Luke 15:8 kjv

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

Luke 15:8 nkjv

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

Luke 15:8 niv

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Luke 15:8 esv

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

Luke 15:8 nlt

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?

Luke 15 verses

Luke 15 8 Meaning

Luke 15:8 presents a parable depicting a woman who meticulously searches for a lost silver coin until she finds it, symbolizing God's diligent and persistent pursuit of lost souls and the profound joy experienced when one is restored. It illustrates the immense value God places on each individual, and His active, unwavering initiative in seeking out those who are spiritually lost, contrasting sharply with the indifference or even judgment often shown by religious leaders toward "sinners."

Luke 15 8 Context

Luke 15 records three parables of "lost and found": the Lost Sheep (Lk 15:3-7), the Lost Coin (Lk 15:8-10), and the Lost Son (Lk 15:11-32). These parables are Jesus' direct response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and scribes, who complained, "This man receives sinners and eats with them" (Lk 15:2). They believed that association with sinners defiled them. Through these parables, Jesus confronts their self-righteous attitude by revealing the heart of God for the marginalized and spiritually estranged. The Lost Coin parable specifically illustrates that the search for the lost is intense and proactive, not merely passive acceptance, emphasizing that God does not give up on those who have strayed or are simply lost without realizing it. Each parable builds on the previous one, increasing the financial and relational value of what is lost and amplifying the joy of its recovery.

Luke 15 8 Word analysis

• Or: (Greek: ē, ἢ) - This conjunction serves to connect this parable directly to the preceding one about the Lost Sheep, indicating a continuation of the same theme of divine search and rejoicing over the found. It presents another example to solidify the point.
• what woman: (Greek: tis gynē, τίς γυνὴ) - Shifting from a male shepherd to a common woman. This makes the parable relatable to the entire household, emphasizing that diligence in finding what is lost is a natural human response, universally understood. It also subtly introduces the idea that even common, everyday tasks can reflect profound spiritual truths about God's character.
• having ten silver coins: (Greek: drakmas deka echousa, δραχμὰς δέκα ἔχουσα) -
  • silver coins (drachmas): (Greek: drachmas, δραχμὰς) - A drachma was a silver coin equivalent to a Roman denarius, which was a typical day's wage for a laborer (Matt 20:2). For a poor woman, ten drachmas represented a significant portion of her savings or, as some scholars suggest, could even represent a woman's entire dowry or marital ornament, worn as a string of coins on the forehead. The loss of one was therefore a severe economic hardship or a profound personal loss. This highlights the inherent value God places on each "lost" individual soul, far beyond material worth.
  • ten: Represents a complete set. The loss of one is significant because it breaks the wholeness, a diminishing of what was complete.
• if she loses one coin: (Greek: ean apolesē drachmēn mian, ἐὰν ἀπολέσῃ δραχμὴν μίαν) -
  • loses (apolesē): Not "throwing away" or "discarding" but misplacing, often accidentally. This can symbolize individuals who are "lost" not necessarily through willful rebellion (like the Prodigal Son) but through ignorance, drift, or simply becoming separated from the community of faith.
  • one coin: Underscores that each individual is important to God, not just as part of a collective, but as a uniquely valued entity. The percentage lost (1 out of 10) is much higher than 1 out of 100, implying an even greater urgency for recovery.
• does not light a lamp: (Greek: ou kai haplōi lychnon, οὐχὶ ἅψει λύχνον) -
  • light (haplōi): A purposeful act to gain illumination.
  • lamp (lychnon): Homes in that era often had few windows and could be quite dark, especially where small objects might be lost (e.g., in crevices of an unpaved earthen floor). Lighting a lamp was a practical necessity. Spiritually, "lighting a lamp" can represent the revelation of God's Word (Ps 119:105), the work of the Holy Spirit, or the outreach of the gospel that brings spiritual light into darkened hearts, helping to identify where the "lost" are.
• sweep the house: (Greek: kai saroi ten oikian, καὶ σαροῖ τὴν οἰκίαν) -
  • sweep (saroi): This implies diligent, thorough, and perhaps even inconvenient effort. It suggests removing obstacles or searching every nook and cranny. Symbolically, this might point to a diligent internal or communal "housekeeping"—clearing away what obstructs finding the lost, such as spiritual neglect, apathy, or unconfessed sin.
  • house (oikian): Represents the immediate environment or community where the lost person is situated.
• and search carefully: (Greek: kai zētei epimelōs, καὶ ζητεῖ ἐπιμελῶς) -
  • search (zētei): An active pursuit.
  • carefully (epimelōs): Diligently, painstakingly, assiduously. This word emphasizes the focused, sustained, and unwavering effort. The search is not casual or half-hearted but intensely purposeful and committed, mirroring God's unrelenting pursuit of sinners.
• until she finds it?: (Greek: heōs hou eurē, ἕως οὗ εὕρῃ) - This phrase highlights the persistence and determination. The woman does not give up until the objective is achieved. It underscores the certainty of finding if the search is diligent and the absolute unwillingness of God to abandon His search for the lost.

