Luke 15:3
New International Version
Then Jesus told them this parable:

New Living Translation
So Jesus told them this story:

English Standard Version
So he told them this parable:

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jesus told them this parable:

Berean Literal Bible
And He spoke to them this parable, saying,

King James Bible
And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

New King James Version
So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

New American Standard Bible
And so He told them this parable, saying,

NASB 1995
So He told them this parable, saying,

NASB 1977
And He told them this parable, saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
So He told them this parable, saying,

Amplified Bible
So He told them this parable:

Christian Standard Bible
So he told them this parable:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So He told them this parable:

American Standard Version
And he spake unto them this parable, saying,

Contemporary English Version
Then Jesus told them this story:

English Revised Version
And he spake unto them this parable, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus spoke to them using this illustration:

Good News Translation
So Jesus told them this parable:

International Standard Version
So he told them this parable:

Majority Standard Bible
Then Jesus told them this parable:

NET Bible
So Jesus told them this parable:

New Heart English Bible
He told them this parable.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he spoke this parable to them, saying,

Weymouth New Testament
So in figurative language He asked them,

World English Bible
He told them this parable:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He spoke to them this allegory, saying,

Berean Literal Bible
And He spoke to them this parable, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And he spake unto them this simile, saying,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he spake this parable to them, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he spoke to them this parable, saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he told this parable to them, saying:

New American Bible
So to them he addressed this parable.

New Revised Standard Version
So he told them this parable:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So Jesus told them this parable,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Yeshua told them this parable:
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he spoke this parable to them, saying:

Godbey New Testament
And He spoke this parable to them, saying,

Haweis New Testament
Then spake he unto them this parable, saying,

Mace New Testament
but he propos'd to them this parable.

Weymouth New Testament
So in figurative language He asked them,

Worrell New Testament
And He spake to them this parable, saying,

Worsley New Testament
But He spake to them this parable,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
2So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?…

Cross References
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Ezekiel 34:11-16
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. / As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. / I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the settlements of the land. ...

John 10:11-16
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. / The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. ...

Psalm 23:1-4
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. / He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. / He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. ...

Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.

Jeremiah 23:3-4
Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply. / I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any go missing, declares the LORD.

1 Peter 2:25
For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

John 10:27-30
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. / I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. / My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ...

Psalm 119:176
I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Jeremiah 50:6
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.

Micah 7:14
Shepherd with Your staff Your people, the flock of Your inheritance. They live alone in a woodland, surrounded by pastures. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

Zechariah 11:16
For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves.

Hebrews 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, / equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Samuel 17:34-36
David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. / Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”


Treasury of Scripture

And he spoke this parable to them, saying,

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Luke 15
1. The parable of the lost sheep;
8. of the piece of silver;
11. of the prodigal son.














So He
This phrase refers to Jesus Christ, the central figure of the New Testament. In the context of Luke 15, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees and scribes who were critical of His association with tax collectors and sinners. The Greek word for "He" is "αὐτός" (autos), emphasizing the authority and intentionality of Jesus in delivering His message. Jesus, as the Son of God, speaks with divine authority, and His words are meant to reveal the heart of God to His listeners.

told
The Greek word used here is "εἶπεν" (eipen), which is a form of the verb "λέγω" (lego), meaning to speak or to say. This verb indicates not just casual conversation but a purposeful declaration. Jesus is not merely chatting; He is imparting wisdom and truth. His words are meant to instruct, correct, and inspire transformation in the hearts of His audience.

them
This refers to the Pharisees and scribes, as well as the broader audience that included tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees and scribes were religious leaders who often held a self-righteous attitude, believing themselves to be superior in their adherence to the law. Jesus' parables often challenged their perceptions and invited them to see God's kingdom from a new perspective. The inclusion of "them" highlights the universal nature of Jesus' message, which is intended for all people, regardless of their social or spiritual status.

this parable
The Greek word for "parable" is "παραβολή" (parabole), which means a comparison or an illustration. Parables are a distinctive teaching method used by Jesus to convey deep spiritual truths through simple, relatable stories. They are designed to provoke thought and self-reflection, often revealing the listener's own heart and attitudes. In the context of Luke 15, the parables that follow—such as the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son—illustrate God's immense love and grace towards sinners, emphasizing themes of repentance, forgiveness, and joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

Verses 3-5. - And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness? Now, there are two leading ideas in the three stories - one on the side of the Speaker; one on the side of those to whom the parable-stories were spoken.

(1) On the side of the speaker. God's anxiety for sinners is shown; he pities with a great pity their wretchedness; he sets, besides, a high value on their souls, as part of a treasure belonging to him.

(2) On the side of the listeners. Their sympathy with him in his anxiety for stoners is claimed. He has sought it hitherto m vain. The imagery of the first story is very homely - easy, too, to understand. A small sheep-master pastures his little flock of a hundred sheep in one of those wide uncultivated plains which fringe portions of the land of promise. This is what we must understand by "the wilderness." The hundred sheep represent the people of Israel. The lost sheep, one who had broken with Jewish respectability. One only is mentioned as lost, not by any means as representing the small number of the outcast class - the contrary is the case - but as indicative of the value in the eyes of the All-Father of one immortal soul. And go after that which is lost, until he find it. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. This diligent search after the lost one, the tender care shown by the shepherd when the object of his search was found, and the subsequent joy, pictured in a humble everyday figure the mode of acting of which the orthodox Jews complained. They said, "He receiveth stoners, and eateth with them."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[Jesus] told
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

them
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

this
ταύτην (tautēn)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

parable:
παραβολὴν (parabolēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3850: From paraballo; a similitude, i.e. fictitious narrative, apothegm or adage.


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