Luke 15:12
New International Version
The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

New Living Translation
The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

English Standard Version
And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

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

Berean Literal Bible
And the younger of them said to the father, 'Father, give to me the portion of the property falling to me.' And he divided the property between them.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

New American Standard Bible
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his wealth between them.

NASB 1995
“The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.

NASB 1977
and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ And he divided his wealth between them.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.

Amplified Bible
The younger of them [inappropriately] said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided the estate between them.

Christian Standard Bible
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
The younger son said to his father, "Give me my share of the property." So the father divided his property between his two sons.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the property.' So the father divided his property between his two sons.

Good News Translation
The younger one said to him, 'Father, give me my share of the property now.' So the man divided his property between his two sons.

International Standard Version
The younger one told his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them.

Majority Standard Bible
The younger son said to him, ?Father, give me my share of the estate.? So he divided his property between them.

NET Bible
The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.' So he divided his assets between them.

New Heart English Bible
The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his livelihood between them.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
The younger of them said to his father, "'Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' "So he divided his wealth between them.

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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
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.

Berean Literal Bible
And the younger of them said to the father, 'Father, give to me the portion of the property falling to me.' And he divided the property 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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the younger of them said to the father, Father, give me the portion of property falling. And he divided to them the property.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the younger of them said to the father, ‘Father, give me the portion of your estate which would go to me.’ And he divided the estate between them.

New American Bible
and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.

New Revised Standard Version
The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And his younger son said to him, My father, give me the portion, which is coming to me from your house. And he divided to them his possessions.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And his younger son said to him, 'My father, give me the portion that befalls me from your estate.' Then he divided to them his wealth.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of the property that falls to me. And he divided his estate between them.

Godbey New Testament
And the younger of them said to the father, Father, give to me the portion of the estate that falls to me. And he immediately divided unto them his living.

Haweis New Testament
and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of substance which falls to my share. And he divided with them his fortune.

Mace New Testament
the younger of which said to his father, father, give me that portion of the estate which falls to my share, accordingly he divided his estate among them.

Weymouth New Testament
The younger of them said to his father, "'Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' "So he divided his wealth between them.

Worrell New Testament
And the younger said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of the estate that falls to me.' And he divided to them his living.

Worsley New Testament
Father, give me the portion that falleth to my share. And he divided his substance between them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 21:17
Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

Proverbs 29:3
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

Galatians 4:1-2
What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything. / He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

Genesis 25:6
But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

Ecclesiastes 2:18-19
I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. / And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

Mark 12:7
But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

Hebrews 11:24-26
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. / He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. / He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

Genesis 27:36
So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

1 Corinthians 6:12
“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

Proverbs 20:21
An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.

Ephesians 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Genesis 49:28
These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.

1 Peter 4:3
For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.


Treasury of Scripture

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

give.

Deuteronomy 21:16,17
Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn: …

Psalm 16:5,6
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot…

Psalm 17:14
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

And he.

Mark 12:44
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Jump to Previous
Divided Division Estate Falleth Falls Goods Livelihood Part Portion Possessed Property Share Substance Wealth Younger
Jump to Next
Divided Division Estate Falleth Falls Goods Livelihood Part Portion Possessed Property Share Substance Wealth Younger
Luke 15
1. The parable of the lost sheep;
8. of the piece of silver;
11. of the prodigal son.














The younger son
In the cultural context of ancient Israel, the younger son often held a position of lesser authority and inheritance compared to the firstborn. The Greek word used here, "νεώτερος" (neoteros), emphasizes youth and inexperience. This sets the stage for the son's impulsive and reckless decision, highlighting a theme of immaturity and the desire for independence that is common in human nature.

said to him
The act of speaking to the father indicates a direct and personal request. In the biblical context, communication with one's father was a significant act, often carrying weight and consequence. The Greek verb "εἶπεν" (eipen) suggests a definitive and bold statement, reflecting the son's determination and perhaps a lack of respect for familial hierarchy.

‘Father
The term "πατήρ" (pater) is not just a biological reference but also a title of respect and authority. In Jewish tradition, the father was the head of the household, responsible for the spiritual and material well-being of the family. By addressing him as "Father," the son acknowledges this authority even as he prepares to challenge it.

give me
This phrase, "δός μοι" (dos moi), is a command rather than a request, indicating a sense of entitlement. It reflects a heart attitude that is self-centered and demanding, contrasting with the biblical call to humility and submission to parental authority.

my share of the estate
The "μέρος τῆς οὐσίας" (meros tēs ousias) refers to the portion of the father's wealth that would eventually be inherited. In Jewish law, the estate would typically be divided after the father's death, with the elder son receiving a double portion. The younger son's demand for his share prematurely is a radical departure from tradition, symbolizing a rejection of familial bonds and responsibilities.

