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28 But the older son[a] became angry[b] and refused[c] to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, 29 but he answered[d] his father, ‘Look! These many years I have worked like a slave[e] for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet[f] you never gave me even a goat[g] so that I could celebrate with my friends! 30 But when this son of yours[h] came back, who has devoured[i] your assets with prostitutes,[j] you killed the fattened calf[k] for him!’

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 15:28 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the older son, v. 25) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  2. Luke 15:28 tn The aorist verb ὠργίσθη (ōrgisthē) has been translated as an ingressive aorist, reflecting entry into a state or condition.
  3. Luke 15:28 sn Ironically the attitude of the older son has left him outside and without joy.
  4. Luke 15:29 tn Grk “but answering, he said.” This is somewhat redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “but he answered.”
  5. Luke 15:29 tn Or simply, “have served,” but in the emotional context of the older son’s outburst the translation given is closer to the point.
  6. Luke 15:29 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to bring out the contrast indicated by the context.
  7. Luke 15:29 sn You never gave me even a goat. The older son’s complaint was that the generous treatment of the younger son was not fair: “I can’t get even a little celebration with a basic food staple like a goat!”
  8. Luke 15:30 sn Note the younger son is not “my brother” but this son of yours (an expression with a distinctly pejorative nuance).
  9. Luke 15:30 sn This is another graphic description. The younger son’s consumption had been like a glutton. He had both figuratively and literally devoured the assets which were given to him.
  10. Luke 15:30 sn The charge concerning the prostitutes is unproven, but essentially the older brother accuses the father of committing an injustice by rewarding his younger son’s unrighteous behavior.
  11. Luke 15:30 sn See note on the phrase “fattened calf” in v. 23.

28 “The older brother became angry(A) and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property(B) with prostitutes(C) comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

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