Words-group analysis:

• "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin": This sets the scenario and immediately establishes the high stakes and the significant nature of the loss from an everyday, relatable perspective. It speaks to the inherent value God places on each individual, regardless of their societal standing or how "lost" they might seem.
• "does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully": This three-part action phrase describes the concerted, multi-faceted, and determined effort. It speaks to the various means and intense dedication employed in the pursuit of the lost: bringing illumination, clearing hindrances, and methodically scrutinizing every possibility. It underscores the active and sacrificial nature of the divine search.
• "until she finds it?": This concluding phrase powerfully conveys hope, persistence, and the guaranteed outcome of diligent seeking. It implies that God's search will continue, undeterred by obstacles or time, until the lost is restored to Him, bringing about profound joy.

Luke 15 8 Bonus section

The parable of the Lost Coin resonates with unique aspects. Unlike the Lost Sheep who wanders away or the Prodigal Son who deliberately leaves, the coin is simply lost. It is unable to find itself or return. This can symbolize individuals who are lost not out of deliberate rebellion, but out of ignorance, spiritual darkness, or simply being separated from God due to circumstances or lack of knowledge, emphasizing God's initiation in seeking even those unaware of their lost condition. The setting of a dark, humble home with potentially earthen floors underscores the deep effort required; the coin isn't just "there for the finding," but deeply hidden, demanding a truly disruptive and meticulous search. This highlights the cost and labor involved in spiritual rescue and evangelism. Furthermore, the joy over finding is portrayed not just individually (as with the shepherd) but communally, as the woman calls her neighbors and friends to rejoice with her, mirroring the communal joy in heaven, thereby admonishing the isolationist attitude of the Pharisees.

Luke 15 8 Commentary

The parable of the Lost Coin is a profound revelation of God's zealous love and active pursuit of the lost, delivered as a challenge to the self-righteousness of the Pharisees. Just as the loss of a single drachma was a significant and motivating concern for a woman, symbolizing a portion of her financial security or even her dowry, so is the loss of one soul incredibly valuable to God. He does not simply wait for the lost to return, but actively initiates a painstaking, diligent search.

The "lighting of the lamp" can be understood as the divine illumination of truth—through the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the Gospel—that exposes the lost condition and guides the search. The "sweeping of the house" implies thoroughness and dedication, removing obstacles that might hinder the finding process, perhaps pointing to the work of sanctification or addressing hindrances within the community. The intense, methodical, and "careful" search emphasizes that no effort is too great for God to expend in recovering His precious possession. The key message is persistence "until she finds it"—God does not give up on His beloved creation. This parable serves as a strong call to action for believers to mirror God's heart in diligently seeking those who are outside of Christ and to rejoice heartily in their repentance and restoration, just as heaven rejoices.

Examples of practical usage:

• A parent relentlessly searches for a lost child, never giving up.
• A rescue worker combs through rubble to find a missing person, sparing no effort.
• A scientist diligently researches a cure for a disease, spending countless hours in pursuit.