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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Luke 15:16 He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/luke/15-16.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/42_Luk_15_16.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Luke 15:16 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/luke/15-16.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/luke/15-16.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/luke/">Luke</a> > <a href="/luke/15.htm">Chapter 15</a> > Verse 16</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad16.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/luke/15-15.htm" title="Luke 15:15">◄</a> Luke 15:16 <a href="/luke/15-17.htm" title="Luke 15:17">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/luke/15.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/luke/15.htm">New International Version</a> He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. <a href="/nlt/luke/15.htm">New Living Translation</a> The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. <a href="/esv/luke/15.htm">English Standard Version</a> And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. <a href="/bsb/luke/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing. <a href="/blb/luke/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And he was longing to fill his belly from the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving to him. <a href="/kjv/luke/15.htm">King James Bible</a> And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. <a href="/nkjv/luke/15.htm">New King James Version</a> And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. <a href="/nasb_/luke/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. <a href="/nasb/luke/15.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. <a href="/nasb77/luke/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. <a href="/lsb/luke/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And he was desiring to be fed with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. <a href="/amp/luke/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a> He would have gladly eaten the [carob] pods that the pigs were eating [but they could not satisfy his hunger], and no one was giving anything to him. <a href="/csb/luke/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. <a href="/hcsb/luke/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> He longed to eat his fill from the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any. <a href="/asv/luke/15.htm">American Standard Version</a> And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. <a href="/cev/luke/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing. <a href="/erv/luke/15.htm">English Revised Version</a> And he would fain have been filled with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. <a href="/gwt/luke/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> No one in the country would give him any food, and he was so hungry that he would have eaten what the pigs were eating. <a href="/gnt/luke/15.htm">Good News Translation</a> He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat. <a href="/isv/luke/15.htm">International Standard Version</a> No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating. <a href="/msb/luke/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing. <a href="/net/luke/15.htm">NET Bible</a> He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. <a href="/nheb/luke/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> And he wanted to fill himself with the carob pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. <a href="/wbt/luke/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave to him. <a href="/wey/luke/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any. <a href="/web/luke/15.htm">World English Bible</a> He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/luke/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and he was desirous to fill his belly from the husks that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving to him. <a href="/blb/luke/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And he was longing to fill his belly from the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving to him. <a href="/ylt/luke/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and he was desirous to fill his belly from the husks that the swine were eating, and no one was giving to him. <a href="/slt/luke/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he eagerly desired to fill his belly with the fruits of the horntree which the swine ate: and none gave to him.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/luke/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him. <a href="/cpdv/luke/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he wanted to fill his belly with the scraps that the swine ate. But no one would give it to him. <a href="/nabre/luke/15.htm">New American Bible</a> And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. <a href="/nrsvce/luke/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/luke/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And he craved to fill his stomach with the husks that the swine were eating; and yet no man would give him. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/luke/15.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And he longed to fill his belly from the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no man was giving anything to him.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/luke/15.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods which the swine did eat. And no one gave to him.<CM> <a href="/godbey/luke/15.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>and he was desiring to fill his stomach from the pods, which the swine were eating: and no one gave unto him:<Fr> <a href="/haweis/luke/15.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And he eagerly longed to fill his belly with the charob berries which the swine did eat: and no person gave him a morsel. <a href="/mace/luke/15.htm">Mace New Testament</a> for he would have been contented to have liv'd upon the carruways, with which they usually fed the swine: but nobody would supply him. <a href="/wey/luke/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any. <a href="/worrell/luke/15.