Luke 15:17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

◄ Luke 15:17 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

English Standard Version
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

New American Standard Bible
"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

King James Bible
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father's hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger!

International Standard Version
"Then he came to his senses and said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death!

American Standard Version
But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!

Douay-Rheims Bible
And returning to himself, he said: How many hired servants in my father's house abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger?

Darby Bible Translation
And coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have abundance of bread, and I perish here by famine.

Young's Literal Translation
'And having come to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father have a superabundance of bread, and I here with hunger am perishing!

Cross References

Psalm 119:59
I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies.

Hosea 2:7
And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.

Luke 15:16
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave to him.

Luke 15:18
I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you,

Acts 12:11
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD has sent his angel, and has delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

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Abundance Bread Death Dying Enough Famine Father's Food Hired Hirelings How Hunger I'm Need Numbers Perish Perishing Senses Servants Spare Starving Superabundance Want

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Abundance Bread Death Dying Enough Famine Father's Food Hired Hirelings How Hunger I'm Need Numbers Perish Perishing Senses Servants Spare Starving Superabundance Want

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

15:17-24 Having viewed the prodigal in his abject state of misery, we are next to consider his recovery from it. This begins by his coming to himself. That is a turning point in the sinner's conversion. The Lord opens his eyes, and convinces him of sin; then he views himself and every object, in a different light from what he did before. Thus the convinced sinner perceives that the meanest servant of God is happier than he is. To look unto God as a Father, and our Father, will be of great use in our repentance and return to him. The prodigal arose, nor stopped till he reached his home. Thus the repenting sinner resolutely quits the bondage of Satan and his lusts, and returns to God by prayer, notwithstanding fears and discouragements. The Lord meets him with unexpected tokens of his forgiving love. Again; the reception of the humbled sinner is like that of the prodigal. He is clothed in the robe of the Redeemer's righteousness, made partaker of the Spirit of adoption, prepared by peace of conscience and gospel grace to walk in the ways of holiness, and feasted with Divine consolations. Principles of grace and holiness are wrought in him, to do, as well as to will.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

17. came to himself—Before, he had been "beside himself" (Ec 9:3), in what sense will presently appear.

How many hired, &c.—What a testimony to the nature of the home he had left! But did he not know all this ere he departed and every day of his voluntary exile? He did, and he did not. His heart being wholly estranged from home and steeped in selfish gratification, his father's house never came within the range of his vision, or but as another name for bondage and gloom. Now empty, desolate, withered, perishing, home, with all its peace, plenty, freedom, dignity, starts into view, fills all his visions as a warm and living reality, and breaks his heart.