# Luke 15.21-22

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-06-08 | updated: 2026-06-08 -->

**Book:** [Luke](/codex/luke-the-evangelist/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 19. <span class="rl-speech">I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.</span>
>
> **21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:**
>
> 23. and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: 24. for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:19-24, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 19. <span class="rl-speech">I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">“He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.</span>
>
> **21. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.**
>
> 23. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; 24. for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate. (Luke 15:19-24, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 19. <span class="rl-speech">And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.</span>
>
> **21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:**
>
> 23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:19-24, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 19. <span class="rl-speech">and no more am I worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hirelings.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">'And having risen, he went unto his own father, and he being yet far distant, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and having ran he fell upon his neck and kissed him;</span>
>
> **21. <span class="rl-speech">and the son said to him, Father, I did sin, to the heaven, and before thee, and no more am I worthy to be called thy son.</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">'And the father said unto his servants, Bring forth the first robe, and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand, and sandals for the feet;</span>**
>
> 23. <span class="rl-speech">and having brought the fatted calf, kill [it], and having eaten, we may be merry,</span> 24. <span class="rl-speech">because this my son was dead, and did live again, and he was lost, and was found; and they began to be merry.</span> (Luke 15:19-24, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Argument from Forgiveness](/codex/argument-from-forgiveness/), via [Luke 15.11-32](/codex/luke-15-11-32/)
- [Argument from the Confession-Catharsis Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-confession-catharsis-convergence/), via [Luke 15.18-21](/codex/luke-15-18-21/)
- [Argument from the Festival-Feast Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-festival-feast-convergence/), via [Luke 15.11-32](/codex/luke-15-11-32/)
- [Argument from the Universal Imagination Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-universal-imagination-convergence/), via [Luke 15.11-32](/codex/luke-15-11-32/)

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Luke 15](/codex/luke-15/)
- [Psychology of Lowered Defenses](/codex/psychology-of-lowered-defenses/), via [Luke 15.11-32](/codex/luke-15-11-32/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0622 - apollymi](/codex/g0622-apollymi/), via [Luke 15.11-32](/codex/luke-15-11-32/)

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## Notes

_Your annotations._

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_Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.
