And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The father's command to "bring out the fattened calf" isn't just about a meal; the definite article suggests a specific calf, one already set aside for such a celebratory feast. This implies the celebration wasn't just a spontaneous reaction to the son's return, but something the father had prepared for, a profound expression of his readiness to forgive and restore.
And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The father, overjoyed at his long-lost son’s return, immediately instructs his servants to bring out the finest robe, a ring, and sandals, symbolizing his restored honor and authority. This command to prepare a feast, culminating in the sacrifice of the fatted calf for a celebratory meal, shows the father’s overwhelming love and desire to make the son feel completely welcomed and cherished. It’s the ultimate expression of "welcome home" after the son’s devastating fall and return.
When the lost son finally turns back, the father doesn't wait. He runs! What does this say about God's heart towards us?
The father's immediate, joyful rush to meet his returning son is a powerful picture of God's eagerness to forgive and welcome us back.
The celebration isn't just a party; it's a declaration. What does the "fatted calf" and the feast signify in the father's eyes?
The command to bring the "fatted calf" and celebrate isn't merely about appeasing hunger; it's a profound symbol of complete restoration and a declaration of unmerited favor.
Ask a follow-up
The father declares, 'this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' What is the significance of these profound statements?
The father's declaration isn't just an observation; it's a theological statement about the nature of sin and redemption, highlighting the radical transformation that occurs when someone returns to God.
Understand the original words
nekros · Greek Adjective
The physical state of having ceased to live. Theologically, it describes both physical mortality and spiritual separation from God due to the presence of sin.
apollymi · Greek Verb (participle)
The state of being separated from the goal or purpose for which one was created. It characterizes the condition of humanity apart from God’s redemptive grace.
euphrainō · Greek Verb
The act of joyful rejoicing. In the Bible, celebration is often commanded in response to God's salvation, deliverance, or the repentance of a sinner.
The parable of the wedding feast also depicts a great celebration prepared for guests, highlighting God's abundant provision and invitation to joy when His people are found.
Luke 5:32Jesus states His purpose is to call sinners to repentance, echoing the spirit of radical welcome and celebration in the father's response to the prodigal's return.
Isaiah 25:6This prophecy describes a feast prepared by the Lord for all peoples, foreshadowing the ultimate joyous celebration in God's presence that this parable anticipates.
Psalm 32:1-5David's psalm of forgiveness describes the immense relief and joy that comes from confessed sin and received pardon, mirroring the father's delight in the prodigal's return.
calvinLuke 15:11-24: "And he said, A certain man had two sons:"
- And he said, [514] A certain man had two sons: 12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of property which falls to me. And he divided between them the property. 13. And not many days afterwards, [515] the younger son, having gathered all together, set out on a journey to a distant country, and there wasted his property by living extravagantly. 14. But when he had spent all, a sore famine arose in th…
clarkeLuke 15:23: "And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:"
The fatted calf, and kill it - Θυσατε, Sacrifice it. In ancient times the animals provided for public feasts were first sacrificed to God. The blood of the beast being poured out before God, by way of atonement for sin, the flesh was considered as consecrated, and the guests were considered as feeding on Divine food. This custom is observed among the Asiatics to this day.
The father's command to "bring out the fattened calf" isn't just about a meal; the definite article suggests a specific calf, one already set aside for such a celebratory feast. This implies the celebration wasn't just a spontaneous reaction to the son's return, but something the father had prepared for, a profound expression of his readiness to forgive and restore.
The father, overjoyed at his long-lost son’s return, immediately instructs his servants to bring out the finest robe, a ring, and sandals, symbolizing his restored honor and authority. This command to prepare a feast, culminating in the sacrifice of the fatted calf for a celebratory meal, shows the father’s overwhelming love and desire to make the son feel completely welcomed and cherished. It’s the ultimate expression of "welcome home" after the son’s devastating fall and return.
The father, overjoyed at his long-lost son’s return, immediately instructs his servants to bring out the finest robe, a ring, and sandals, symbolizing his restored honor and authority. This command to prepare a feast, culminating in the sacrifice of the fatted calf for a celebratory meal, shows the father’s overwhelming love and desire to make the son feel completely welcomed and cherished. It’s the ultimate expression of "welcome home" after the son’s devastating fall and return.
"And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate." — The father's command to "bring out the fattened calf" isn't just about a meal; the definite article suggests a specific calf, one already set aside for such a celebratory feast. This implies the cele…
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Last reviewed October 2026