Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Prodigal Son?

27 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Prodigal Son in the Bible

Explore what the Bible says about prodigal son. This collection of 18 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.

27
Total Verses
3
Old Testament
24
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Prodigal Son

  1. 1
    Genesis 41:42
    And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; fine: or, silk
    KJV
  2. 2
    Deuteronomy 21:17
    But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. that: Heb. that is found with him
    KJV
  3. 3
    Isaiah 55:8
    For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Luke 15:1
    Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Luke 15:7
    I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Luke 15:11
    And he said, A certain man had two sons:
    KJV
  7. 7
    Luke 15:12
    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.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Luke 15:13
    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.
    KJV
  9. 9
    Luke 15:14
    And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
    KJV
  10. 10
    Luke 15:15
    And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
    KJV

Subtopics of Prodigal Son

the prodigal son
General scriptures concerning

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Prodigal Son? (3 Verses)

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; fine: or, silk
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. that: Heb. that is found with him
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Prodigal Son? (24 Verses)

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
And he said, A certain man had two sons:
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.
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.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
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.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
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.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
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:
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Prodigal Son

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about prodigal son. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about prodigal son and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about prodigal son is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on prodigal son needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about prodigal son with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about prodigal son, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Prodigal Son?

You have studied 27 verses about prodigal son. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about prodigal son?
Explore what the Bible says about prodigal son. This collection of 18 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme. The Bible contains 27 key verses about prodigal son spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about prodigal son are there?
There are 27 key Bible verses about prodigal son compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about prodigal son?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about prodigal son is Genesis 41:42 — "And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his ..."
Where in the Bible does it talk about prodigal son?
Prodigal Son is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 27 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Prodigal Son

Topics Included

This page consolidates Bible verses from 2 related topics:

prodigal son