SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 15:15

15:15a

So: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So here introduces what the younger son did because he was hungry.

he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hired himself out is literally “joined himself.” Some English versions, such as the Revised Standard Version, translate it that way. It indicates that he started working for a man who lived in that country. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

He went to work for a man in that country (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he got a job with one of the citizens there (New Century Version)
-or-
He persuaded a local farmer to hire him (New Living Translation (2004))

a citizen of that country: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a citizen of that country refers to a man who was a native of that country. It is also clear from the next verse part that the man owned property there. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a person/farmer from there
-or-
one of the inhabitants/residents of that place/country
-or-
one of the local landowners (Revised English Bible)

15:15b

who sent him: The word who here refers to the landowner. In some languages it may be more natural to start a new sentence here. For example:

That man sent him to his fields

into his fields: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fields refers here to land used for pasturing animals. This word last occurred in 14:18b.

to feed the pigs: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as feed the pigs refers here to the work of tending pigs while they are in the fields. The next verse implies that the pigs ate the pods that fell from the carob trees. Another way to translate this is:

to take care of the pigs (Good News Translation)

the pigs: The Jews considered pigs to be unclean animals, and they despised them. See the note on 8:32a. The young man must have been very hungry to have been willing to take care of pigs. If pigs are not considered unclean or despised in your culture, it may be helpful to have a footnote. Here is an example:

The Jewish law said that pigs were unclean animals. According to this law, Jews were not to eat pig meat (pork). See Leviticus 11:7. So the Jewish people despised pigs and people who took care of pigs.

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