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>And he was longing to be filled with the pods which the swine were eating; and no one was giving to him.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/luke/15.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>And he would gladly have filled his belly with the husks which the swine did eat: and no man relieved him.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/luke/15-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3-5_0Jtd9Lc?start=6269" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/luke/15.htm">The Parable of the Prodigal Son</a> …15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/1937.htm" title="1937: epethymei (V-IIA-3S) -- To long for, covet, lust after, set the heart upon. From epi and thumos; to set the heart upon, i.e. Long for.">He longed</a> <a href="/greek/1072.htm" title="1072: gemisai (V-ANA) -- To fill, load. Transitive from gemo; to fill entirely.">to fill</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2836.htm" title="2836: koilian (N-AFS) -- From koilos; a cavity, i.e. the abdomen; by implication, the matrix; figuratively, the heart.">belly</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">with</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2769.htm" title="2769: keratiōn (N-GNP) -- A husk (pod) of the carob. Neuter of a presumed derivative of keras; something horned, i.e. the pod of the carob-tree.">pods</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: hōn (RelPro-GNP) -- Who, which, what, that. "></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/5519.htm" title="5519: choiroi (N-NMP) -- A swine, hog, sow. Of uncertain derivation; a hog.">pigs</a> <a href="/greek/2068.htm" title="2068: ēsthion (V-IIA-3P) -- Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.">were eating,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">but</a> <a href="/greek/3762.htm" title="3762: oudeis (Adj-NMS) -- No one, none, nothing. ">no one</a> <a href="/greek/1325.htm" title="1325: edidou (V-IIA-3S) -- To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.">would give</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">him a thing.</a> 17Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/5-6.htm">Matthew 5:6</a> Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. <a href="/philippians/4-19.htm">Philippians 4:19</a> And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. <a href="/psalms/34-10.htm">Psalm 34:10</a> Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. <a href="/proverbs/13-25.htm">Proverbs 13:25</a> A righteous man eats to his heart’s content, but the stomach of the wicked is empty. <a href="/isaiah/55-2.htm">Isaiah 55:2</a> Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. <a href="/john/6-35.htm">John 6:35</a> Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. <a href="/2_corinthians/9-8.htm">2 Corinthians 9:8</a> And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. <a href="/psalms/107-9.htm">Psalm 107:9</a> For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. <a href="/matthew/6-26.htm">Matthew 6:26</a> Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? <a href="/romans/8-32.htm">Romans 8:32</a> He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? <a href="/1_timothy/6-8.htm">1 Timothy 6:8</a> But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. <a href="/deuteronomy/8-3.htm">Deuteronomy 8:3</a> He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. <a href="/psalms/23-1.htm">Psalm 23:1</a> A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. <a href="/matthew/4-4.htm">Matthew 4:4</a> But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” <a href="/1_kings/17-12.htm">1 Kings 17:12-16</a> But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.” / “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, / for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’” ...</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave to him.he would.<a href="/isaiah/44-20.htm">Isaiah 44:20</a> He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?<a href="/isaiah/55-2.htm">Isaiah 55:2</a> Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.<a href="/lamentations/4-5.htm">Lamentations 4:5</a> They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.that.<a href="/psalms/73-22.htm">Psalm 73:22</a> So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.no.<a href="/psalms/142-4.htm">Psalm 142:4</a> I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.<a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Isaiah 57:3</a> But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.<a href="/jonah/2-2.htm">Jonah 2:2-8</a> And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/13-26.htm">Ate</a> <a href="/mark/7-19.htm">Belly</a> <a href="/luke/14-28.htm">Desirous</a> <a href="/luke/15-2.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/luke/10-7.htm">Eating</a> <a href="/job/27-22.htm">Fain</a> <a href="/luke/8-34.htm">Fed</a> <a href="/luke/2-24.htm">Fill</a> <a href="/luke/14-23.htm">Filled</a> <a href="/luke/15-9.htm">Glad</a> <a href="/luke/12-32.htm">Gladly</a> <a href="/luke/15-14.htm">Great</a> <a href="/proverbs/27-9.htm">Hearty</a> <a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Longed</a> <a href="/luke/14-1.htm">Meal</a> <a href="/luke/15-14.htm">Need</a> <a href="/luke/15-15.htm">Pigs</a> <a href="/mark/7-19.htm">Stomach</a> <a href="/luke/15-15.htm">Swine</a> <a href="/luke/13-34.htm">Wanted</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/luke/17-27.htm">Ate</a> <a href="/john/7-38.htm">Belly</a> <a href="/luke/23-8.htm">Desirous</a> <a href="/luke/15-23.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/luke/17-27.htm">Eating</a> <a href="/acts/26-28.htm">Fain</a> <a href="/luke/16-21.htm">Fed</a> <a href="/john/2-7.htm">Fill</a> <a href="/luke/24-5.htm">Filled</a> <a href="/luke/15-23.htm">Glad</a> <a href="/luke/19-6.htm">Gladly</a> <a href="/luke/15-20.htm">Great</a> <a href="/john/6-26.htm">Hearty</a> <a href="/luke/22-15.htm">Longed</a> <a href="/luke/16-21.htm">Meal</a> <a href="/luke/15-17.htm">Need</a> <a href="/psalms/80-13.htm">Pigs</a> <a href="/acts/28-8.htm">Stomach</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-7.htm">Swine</a> <a href="/luke/19-3.htm">Wanted</a><div class="vheading2">Luke 15</div>1. <a href="/luke/15-1.htm">The parable of the lost sheep;</a> 8. <a href="/luke/15-8.htm">of the piece of silver;</a> 11. <a href="/luke/15-11.htm">of the prodigal son.