Luke 15:23

Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The father commands his servants immediately after ordering the restoration of his returned son with a robe, ring, and sandals. He issues this directive at the moment the son arrives home and the family prepares to acknowledge his return.

The words — The imperative φέρετε (pherete) commands "do bring," while σιτευτὸν (siteuton) identifies the calf as "fattened" or specially nourished for a feast. The verb θύσατε (thusate) follows with the direct order to "do kill" the animal.

The thread — This instruction to slaughter a calf for a feast parallels the lavish banquet the LORD prepares in Isaiah 25:6 and the king's wedding feast in Matthew 22:2. It also aligns with the imagery of profound satisfaction in Psalm 63:5.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that genuine restoration demands immediate, costly action and public acknowledgment. It presents celebration as the necessary, non-optional response to a recovered life rather than a discretionary emotion.

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

καὶkaiand φέρετεpheretedo bring τὸνtonthe μόσχονmoschoncalf τὸνton<the>σιτευτόν,siteutonfattened,θύσατε,thusatedo kill [it],καὶkaiand φαγόντεςphagonteshaving eaten εὐφρανθῶμεν,euphranthōmenlet us be merry,

King James Version

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

Cross-references

Matthew 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Psalms 63:5 My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods; with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.
Isaiah 25:6 On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.
Genesis 18:7 Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
Isaiah 65:13 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.
Proverbs 9:2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.