Luke 15 · Verse 25

Luke 15:25

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
Luke 15:25, King James Version

Luke 15:25 in other translations

BSBMeanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
WEB“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
ASVNow his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
YLT‘And his elder son was in a field, and as, coming, he drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing,
DARBYAnd his elder son was in the field; and as, coming up, he drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
BBENow the older son was in the field: and when he came near the house, the sounds of music and dancing came to his ears.
WebsterNow his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

What does Luke 15:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
25. in the field--engaged in his father's business: compare Lu 15:29, "These many years do I serve thee."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 25. In the field. At work. This eldest son is designed to represent the Pharisees who had found fault with the Saviour. Their conduct is likened to that of this envious and unnatural brother.

Music and dancing. Dancing was not uncommon among the Hebrews, and was used on various occasions. Thus Miriam celebrated the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt in dances as well as songs, Ex 15:20. David danced before the ark, 2Sam 6:14. It was common at Jewish feasts (Jud 21:19-21) and in public triumphs (Jud 11:34), and at all seasons of mirth and rejoicings, Ps 30:11, Jer 31:4,13. It was also used in religious services by the idolaters (Ex 32:19), and also by the Jews, at times, in their religious services, Ps 149:3, 150:4. In this case it was an expression of rejoicing. Our Lord expresses no opinion about its propriety. He simply states the fact, nor was there occasion for comment on it. His mentioning it cannot be pleaded for its lawfulness or propriety, any more than his mentioning the vice of the younger son, or the wickedness of the Pharisees, can be pleaded to justify their conduct. It is an expressive image, used in accordance with the known customs of the country, to express joy. It is farther to be remarked, that if the example of persons in Scripture be pleaded for dancing, it can be only for just such dances as they practised --for sacred or triumphal occasions.

(t) "music and dancing" Ps 30:11, 126:1,2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 His elder son - Meaning probably persons of a regular moral life, who needed no repentance in comparison of the prodigal already described. In the field - Attending the concerns of the farm. He heard music - Συμφωνιας, a number of sounds mingled together, as in a concert. Dancing - Χορων. But Le Clerc denies that the word means dancing at all, as it properly means a choir of singers. The symphony mentioned before may mean the musical instruments which accompanied the choirs of singers.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 15:25-32
In the latter part of this parable we have the character of the Pharisees, though not of them alone. It sets forth the kindness of the Lord, and the proud manner in which his gracious kindness is often received. The Jews, in general, showed the same spirit towards the converted Gentiles; and numbers in every age object to the gospel and its preachers, on the same ground. What must that temper be, which stirs up a man to despise and abhor those for whom the Saviour shed his precious blood, who are objects of the Father's choice, and temples of the Holy Ghost! This springs from pride, self-preference, and ignorance of a man's own heart. The mercy and grace of our God in Christ, shine almost as bright in his tender and gentle bearing with peevish saints, as his receiving prodigal sinners upon their repentance. It is the unspeakable happiness of all the children of God, who keep close to their Father's house, that they are, and shall be ever with him. Happy will it be for those who thankfully accept Christ's invitation.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 15:25 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἮνĒnWasG1510
δὲdenowG1161
ὁhotheG3588
υἱὸςhuiossonG5207
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ὁhotheG3588
πρεσβύτεροςpresbuteroselderG4245
ἐνeninG1722
ἀγρῷ.agrō[the] field.G68
καὶkaiandG2532
ὡςhōswhileG5613
ἐρχόμενοςerchomenoscoming [up]G2064
ἤγγισενēngisenhe drew nearG1448
τῇtēato theG3588
οἰκίᾳ,oikiahouse,G3614
ἤκουσενēkousenhe heardG191
συμφωνίαςsumphōniasmusicG4858
καὶkaiandG2532
χορῶν.chorōndancing.G5525

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 15:25

  • Psalms 150:4

    Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

  • Jeremiah 31:4

    Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

  • Luke 15:11-12

    And he said, A certain man had two sons: 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.

  • Psalms 126:1

    A Song of degrees. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

  • Luke 7:32

    They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

  • 2 Samuel 6:14

    And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

  • Psalms 149:3

    Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

  • Exodus 15:20

    And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:4

    A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

  • Psalms 30:11

    Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
his.
11,12
he.
7:32; Ex 15:20; 2Sa 6:14; Ps 30:11; 126:1; 149:3; 150:4; Ec 3:4
Jer 31:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 15:24

    For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

  • Luke 15:25

    Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

  • Luke 15:26

    And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

Read all of Luke 15

Luke 15:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y su hijo el mayor estaba en el campo; el cual como vino, y llegó cerca de casa, oyó la sinfonía y las danzas;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or son fils aîné était aux champs; et comme il revenait et qu’il approchait de la maison, il entendit la mélodie et les danses;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es war aber sein älterer Sohn auf dem Felde; und als er kam und sich dem Hause näherte, hörte er Musik und Reigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Erat autem filius ejus senior in agro: et cum veniret, et appropinquaret domui, audivit symphoniam et chorum: