Lexical Summary siteutos: Fattened, fatted Original Word: σιτευτός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fatted. From a derivative of sitos; grain-fed, i.e. Fattened -- fatted. see GREEK sitos Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4618: σιτευτόςσιτευτός, σιτευτη, σιτευτόν (σιτεύω, to feed with wheat, to fatten), fattened, fatted: Luke 15:23, 27, 30. (Jeremiah 26:21 STRONGS NT 4618a: σιτίονσιτίον, σιτιου, τό (diminutive of σῖτος); 1. corn, grain: Acts 7:12 L T Tr WH. In secular writings also, 2. food made from grain (Herodotus 2, 36). 3. eatables, victuals, provisions ((Herodotus), Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, Demosthenes, others). Strong’s Greek 4618 (σιτευτός) denotes an animal specially nourished with grain for optimal quality—most often a calf—reserved for exceptional occasions of honor, covenant, or family celebration. Because such animals represented a considerable investment of time and resources, they became a cultural symbol for the apex of hospitality and joy. Scriptural Occurrences The term appears only in Luke 15:23, Luke 15:27, and Luke 15:30, all within the parable of the prodigal son. In each verse it is translated “fatted calf”, highlighting the father’s extravagant welcome of his once–lost son: The repetition in verses 27 and 30 underscores how central the calf is to the storyline, marking both the father’s delight and the elder son’s complaint. Cultural and Historical Context In the Ancient Near East, livestock was normally pasture-fed. Grain-fed animals were luxury items, appearing in contexts of royal banquets or covenant ratification (cf. Genesis 18:7; 1 Samuel 28:24). Killing such an animal declared that nothing was being withheld from the guest of honor. Within Israel’s sacrificial system, the best of the herd was required for peace offerings (Leviticus 3:1), a practice that shaped Jewish consciousness concerning what it meant to celebrate reconciliation before God. Theological Significance in Luke 15 1. Restoration over Retribution: The fatted calf manifests the father’s priority—celebrating repentance rather than rehearsing the son’s failures (Luke 15:21-24). Typological and Christological Implications Many interpreters see the fatted calf foreshadowing the atoning death of Jesus Christ: Practical Ministry Applications 1. Worship: Congregations are called to reflect the Father’s lavish joy when prodigals return, treating testimony services and baptisms not as formalities but as feasts of grace. Related Biblical Themes • Banquet imagery: Proverbs 9:1-6; Isaiah 25:6; Luke 14:15-24. Contemporary Reflection In a world often governed by transactional relationships, σιτευτός challenges the Church to embody the gospel’s economics of joy: sparing no expense—material, emotional, or reputational—to communicate the Father’s delight in bringing the lost home. Englishman's Concordance Luke 15:23 Adj-AMSGRK: μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν θύσατε καὶ NAS: and bring the fattened calf, kill KJV: bring hither the fatted calf, INT: calf fattened kill [it] and Luke 15:27 Adj-AMS Luke 15:30 Adj-AMS |
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