What Does Luke 15:20 Mean in the King James?

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Before the son can close the distance or explain himself, the father’s own inward parts have already moved him to run.

THE MEANING

You are seen while you are still far away. Compassion moves toward you before you can explain yourself, taking shape in the father’s run, embrace, and kiss. His welcome begins before the son speaks.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that you must get close enough, explain yourself, or prove your change before compassion can move toward you.

THE ROOT

ἐσπλαγχνίσθη

esplagchnisthē

GROWS FROM

σπλαγχν-

splanch-

The inward parts, the bowels; in this verb, to be moved in one’s inward parts.

“had compassion” in this verse is esplagchnisthē. The word translated “compassion” carries the image of feeling in the body’s inward center. The father’s compassion is not a distant judgment: it moves him to run, embrace, and kiss while his son is still far away.

ALSO GROWS

splánchna: Inward parts, bowels

σπλάγχνα

This noun makes the bodily image inside “compassion” visible: the feeling comes from deep within.

eúsplanch-nos: Tenderhearted, compassionate

εὔσπλαγχνος

This related word uses the same inward-parts root to describe a tender disposition, showing how bodily feeling becomes a way of being.

THE PATTERN

Compassion takes shape as movement toward the person who is suffering or far away.

Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:20 · KJVThe LORD’s troubled inward parts are expressed as mercy toward the one remembered.

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 · KJVSeeing the scattered multitude moves Jesus toward them with compassion.

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 14:14 · KJVCompassion moves outward into action for those who are suffering.

THE THREAD

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Luke 7:13 · KJV

Luke uses the same inward-parts verb when Jesus sees a grieving widow. In both scenes, compassion moves toward someone in pain; here, the father runs before the son can speak.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us