King James Version
What Does Luke 15:14 Mean?
“And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”
Context
12
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(14) **There arose a mighty famine in that land.**—This again was no unwonted incident. The famine which “came to pass in the days of Claudius Cæsar” (Acts 11:28) was more extensive and memorable than others, but it was far from standing alone. And now the pinch came. His treasure was gone, and for the fulness of bread there was hunger and “cleanness of teeth” (Amos 4:6). In the individual interpretation of the parable, the mighty famine is the yearning of the soul’s unsatisfied desire, the absence of its true food, of “the bread that cometh down from heaven.” (See Notes on John 6:32.) In its wider range it is the craving of humanity for what it cannot find when appetites are not satisfied, and their wonted supply ceases—the famine, not of bread and of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord (Amos 8:11); the want of a message from the Eternal Father to sustain the life of His children.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Luke 15:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Luke 15:14
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge