Luke 15:20
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.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀναστὰς
he arose
G450
ἀναστὰς
he arose
Strong's:
G450
Word #:
2 of 29
to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
ἦλθεν
and came
G2064
ἦλθεν
and came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
3 of 29
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
πρὸς
to
G4314
πρὸς
to
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
4 of 29
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 #:
5 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατὴρ
father
G3962
πατὴρ
father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
6 of 29
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
ἑαυτοῦ
his
G1438
ἑαυτοῦ
his
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
7 of 29
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 29
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
ἀπέχοντος
off
G568
ἀπέχοντος
off
Strong's:
G568
Word #:
12 of 29
(actively) to have out, i.e., receive in full; (intransitively) to keep (oneself) away, i.e., be distant (literally or figuratively)
εἶδεν
saw
G1492
εἶδεν
saw
Strong's:
G1492
Word #:
13 of 29
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
14 of 29
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
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατὴρ
father
G3962
πατὴρ
father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
16 of 29
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
17 of 29
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
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
18 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐσπλαγχνίσθη
had compassion
G4697
ἐσπλαγχνίσθη
had compassion
Strong's:
G4697
Word #:
19 of 29
to have the bowels yearn, i.e., (figuratively) feel sympathy, to pity
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
20 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
δραμὼν
ran
G5143
δραμὼν
ran
Strong's:
G5143
Word #:
21 of 29
which uses ????? <pronunciation strongs="drem'-o"/> (the base of g1408) as alternate in certain tenses; to run or walk hastily (literally or figurativ
ἐπέπεσεν
and fell
G1968
ἐπέπεσεν
and fell
Strong's:
G1968
Word #:
22 of 29
to embrace (with affection) or seize (with more or less violence; literally or figuratively)
ἐπὶ
on
G1909
ἐπὶ
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
23 of 29
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
24 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
26 of 29
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
Cross References
Psalms 86:5For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.Psalms 86:15But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.Ephesians 2:13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.Genesis 33:4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.Isaiah 49:15Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.Genesis 46:29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.Isaiah 57:18I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.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.Ephesians 2:17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.Genesis 45:14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
Historical Context
In ancient Near Eastern culture, elderly men never ran—it required hitching up one's robe, exposing legs, appearing undignified. The father's running demonstrated his extraordinary love, overcoming cultural propriety. His actions preempt the son's prepared speech (vv.18-19), not demanding full contrition before granting forgiveness. The embrace and kiss signal complete restoration, contradicting the son's hope for mere servant status. This parable's climax reveals the gospel: God's grace exceeds our expectations, forgiveness precedes works, and divine love takes the initiative in reconciliation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the father's undignified running challenge your mental picture of God's response to repentance?
- What does the father's interruption of the son's confession teach about the relationship between repentance and forgiveness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The prodigal returns: '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' (καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα ἑαυτοῦ. ἔτι δὲ αὐτοῦ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντος εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὰ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν). The father's actions are shocking: he sees the son 'a great way off' (μακρὰν ἀπέχοντος, suggesting he was watching), feels deep compassion (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, visceral mercy), runs (δραμὼν, undignified for a Middle Eastern patriarch), falls on his neck, and kisses him repeatedly (κατεφίλησεν, intensive form). This demonstrates God's eager, undignified, overwhelming love for repentant sinners—He does not wait for full penance but rushes to embrace.