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Luke 15:21

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 15:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luke 15:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:
19I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23and bring the fatted calf, [and] kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
24for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
← Luke 15:20Luke 15:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the son said unto him, father, etc.] Or “my father”, as the Syriac version reads; and the Persic version adds, “pardon me”: sin lay heavy on him, and he wanted a view and application of pardoning grace, though he seems to be prevented making this request by the kiss he received from his father: I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight; this is what he determined to say, and was allowed to say, having a deep sense of his sin and vileness, and which was increased by the love and kindness his father had shown him. The phrase is Jewish; (see Gill on “<421518>Luke 15:18”) to which may be added, what is elsewhere said f459, “what is the sense of that passage, (<191204>Psalm 12:4) “who…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Father, I have sinned, &c.--"This confession is uttered after the kiss of reconciliation" (Eze 16:63) [TRENCH].”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“15:21 The son gave his rehearsed speech. Some manuscripts add Please take me on as a hired servant. The lack of this sentence in the better manuscripts suggests that his father didn’t give him a chance to finish.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Father: Luk 15:18, Luk 15:19; Jer 3:13; Eze 16:63; Rom 2:4 against: Psa 51:4, Psa 143:2; Co1 8:12 Luke 15:22”
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Related study paths

Read Luke 15 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification