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Selected Verse: Luke 15:25 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Lu 15:25 |
King James |
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| in the field--engaged in his father's business: compare Luk 15:29, "These many years do I serve thee." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
In the field - At work. This eldest son is designed to represent the Pharisees who had found fault with the Saviour. Their conduct is likened to that of this envious and unnatural brother.
Music and dancing - Dancing was not uncommon among the Hebrews, and was used on various occasions. Thus Miriam celebrated the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt in dances as well as songs, Exo 15:20. David danced before the ark, Sa2 6:14. It was common at Jewish feasts Jdg 21:19-21 and in public triumphs Jdg 11:34, and at all seasons of mirth and rejoicings, Psa 30:11; Jer 31:4, Jer 31:13. It was also used in religious services by the idolaters Exo 32:19, and also by the Jews, at times, in their religious services, Psa 149:3; Psa 150:4. In this case it was an expression of rejoicing. Our Lord expresses no opinion about its "propriety." He simply states "the fact," nor was there occasion for comment on it. His "mentioning it" cannot be pleaded for its lawfulness or propriety, any more than his mentioning the vice of the younger son, or the wickedness of the Pharisees, can be pleaded to justify their conduct. It is an expressive image, used in accordance with the known customs of the country, to express joy. It is farther to be remarked, that if the example of persons in Scripture be pleaded for dancing, it can be "only for just such dances as they practiced" - for sacred or triumphal occasions. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Music (συμφωνίας)
A symphony: concerted music. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The elder son seems to represent the Pharisees and scribes, mentioned Luk 15:2. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
His elder son - Meaning probably persons of a regular moral life, who needed no repentance in comparison of the prodigal already described.
In the field - Attending the concerns of the farm.
He heard music - Συμφωνιας, a number of sounds mingled together, as in a concert.
Dancing - Χορων. But Le Clerc denies that the word means dancing at all, as it properly means a choir of singers. The symphony mentioned before may mean the musical instruments which accompanied the choirs of singers. |
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
19 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;
21 And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
20 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.