So he divided
The father's response, "διεῖλεν" (dieilen), is an act of grace and acquiescence. Despite the son's disrespect, the father honors his request, illustrating the theme of free will and the consequences of our choices. This division of property is a pivotal moment, setting the stage for the unfolding narrative of loss and redemption.

his property between them
The "βίον" (bion) refers to the livelihood or life-sustaining resources of the family. By dividing his property, the father not only gives the younger son his portion but also impacts the entire household. This act underscores the interconnectedness of family and the far-reaching effects of individual decisions. It also foreshadows the father's enduring love and readiness to restore what is lost, a central theme in the parable of the Prodigal Son.

(12) The younger of them said to his father.--In its bearing on the individual life, the younger son represents the temper that is eager for independence, self-asserting, energetic; the elder that which is contemplative, devout, ceremonial, quiescent. As the latter pre-eminently characterises, as noticed above, the sons of Shem as distinguished from those of Japheth, the Semitic as distinct from the Aryan race, the younger son represents primarily the Jew who has yielded to non-Jewish tendencies; and on the wider scale of interpretation, stands for the whole Gentile world. The contrast between the Esau and Jacob types of character is reproduced (Genesis 25:27), only here the elder brother answers to Jacob and the younger to Esau, the variation indicating that the former is with all its short-comings the natural heir of the double portion of the first-born in the spiritual inheritance of God's kingdom. Israel remains within comparatively narrow limits of thought and habitation. Japheth is "enlarged" (Genesis 9:27) and goes forth with all his marvellous gifts of speech and thought, and fancy and invention.

Divided unto them his living.--In the normal scale of distribution, the elder son would have as his portion two-thirds of the personal, and possibly also of the real, property, the younger the remainder. In the framework of the story, the father and the elder son become, as it were, tenants in common (Luke 15:31), the former still retaining the general direction of affairs. The state of things so described represents roughly the life of Israel under its theocracy, acknowledging God as its true King and Father.

Verses 12, 13. - 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. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together. The subject of the story this time is not derived from humble life. The family pictured is evidently one belonging to the wealthy class. There was money to be distributed; there were estates to be cultivated; means existed to defray the cost of feasting on a large scale; mention, too, is made incidentally of costly clothing and even of gems. Like other of the Lord's parable-teachings, the framework of the story was most likely founded upon fact. The family of the father and the two sons no doubt had been personally known to the Galilaean Teacher. This imperious demand of the younger seems strange to us. Such a division, however, in the lifetime of the father was not uncommon in the East. So Abraham in his lifetime bestowed the main body of his possessions on Isaac, having previously allotted portions to his other sons. There was, however, no Jewish law which required any such bestowal of property in the parent's lifetime. It was a free gift on the part of the father. But to the young son it was a hapless boon.

"God answers sharp and sudden on some prayers;
And flings the thing we have asked in our face,
A gauntlet - with a gift in it."


(E. B. Browning.) And took his journey into a far country. The youth, who probably in the Master's experience had suggested this part of the story, after receiving his share of money, started with unformed purposes of pleasure, perhaps of trade. The man, who was a Jew, left his home for one of the great world's marts, such as Carthage or Alexandria, Antioch or Rome. And there wasted his substance with riotous living. This is an extreme case. Few probably of the publicans and sinners whose hearts the Lord touched so deeply, and who are examples of the great class in every age to whom his gospel appeals so lovingly, had sinned so deeply as the young man of the story. Indecent haste to be free from the orderly quiet home-life, ingratitude, utter forgetfulness of all duty, the wildest profligacy, - these were the sins of the prodigal. It has been well remarked that the line runs out widely to embrace such a profligate, that every sinner may be encouraged to return to God and live. There is a grave reticence in sparing all details of the wicked life - a veil which the elder son with pitiless hand would snatch away (ver. 30).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

younger
νεώτερος (neōteros)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 3501: (a) young, youthful, (b) new, fresh.

[son]
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

said
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[him],
πατρί (patri)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

‘Father,
Πάτερ (Pater)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

give
δός (dos)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

me
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

my
ἐπιβάλλον (epiballon)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1911: From epi and ballo; to throw upon; specially to reflect; impersonally, to belong to.

share
μέρος (meros)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3313: A part, portion, share. From an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai; a division or share.

of the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

estate.’
οὐσίας (ousias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3776: Property, wealth, substance. From the feminine of on; substance, i.e. Property.

So
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

he divided
διεῖλεν (dieilen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1244: To divide into parts, cut asunder, distribute. From dia and haireomai; to separate, i.e. Distribute.

[his]
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

property
βίον (bion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 979: A primary word; life, i.e. the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood.

between them.
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


Links
Luke 15:12 NIV
Luke 15:12 NLT
Luke 15:12 ESV
Luke 15:12 NASB
Luke 15:12 KJV

Luke 15:12 BibleApps.com
Luke 15:12 Biblia Paralela
Luke 15:12 Chinese Bible
Luke 15:12 French Bible
Luke 15:12 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Luke 15:12 The younger of them said to his (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 15:11
Top of Page
Top of Page