Luke 15:12

Verse

The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

American Standard Version (1901)

and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

Bible in Basic English

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me that part of your property which will be mine. And he made division of his goods between them.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the younger of them said to his father: Father, give me the portion of substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his substance.

Free Bible Version

“The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my inheritance now.’ So the man divided his property between them.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the yonger of them sayde to his father, Father, giue mee the portion of the goods that falleth to mee. So he deuided vnto them his substance.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

One Unity Resource Bible

The younger of them said to his father, ‘Abba ·Father familiar, Dear Dad·, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them.

Translation for Translators

One day the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, I do not want to wait until you(sg) die. Give me now the share of your property that belongs to me!’ So the man divided his property between his two sons.

Unlocked Literal Bible

and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of the wealth that falls to me.' So he divided his property between them.

Noah Webster Bible

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me . And he divided to them his living.

World English Bible

The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.

Young's Literal Translation

and the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of the substance falling to [me], and he divided to them the living.

Context

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

¹¹Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.¹²The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

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Summary

In Luke 15:12, Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son, where a younger son asks for his inheritance early and squanders it on reckless living. This verse sets the stage for the son's journey of repentance and restoration, illustrating God's unconditional love and forgiveness for those who come back to Him. The younger son's actions reflect humanity's tendency to stray from God, but the father's response symbolizes God's joy in welcoming back the lost. This parable emphasizes the importance of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation in the relationship between God and His children.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Give me the portion of goods - It may seem strange that such a demand should be made, and that the parent should have acceded to it, when he knew that it was to minister to his debauches that his profligate son made the demand here specified. But the matter will appear plain, when it is considered, that it has been an immemorial custom in the east for sons to demand and receive their portion of the inheritance during their father's lifetime; and the parent, however aware of the dissipated inclinations of the child, could not legally refuse to comply with the application. It appears indeed that the spirit of this law was to provide for the child in case of ill treatment by the father: yet the demand must first be acceded to, before the matter could be legally inquired into; and then, "if it was found that the father was irreproachable in his character, and had given no just cause for the son to separate from him, in that case, the civil magistrate fined the son in two hundred puns of cowries." See Code of Gentoo laws, pr. disc. p. 56; see also do. chap. 2: sec. 9, p. 81, 82; xxi. sec. 10, p. 301.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the younger of them said to his father,.... God's chosen ones among the publicans and sinners, are fitly signified by the younger son, since man, as a sinner, is younger than man as righteous; and since there are instances of God's choice of the younger, before the elder, as Jacob before Esau, &c. and the characters and conduct of young men agree with God's elect, in a state of nature; who are imprudent and ignorant, without any knowledge of divine and spiritual things, and of themselves, their state and condition, and of Christ, and salvation by him; and yet are conceited of themselves, and fancy themselves very wise and knowing, and capable of acting for themselves, independent, and without any assistance or advice; do not care to be under restraints, withdraw from all yokes, and break all bands asunder; and so become children of disobedience, prone to every vice, and servants and slaves to every lust; by which they are deceived, and in which they take a great deal of imaginary pleasure; and are often envious and spiteful, and live in malice, hateful, and hating one another: the request made by this younger son, is "to his Father"; to God, who was his Father by creation, by providential care, and by national adoption, and by special grace; though as yet he knew it not, nor could he call him so in faith: many call God Father, who should not, and many that should, do not: the request follows; father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me: this portion may be considered, as internal or external; as internal, and such who think the Gentiles are meant by the younger son understand it of the light of nature, and of natural gifts and talents. The ancients generally interpret it, of man's free will: it may intend natural knowledge in general, to which there is in man a natural desire, and in which he is self-sufficient: or rather as external, such as the outward blessings of food, raiment, health, &c. the honours, pleasures, and riches of the world: the good things of this world belonged to men by right of creation, and according the laws and dues of it, but have been all forfeited by the sin of man; and yet this is a portion, which in the apprehension of men, of right belongs to them; and which suits their nature, which is carnal and worldly: and he divided unto them his living; natural gifts, external privileges, and worldly good things; which of all men in the earth, the Jewish nation shared; see Psa 115:16.