants what was going on.

Luke 15 verses

Luke 15 26 Meaning

The verse describes the older son's perplexed reaction upon hearing the sounds of festivity, leading him to summon a servant to understand the cause of the celebration. It highlights his distance from the spontaneous joy within his father's house, revealing his disconnect from the household's heart.

Luke 15 26 Context

Luke 15 presents a trilogy of parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. All three illustrate God's boundless joy and relentless pursuit of sinners and His gracious reception of the repentant. The chapter begins with the setting of tax collectors and "sinners" drawing near to Jesus, which causes the Pharisees and scribes to grumble, stating, "This man receives sinners and eats with them" (Lk 15:1-2). Luke 15:26 occurs within the longest and most detailed of these parables, specifically depicting the elder son's return from the field. He hears the celebration for his lost brother's return and, rather than recognizing or participating in the joy, stands apart, ignorant of the reason, prompting his inquiry. This detail highlights the older brother's lack of awareness and foreshadows his later bitter reaction, reflecting the self-righteous attitude of those religious leaders who begrudged God's grace to "sinners."

Luke 15 26 Word analysis

• And: Greek "καὶ" (kai). A simple conjunction, connecting this event to the elder son's arrival at the house mentioned in the preceding verse.

• he called: Greek "προσκαλεσάμενος" (proskalesamenos), an aorist middle participle from "proskaleomai". It means "having called to himself," "having summoned." This implies a deliberate act; the elder brother actively summoned someone, rather than passively observing or immediately seeking his father.

• one: Greek "ἕνα" (hena). Points to a specific, singular individual among others. Not the father, not his brother, but "one" servant.

• of the servants: Greek "τῶν παίδων" (tōn paidōn). "Paidōn" generally means "children" or "boys," but in this context refers to "servants" or "slaves" within the household. It denotes a person of lower status within the house, from whom information is often gleaned in large households.

• and asked: Greek "ἐπυνθάνετο" (epunthaneto), an imperfect indicative of "punthanomai". This signifies "he began to inquire," "he was asking," or "he continually asked." The imperfect tense can suggest the process of asking, highlighting his need for clarification.

• what: Greek "τί" (ti). An interrogative pronoun, seeking an explanation or cause.

• these things: Greek "ταῦτα" (tauta). Refers to the sounds and activities of the celebration – the music and dancing mentioned in the previous verse.

• meant: Greek "εἴη" (eiē), an optative present from "eimi" (to be). Used here in an indirect question, implying "what these things might be" or "what they were about." It conveys a sense of uncertainty or puzzlement, indicating his complete ignorance of the joyous occasion.

• "he called one of the servants": This phrase highlights the elder son's formality and indirect approach. Instead of rushing in or seeking out his father immediately to understand the sounds of joy, he calls a servant. This demonstrates a certain detachment or inability to simply participate in the spontaneous joy.

• "and asked what these things meant": This shows his spiritual and emotional distance. He is physically close enough to hear the celebration but entirely unaware of its cause. His ignorance mirrors the Pharisees' and scribes' incomprehension of why Jesus associated with sinners, representing their inability to grasp the joy of God over repentance.

Luke 15 26 Bonus section

The elder son's interaction with the servant implicitly contrasts with the father's active welcome of the younger son. The father "ran and embraced" (Lk 15:20); the elder son "called" a servant to him. This distinction emphasizes the father's spontaneous, grace-filled love versus the elder son's distant, duty-bound mindset. The servant, a lower-status figure, is paradoxically positioned to explain the profound, redemptive event that the elder brother, who should have known his father's heart, utterly failed to understand. This inversion is a subtle critique of the religious leaders of Jesus' day, who, like the elder brother, missed the essence of God's joy in restoring the lost.

Luke 15 26 Commentary

Luke 15:26 provides a critical pivot in the parable, introducing the elder son's alienated perspective. Despite being physically in his father's domain, he remains outside the sphere of celebration, unable to comprehend the overwhelming joy that has erupted. His choice to question a servant rather than directly his father underscores a detachment and perhaps even an entrenched formality that prevents him from sharing in the familial delight. This scene sets the stage for his subsequent resentment, as his ignorance gives way to anger at the very grace his father freely offers. The elder son embodies the legalistic and self-righteous individual who struggles to rejoice in the salvation of others, preferring the boundaries of obligation over the freedom of unmerited favor.