Luke 15:18
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Original Language Analysis
ἀναστὰς
I will arise
G450
ἀναστὰς
I will arise
Strong's:
G450
Word #:
1 of 17
to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
πορεύσομαι
and go
G4198
πορεύσομαι
and go
Strong's:
G4198
Word #:
2 of 17
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
πρὸς
to
G4314
πρὸς
to
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
3 of 17
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Πάτερ
Father
G3962
Πάτερ
Father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
5 of 17
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
7 of 17
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐρῶ
will say
G2046
ἐρῶ
will say
Strong's:
G2046
Word #:
8 of 17
an alternate for g2036 in certain tenses; to utter, i.e., speak or say
αὐτῷ
unto him
G846
αὐτῷ
unto him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
9 of 17
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Πάτερ
Father
G3962
Πάτερ
Father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
10 of 17
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
ἥμαρτον
I have sinned
G264
ἥμαρτον
I have sinned
Strong's:
G264
Word #:
11 of 17
properly, to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), i.e., (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin
εἰς
against
G1519
εἰς
against
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
12 of 17
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὐρανὸν
heaven
G3772
οὐρανὸν
heaven
Strong's:
G3772
Word #:
14 of 17
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
15 of 17
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Lamentations 3:40Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.Luke 15:21And 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.Luke 18:13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.Matthew 6:14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:Jeremiah 3:19But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.Psalms 25:11For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.Isaiah 63:16Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.Proverbs 23:13Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.Jeremiah 31:20Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.Matthew 3:6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Historical Context
In first-century Palestinian culture, a woman's ten silver coins might represent her entire dowry or life savings. Poor families lived in small, dark houses with dirt floors, making a lost coin difficult to find. The woman's methodical search and subsequent celebration with neighbors (v.9) would resonate with the audience's own experience of loss and recovery. That Jesus uses a woman as the main character (following the shepherd parable) demonstrates the gospel's inclusivity—God's seeking love transcends gender, ethnicity, and social status.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the woman's diligent, thorough search illustrate the comprehensive nature of God's work in salvation?
- What does Jesus' use of both male (shepherd) and female (woman) protagonists teach about gender equality in the gospel?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Jesus begins the second parable: '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?' (ἢ τίς γυνὴ δραχμὰς ἔχουσα δέκα, ἐὰν ἀπολέσῃ δραχμὴν μίαν, οὐχὶ ἅπτει λύχνον καὶ σαροῖ τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ ζητεῖ ἐπιμελῶς ἕως οὗ εὕρῃ;). The woman's diligent search—lighting a lamp (ἅπτει λύχνον), sweeping (σαροῖ), seeking carefully (ζητεῖ ἐπιμελῶς)—illustrates God's active pursuit of the lost. The coin (δραχμή, drachma, a day's wage) has significant value, and the woman expends effort disproportionate to the loss by human calculation. This reveals God's perspective: each person has infinite worth, justifying extraordinary effort in salvation.