15:20a
So: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that many English versions translate as “and.” The Berean Standard Bible, along with many other English versions, translates it as So because it introduces what the young man did as a result of his decision to return home to his father. Translate the connection in a natural way in your language.
he got up and went to his father: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he got up is the same word as the word translated as “I will get up” in 15:18a. It is used here to indicate that the young man started to go to his father. It does not mean that he had been sitting down or lying down.
went to his father: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went can also be translated as “came.” Some English versions, such as the Revised Standard Version, translate it that way. Express this in a way that is natural in your language.
Notice that the young man had not reached his father when the action of the next verse parts occurred. In some languages it may be necessary to translate this as:
started back to his father
Paragraph 15:20b–24
In 15:20b–c the focus changes from the young man to the father and what the father felt and did when the son came home.
15:20b
But while he was still in the distance: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But while he was still in the distance is literally “but still being-away at-a-distance.” It means that the younger son was still far away from his father. However, he was close enough for his father to recognize him, as the next clause implies. Another way to translate this is:
While he was still at a distance (God’s Word)
his father saw him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his father saw him in this context means that the father saw who he was. He recognized him as he was coming. If you have a specific term in your language that refers to seeing someone in the distance, you may use it here.
15:20c
and was filled with compassion: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was filled with compassion means that the father felt great compassion for his younger son. He strongly desired to show mercy to him. In some languages there may be an idiom to describe this. For example:
his heart went out to him (NET Bible)
He ran to his son: The father ran to his son in order to welcome him. In some languages it may be more natural to make this information explicit. For example:
he ran ⌊to meet/greet⌋ his son
In other languages it may better to make information implicit. For example:
he ran (Good News Translation)
Use a natural way to express this clause in your language.
15:20d
embraced him, and kissed him: The phrase embraced him, and kissed him is a cultural gesture. In that culture a man greeted a family member or close friend by putting his arms around him and kissing him once on each cheek. The form of the Greek verb for kissed here implies that the father kissed his son repeatedly. He did this in order to show him that he loved him and welcomed him back home. If men in your culture would not welcome a grown son in this way, you may:
• Translate the gesture and make the meaning explicit. For example:
He put his arms around him and kissed him ⌊repeatedly⌋ ⌊on the cheeks⌋ to welcome him.
• Translate the meaning without the gesture. For example:
He greeted/welcomed his son with great affection.
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