Luke 15:21

The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The son addresses his father after approaching the household, following the father’s compassionate response to his arrival.

The words — The text highlights ἥμαρτον (hēmarton), literally “I have sinned,” and the preposition εἰς (eis), meaning “against,” to frame the confession.

The thread — The confession echoes the pattern of turning away from divine authority found in Psalms 51:4 and Jeremiah 3:13, while directly repeating the rehearsed declaration from Luke 15:18.

Why it lands — The son states his guilt and loss of status before receiving any restoration, requiring a reader to confront the plain reality of broken relationship prior to any reconciliation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Cross-references

Psalms 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.
Luke 15:18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Jeremiah 3:13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every green tree and have not obeyed My voice,’” declares the LORD.
1 Corinthians 8:12 By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
Romans 2:4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
Psalms 143:2 Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
Ezekiel 16:63 so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, declares the Lord GOD.”