Luke 15:20
King James Version
11 Jun 2026
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
πατήρ
When Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, He begins with the most radical word imaginable — Father. In the ancient world, approaching God as Father was almost unthinkable. Jesus opens the door and says: this is how you come. Not as a subject before a king. As a child before a Father who already knows what you need.
σπλαγχνίζομαι
Compassion
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σπλαγχνίζομαι
The deepest word in the Greek New Testament for compassion. It comes from the word for intestines — the ancients believed deep emotion was felt in the gut. When the father sees his son coming from a great way off, he is moved in his depths. He does not wait. He runs. That is the Father's heart toward you.
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σπλάγχνον
Compassion
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σπλάγχνον
Bowels, tender mercies, deep affections. Splagchnon. The tender mercies of our God. Mercy in God is not a policy. It is a feeling. He is moved by your situation. He cares.
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τρέχω
Run
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τρέχω
To run, to hasten, to press forward. Trecho. Run with endurance the race set before you. The race is set. You do not choose the course. You choose whether to run it well.
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ἔρχομαι
he went
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ἔρχομαι
To come, to go, to arrive. Erchomai. Come Lord Jesus. The final prayer of Scripture is an invitation. The church lives in expectation of His return.
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πολύς
Great
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πολύς
Many, much, great. Polus. Much fruit. Many witnesses. Great grace. God is not stingy. He gives abundantly to those who are connected to the vine.
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ἑαυτοῦ
of himself
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ἑαυτοῦ
him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons) my-, thy-, our-, your-) self (selves), etc.
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εἴδω
he saw
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εἴδω
To know, to see, to perceive. Paul said I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
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ἐπιπίπτω
he fell
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ἐπιπίπτω
to embrace (with affection) or seize (with more or less violence; literally or figuratively)
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τράχηλος
neck
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τράχηλος
the throat (neck), i.e. (figuratively) life
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μακράν
Far
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μακράν
at a distance (literally or figuratively)
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ἔτι
Still
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ἔτι
"yet," still (of time or degree)
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μακρόθεν
Far off
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μακρόθεν
from a distance or afar
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καταφιλέω
he kissed
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καταφιλέω
to kiss earnestly
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