Luke 15:27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
That one, however, said to him, "Because that brother of yours is here. And he sacrificed, that father of yours, the calf, the fattened one because, being healthy, him he has recovered."
Again, we see uncommon words translated as if they were common ones. The words here are "kill" and "receive", which sounds like the common Greek words. They aren't. They both have special meanings that are lost in translation.
The word translated as "he" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
The Greek word translated as "and" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
"Said" is from the Greek verb that means "to say" and "to speak" also.
There is an untranslated Greek word here that means "that" to introduce a statement of fact or "because" to introduce a statement of cause.
The word translated as "thy" is the possessive form of the second person pronoun.
The word translated as "brother" means a biological brother, any kinsmen, and more broadly and friend or associate.
The word translated as "is come" is a complicated one because it indicates a "coming" that has been completed, that is, "to arrive" or, even, "to be present." "Is here" is the simplest translation.
The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
The word translated as "thy" is the possessive form of the second person pronoun.
"Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers". It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.
The Greek verb translated as "kill" is uncommon for Jesus. It means to "offer by burning", "sacrifice", "slay", "slaughter", "celebrate [with sacrifices, offerings]," "the flesh of the sacrifice." The sense it "sacrifice", that is, to kill and burn on an altar but not completely.
"Fatted" is a Greek adjective Jesus uses only in this story. It means "fed up", and "fatted". It is used as a noun and appears after "calf", "the fattened one".
"Calf" is a Greek noun that Jesus only uses in this story. It means "calf", "young bull", "any young animal", and metaphorically, "a boy", or in feminine, "a girl".
The Greek source of "because" is a word that means "that" or "because." It was used earlier in the verse and left untranslated.
The verb translated as "he hath received" means to "take of", "take a part of a thing", "regain", "recover", "take apart or aside" (of persons), "cut off", and "intercept." It is an uncommon word for Jesus to use. It has the root of the common Greek word "receive" with the preposition "from" added as a prefix. The sense is "take out of" or "take from" but that converts to "recovered". The verb is not passive but active.
The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective.
The word translated as "safe and sound" is a verb that means "to be sound" both of body and of mind. It is in the form of an adjective, "being healthy". It appears before the "him" and the verb "he hath received".
ὁ (pro sg masc nom) "He" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
δὲ (conj/adv) "And" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if").
εἶπεν (verb 3rd sg aor ind act ) "Said" is eipon, which means "to speak", "to say", "to recite", "to address", "to mention", "to name", "to proclaim", "to plead", "to promise," and "to offer."
αὐτῷ (adj sg masc dat) "Unto him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there." -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."
ὅτι (adv/conj) Untranslated is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that", "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what", "because", "since," and "wherefore."
Ὁ ἀδελφός (noun sg masc nom) "Brother" is adelphos, which means "son of the same mother", "kinsman", "colleague", "associate," and "brother."
σου (adj sg masc gen) "Thy" is sou which means "of you" and "your." --
ἥκει, (verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Is come" is heko, which means "to arrive", "to have come", "to be present", "to have reached a point, "to pass though a point (geometry)", "to have come back", "returned", "to have come to table", "concern", "relate to", "to depend upon," and, as a metaphor, "to be a follower."
καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."
ἔθυσεν [4 verses] (verb 3rd sg aor ind ac) "Killed" is from thyro, which means tto "offer by burning", "sacrifice", "slay", "slaughter", "celebrate [with sacrifices, offerings]," "the flesh of the sacrifice."
ὁ πατήρ (noun sg masc nom) "Father" is pater, which means "father", "grandfather", "author", "parent," and "forefathers." --
σου (adj sg masc gen) "Thy" is sou which means "of you" and "your."
τὸν μόσχον [uncommon](noun sg masc acc) "Calf" is moschos, which means "calf", "young bull", "any young animal", and metaphorically, "a boy", or in feminine, "a girl". -
τὸν σιτευτόν, [uncommon](adj sg masc acc) "Fatted" is siteutos, which means "fed up", and "fatted".
ὅτι (adv/conj) "Because" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that", "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what", "because", "since," and "wherefore."
ὑγιαίνοντα (part sg pres act masc acc) "Safe and sound" is from hygiaino. which means "to be sound", "to be of sound mind", "to be healthy", "to be in health," and a form of saying farewell.
αὐτὸν (adj sg masc acc) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."
ἀπέλαβεν. [uncommon] (verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "He hath received" is from apolambano, which means "take or receive from", "receive what is one's due", "take of", "take a part of a thing", "regain", "recover", "take apart or aside" (of persons), "cut off", and "intercept."
The following is part of this Greek verse but translated in the KJV as part of the next verse, Luke 15:28 and are discussed in the next article.
ὠργίσθη (verb 3rd sg aor ind pass) "Angry" is orgizo, which means "to be made angry", "to be provoked to anger," and "to be irritated." -- Angry" is from a Greek verb that means "to be made angry", "to be provoked to anger," and "to be irritated."
δὲ (conj) "And" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so") and a condition ("if"). -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
οὐκ (partic) "Not" is ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective. -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
ἤθελεν (verb 3rd sg imperf ind act) "Would" is thelo, which as a verb means "to be willing (of consent rather than desire)", "to wish", "to ordain", "to decree", "to be resolved to a purpose" "to maintain", "to hold", "to delight in, and "will (too express a future event with inanimate objects)." As a participle, it means "being willing" or, adverbially, "willingly," and "gladly". . -- The Greek word translated as "will" is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English, which primarily expresses the future tense. Its primary purpose is to express consent and even a delight in doing something. It means "to consent" and "to be resolved to a purpose". As an participle, it means "willingly" and "gladly".
εἰσελθεῖν. (verb aor inf act) "Go in" is eiserchomai which means both "to go into", "to come in", "to enter", "to enter an office", "to enter a charge," (as in court) and "to come into one's mind." -- "Ye shall enter" is a word that means "go or come into" and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind."