The Meaning of Luke 15:22 Explained

Luke 15:22

KJV: But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

YLT: 'And the father said unto his servants, Bring forth the first robe, and clothe him, and give a ring for his hand, and sandals for the feet;

Darby: But the father said to his bondmen, Bring out the best robe and clothe him in it, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

ASV: But 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:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  the father  said  to  his  servants,  Bring forth  the best  robe,  and  put [it] on  him;  and  put  a ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on  [his] feet: 

What does Luke 15:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 15:11-24 - The Son Who "came To Himself" And To His Father
The pearl of parables! Too often we desire God's gifts apart from Himself. The far country is not far in actual distance, but in the alienation of the heart. You may be living in a pious home and yet be in the far country. Sin is waste. The far country is always swept by famine, because our soul was made for God and cannot live on husks. Neither things nor people can really appease our awful hunger if we are away from God.
Sin is temporary madness. The first step to God is to come to ourselves. The prodigal's real nature stood face to face with the ruin and havoc of his sin. Never, for a moment, had the Father ceased to love and yearn. There was an instant response to the slightest indication of repentance. Love was quicker than words, to understand what the prodigal meant. The confession was therefore cut short. Note the profuse welcome, meeting every need-the robe of righteousness, the ring of reconciliation, the kiss of love, the shoes of a holy walk, the feast of fellowship. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 15

1  The parable of the lost sheep;
8  of the piece of silver;
11  of the prodigal son

Greek Commentary for Luke 15:22

The best robe [στολην την πρωτην]
Στολη — Stolē is an old word for a fine stately garment that comes down to the feet (from στελλο — stello to prepare, equip), the kind worn by kings (Mark 16:5; Luke 22:46). Literally, “a robe the first.” But not the first that you find, but the first in rank and value, the finest in the house. This in contrast with his shabby clothes. [source]
A ring [δακτυλιον]
Common in classical writers and the lxx, but here only in the N.T. From δακτυλος — daktulos finger. See χρυσοδακτυλιος — chrusodaktulios in James 2:2.Shoes (υποδηματα — hupodēmata). Sandals, “bound under.” Both sandals and ring are marks of the freeman as slaves were barefooted. [source]
Shoes [υποδηματα]
Sandals, “bound under.” Both sandals and ring are marks of the freeman as slaves were barefooted. [source]
To his servants []
Bond-servants. There is a fine touch in throwing in the bond-servants immediately after thy son (Luke 15:21). [source]
Bring forth []
Some texts add quickly ( ταχὺ ). So Rev. [source]
The best robe [στολὴν τὴν πρώτην]
Lit., a robe, the first. Properly of a long, flowing robe, a festive garment. See Mark 16:5; Luke 20:4:6. [source]
Ring []
See on James 2:2. Compare Genesis 41:42. [source]
Shoes []
Both the ring and the shoes are marks of a free man. Slaves went barefoot. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 15:22

Luke 15:26 Servants [παιδων]
Not δουλοι — douloi (bondslaves) as in Luke 15:22. The Greeks often used παις — pais for servant like the Latin puer. It could be either a hired servant (μιστιος — misthios Luke 15:17) or slave (δουλος — doulos). [source]
Revelation 6:11 White robes were given unto every one of them [ἐδόθησαν ἑκάστοις στολαὶ λευκαὶ]
The best texts read ἐδόθη αὐτοῖς ἑκάστῳ στολὴ λευκή therewas given them to each one a white robe. So Rev. Στολὴ is properly a long, flowing robe; a festive garment. Compare Mark 16:5; Luke 15:22; Luke 20:46. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 15:22 mean?

Said then the father to the servants of him Quickly bring out robe the best and clothe him give a ring for hand sandals his feet
Εἶπεν δὲ πατὴρ πρὸς τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ Ταχὺ ἐξενέγκατε στολὴν τὴν πρώτην καὶ ἐνδύσατε αὐτόν δότε δακτύλιον εἰς χεῖρα ὑποδήματα τοὺς πόδας

Εἶπεν  Said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
πατὴρ  father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
δούλους  servants 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Ταχὺ  Quickly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ταχύς  
Sense: quickly, speedily (without delay).
ἐξενέγκατε  bring  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐκφέρω  
Sense: to carry out, to bear forth.
στολὴν  robe 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: στολή  
Sense: an equipment.
πρώτην  best 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πρῶτος  
Sense: first in time or place.
ἐνδύσατε  clothe 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐνδύω  
Sense: to sink into (clothing), put on, clothe one’s self.
δότε  give 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
δακτύλιον  a  ring 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: δακτύλιος  
Sense: a ring (on the finger).
χεῖρα  hand 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: χείρ  
Sense: by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one.
ὑποδήματα  sandals 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὑπόδημα  
Sense: what is bound under, a sandal, a sole fastened to the foot with thongs.
τοὺς  his 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πόδας  feet 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πούς  
Sense: a foot, both of men or beast.