Paragraph 15:25–32

15:25a

Meanwhile: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Meanwhile here introduces something else that happened at the same time that the things in 15:20b–24 were happening. It also introduces the older son as an important person in the story. Before this, he was mentioned only indirectly in 15:11.

the older son was in the field: The phrase the older son refers to the older brother of the son who had come home. This older son was working in one of the fields that the family owned. He was away from the house.

Other ways to translate this part of the verse are:

Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
While this was happening, his older child was working in one of the fields.

15:25b

and as he approached the house: The older son finished his day’s work and began to return home for his evening meal. In some languages it may be necessary to supply a phrase explaining that the older son left the field and began to walk home. For example:

⌊In the evening he left⌋ for home. When he got close…

15:25c

he heard music and dancing: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he heard music and dancing means that the older son heard the sound of musical instruments being played and the beat of dancing feet. There were probably several people who played instruments and others who danced as a group. The dancers may have been acting out the story of the younger son’s experiences.

The text does not specify what kind of instruments people were playing or what kind of dancing they did. So, if possible, you should use general terms for these ideas, as the Berean Standard Bible has done. Another way to translate it is:

he heard people playing instruments and dancing

In some languages there are no general terms for either music or dancing. Instead, there are many specific terms for different instruments and other terms for different kinds of dances. If that is true in your language, try to use terms that refer to music/instruments that accompany a dance. Use a term for dancing that refers either to a dance in which a story is acted out or a dance in which people are celebrating a happy occasion. Avoid terms for ritual or religious dances or erotic dances.

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