Luke 15:27 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The servant explains: his brother has come home safe and sound, and his father has killed the fatted calf for joy.
What Does Luke 15:27 Mean?
The servant's report is simple and bright: "Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound." No resentment colors it — a son home alive, a father's relief, a feast. The plain facts of grace, plainly told.
Mark the servant's words: thy brother, thy father — the very relationships the elder son is about to hold at arm's length ("this thy son," he will say). And the feast's reason is not what the younger son did but what the father did: he received him. Luke has used that verb before — "this man receiveth sinners" (verse 2). The complaint of the Pharisees and the joy of the household are describing the same event.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 15:27
What does Luke 15:27 mean?
The servant explains: his brother has come home safe and sound, and his father has killed the fatted calf for joy.