Lukas 15:4

15:4 “Which one ¹  of you, if he has a hundred ²  sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture ³  and go look for ⁴  the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵ 

Lukas 15:8

15:8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins ⁶  and loses ⁷  one of them, ⁸  does not light a lamp, sweep ⁹  the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it?

Lukas 15:20

15:20 So ¹⁰  he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home ¹¹  his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; ¹²  he ran and hugged ¹³  his son ¹⁴  and kissed him.

Lukas 15:24

15:24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again – he was lost and is found!’ ¹⁵  So ¹⁶  they began to celebrate.

[15:4]  ¹ tn Grk “What man.” The Greek word ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used here in a somewhat generic sense.

[15:4]  ² sn This individual with a hundred sheep is a shepherd of modest means, as flocks often had up to two hundred head of sheep.

[15:4]  ³ tn Or “desert,” but here such a translation might suggest neglect of the 99 sheep left behind.

[15:4]  ⁴ tn Grk “go after,” but in contemporary English the idiom “to look for” is used to express this.

[15:4]  ⁵ sn Until he finds it. The parable pictures God’s pursuit of the sinner. On the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, see John 10:1-18.

[15:8]  ⁶ sn This silver coin is a drachma, equal to a denarius, that is, a day’s pay for the average laborer.

[15:8]  ⁷ tn Grk “What woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses.” The initial participle ἔχουσα (ecousa) has been translated as a finite verb parallel to ἀπολέσῃ (apolesh) in the conditional clause to improve the English style.

[15:8]  ⁸ tn Grk “one coin.”

[15:8]  ⁹ tn Grk “and sweep,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.

[15:20]  ¹⁰ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the son’s decision to return home. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style generally does not.

[15:20]  ¹¹ tn Grk “a long way off from [home].” The word “home” is implied (L&N 85.16).

[15:20]  ¹² tn Or “felt great affection for him,” “felt great pity for him.”

[15:20]  sn The major figure of the parable, the forgiving father, represents God the Father and his compassionate response. God is ready with open arms to welcome the sinner who comes back to him.

[15:20]  ¹³ tn Grk “he fell on his neck,” an idiom for showing special affection for someone by throwing one’s arms around them. The picture is of the father hanging on the son’s neck in welcome.

[15:20]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “him”; the referent (the son) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[15:24]  ¹⁵ sn This statement links the parable to the theme of 15:6, 9.

[15:24]  ¹⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the father’s remarks in the preceding verses.