Luke 15:17-19

15:17 But when he came to his senses ¹  he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have food ²  enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! 15:18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned ³  against heaven ⁴  and against ⁵  you. 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me ⁶  like one of your hired workers.”’

Luke 15:21

15:21 Then ⁷  his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven ⁸  and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ⁹ 

¹ tn Grk “came to himself” (an idiom).

² tn Grk “bread,” but used figuratively for food of any kind (L&N 5.1).

³ sn In the confession “I have sinned” there is a recognition of wrong that pictures the penitent coming home and “being found.”

⁴ sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God.

⁵ tn According to BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνωπιον 4.a, “in relation to ἁμαρτάνειν ἐ. τινος sin against someone Lk 15:18, 21 (cf. Jdth 5:17; 1 Km 7:6; 20:1).”

⁶ tn Or “make me.” Here is a sign of total humility.

⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁸ sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God. 1st century Judaism tended to minimize use of the divine name out of reverence.

⁹ sn The younger son launches into his confession just as he had planned. See vv. 18-19.