Luke 15:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The son plans to ask not for restoration as a son but for a place among the hired servants.
What Does Luke 15:19 Mean?
The rehearsed confession ends with a proposal: "make me as one of thy hired servants." He is right about his deserving and wrong about his father. His plan is a respectful demotion — wages, a worker's place, a debt slowly repaid from the bottom of the household.
How like us this is: even our repentance can underestimate God. Unable to imagine grace, the son drafts a contract — perhaps he can earn back what he threw away. He has measured his father's house accurately ("bread enough and to spare") but not his father's heart. The honesty and humility are real, and they matter; but the speech will be interrupted. God receives the contrite — yet not as employees. He receives them as children.
Luke 15:19 in the Original Language
misthios (μίσθιος), 'hired servant' -- a day laborer paid wages, with no standing in the family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 15:19
What does Luke 15:19 mean?
The son plans to ask not for restoration as a son but for a place among the hired servants.