The Prodigal Son
This story was written in Greek. Take a look at some of the words from the story in the original Greek to find new meaning.
To be lost, to perish, to be destroyed
Context in the story (Luke 15:4): "“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has apollymi one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is apollymi, until he finds it?"
Context in the story (Luke 15:6): "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was apollymi .’
Context in the story (Luke 15:8-9): "8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she apollymi one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had apollymi .’"
Context in the story (Luke 15:17) [Prodigal realizes he is starving]: "But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I apollymi here with hunger!
Context in the story (Luke 15:24): "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was apollymi , and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."
Context in the story (Luke 15:32): "It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was apollymi , and is found.’”
Question: Most of the times in this chapter, the word apollymi means lost. But you can see in Luke 15:17, it is being used in the sense of being destroyed. Why do you think the word apollymi has both of these meanings? How is Jesus using both types of meaning in these stories?
To disperse, waste, squander
Context in the story (Luke 15:13): "Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he diaskorpizo his property in reckless living."
Question: How do we sometimes diaskorpizo what we are given in life? Examine also the next Greek word in connection with this one.
Reckless, wild, undisciplined
Question: The story doesn't explain exactly this son's lifestyle, but allows us to imagine. How do you imagine this lifestyle? Is there something in all of us that sometimes makes us want to be asotos?
To glue
Context in the story (Luke 15:15): "So he went and kollao himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs."
Question: How does the word "glue" give you a different feeling than "hire"? Have you ever had the experience where someone has glued themselves to you?
Carob pods
Context in the story (Luke 15:16): "And he was longing to be fed with the keration that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything."
Explanation: Carob pods from the carob tree were used as a fodder to feed livestock, like pigs.
To rise, to raise up, to resurrect
Context in the story (Luke 15:18, 20): “I will anistemi and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you...." And he anistemi and came to his father."
Explanation: To arise is clearly the correct translation here. However, in other places in Luke and the gospels, the word is used in connection with the resurrection. The author seems to clearly aware of both meanings, as the Father says the son was dead and is alive again in verse 24 and 32.
A corpse
Context in the story (Luke 15:24): "For this my son was nekros, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."
Question: The son was never literally dead. Why does his father call him a corpse?
Brought back to life
Context in the story (Luke 15:24): "For this my son was dead, and is anazao again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."
Question: The son was never literally dead. Why does his father say he was brought back to life?
To comfort or to encourage
Context in the story (Luke 15:28): But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and parakaleo him,
Question: What does this word tell us about the nature of the Father?
To serve as a slave, to be subject to
Question: How does the son view his work for his father? What does this tell us about the character of the older son?
To devour or eat up
Context in the story (Luke 15:30): But when this son of yours came, who has katesthio your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
Question: What does this reveal about the nature of the older son in his relationship with his brother and father?
“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”