Luke 15:22

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The father speaks to his servants, not to the son, in the moment between the son's confession (v. 21) and the feast (v. 23). He has already run to meet the son (v. 20); these are commands issued mid-reunion.

The words — δοὺλους (doulous, "servants/slaves") is the same word the son uses of himself in v. 24 ("I was like a hired servant"), so the father's addressees carry the son's own language of degradation. The imperatives (bring, put, put) are bare commands with no conditional clause; the Greek offers no "if he is truly repentant."

The thread — Genesis 41:42 pairs a signet ring with fine garments as the transfer of status; Esther 8:15 does the same for Mordecai, the ring already given at 8:2. Isaiah 61:10 frames garments of salvation as the object of joy, not a reward for merit.

Why it lands — The father enacts full restoration before the son has finished proving he deserves it; the reader is asked to notice that the commands are not a response to the confession but a response to the son's return.

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

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

Cross-references

Genesis 41:42 Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck.
Esther 8:2 The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.
Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Revelation 6:11 Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.
Esther 3:10 So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
Zechariah 3:3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel.
Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 19:8 She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 3:4 But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white.
Galatians 4:5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.