Luke 15:18-19

15:18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned ¹  against heaven ²  and against ³  you. 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me ⁴  like one of your hired workers.”’

Luke 15:21

15:21 Then ⁵  his son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven ⁶  and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ⁷ 

[15:18]  ¹ sn In the confession “I have sinned” there is a recognition of wrong that pictures the penitent coming home and “being found.”

[15:18]  ² sn The phrase against heaven is a circumlocution for God.

[15:18]  ³ 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).”

[15:19]  ⁴ tn Or “make me.” Here is a sign of total humility.

[15:21]  ⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[15:21]  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.

[15:21]  ⁹ sn The younger son launches into his confession just as he had planned. See vv. 18-19.