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/luke/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/luke/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/luke/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating This phrase highlights the desperation and destitution of the prodigal son. The "pods" refer to carob pods, which were commonly used as animal fodder in the ancient Near East. The carob tree, native to the Mediterranean region, produces pods that are edible but not typically consumed by humans unless in dire circumstances. This detail underscores the son's extreme poverty and hunger, as he desires even the food meant for pigs, considered unclean animals in Jewish culture (<a href="/leviticus/11-7.htm">Leviticus 11:7</a>). This reflects the depth of his fall from grace and the consequences of his reckless living. The imagery of longing for pig food emphasizes the degradation and humiliation he experiences, symbolizing the spiritual emptiness and moral bankruptcy that result from sin.but no one would give him a thing This part of the verse illustrates the complete abandonment and isolation the prodigal son faces. In the cultural context of the time, hospitality and community support were vital, yet he finds himself utterly alone and without aid. This lack of assistance highlights the consequences of his earlier decisions to squander his inheritance and sever ties with his family and community. The phrase also serves as a metaphor for the spiritual state of those who turn away from God, emphasizing the emptiness and lack of fulfillment found in a life apart from divine provision. This situation sets the stage for the son's eventual repentance and return to his father, mirroring the biblical theme of God's readiness to forgive and restore those who seek Him, as seen in passages like <a href="/isaiah/55-7.htm">Isaiah 55:7 and 1</a> <a href="/john/1-9.htm">John 1:9</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_prodigal_son.htm">The Prodigal Son</a> A young man who squandered his inheritance and found himself in dire need, representing a sinner who has strayed from God. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_far_country.htm">The Far Country</a> A place symbolizing separation from God and a life of sin and indulgence. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_pigs.htm">The Pigs</a> Unclean animals in Jewish culture, representing the depth of the prodigal son's fall and his association with sin. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_pods.htm">The Pods</a> The food given to pigs, symbolizing the emptiness and unfulfilling nature of a life lived apart from God. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_lack_of_provision.htm">The Lack of Provision</a> The fact that "no one would give him a thing" highlights the isolation and desperation that comes from living in sin.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a> Sin leads to spiritual and sometimes physical destitution. The prodigal son's longing for pig food illustrates the emptiness of a life lived apart from God. <a href="/topical/t/the_illusion_of_independence.htm">The Illusion of Independence</a> The prodigal son sought freedom but found bondage. True freedom is found in submission to God. <a href="/topical/t/the_need_for_repentance.htm">The Need for Repentance</a> Recognizing one's spiritual poverty is the first step toward repentance and restoration with God. <a href="/topical/g/god's_provision_vs._worldly_provision.htm">God's Provision vs. Worldly Provision</a> The world offers temporary satisfaction, but God provides for our deepest needs. <a href="/topical/c/community_and_isolation.htm">Community and Isolation</a> The prodigal son's isolation highlights the importance of community and accountability in the Christian life.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_luke_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Luke 15</a> <a href="/q/why_believe_in_jesus's_resurrection.htm">What reasons support belief in Jesus Christ's resurrection?</a> <a href="/q/did_jesus_appear_to_12_or_11_disciples.htm">How many disciples did Jesus appear to after his resurrection: Twelve (1 Cor 15:5) or Eleven (Matt 27:3-5; Acts 1:9-26; Matt 28:16; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:9, 33)?</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_1_cor_15_5-7_with_gospels.htm">How do we reconcile apparent inconsistencies between 1 Corinthians 15:5-7 and the various Gospel accounts of Jesus' resurrection appearances?</a> <a href="/q/key_elements_of_christ's_death_resurrection.htm">What are the key elements of Christ's death and resurrection?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/luke/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) He would fain have filled his belly.--It is singular that very many of the best MSS. give the simpler reading, "desired to be filled or satisfied." It is open to suppose either that they shrank from the reading in the text as too coarse, or that the later MSS. introduced "filled his belly" as more vivid and colloquial; or, as seems probable, that there may have been a variation of phrase even in the original autograph MSS. of St. Luke.The husks that the swine did eat.--The word is generic, but it is commonly identified with the long bean-like pods of the carob-tree, or Ceratonia siliqua, or St. John's bread, in which some have seen the "locusts" of <a href="/matthew/3-4.htm" title="And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.">Matthew 3:4</a>. They contain a good deal of saccharine matter, and are commonly used as food for swine in Syria and Egypt. Spiritually, they answer to the sensual pleasures in which men who are as the swine, identified with brute appetites, find adequate sustenance. The soul that was born to a higher inheritance cannot so satisfy itself. It seeks to be "like a beast with lower pleasures," but it is part of the Father's discipline that that baser satisfaction is beyond its reach.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/luke/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 16. - And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. So low was this poor lost man reduced, that in his bitter hunger he even came to long for the coarse but nutritious bean with which the herd was fed. These swine were of some value when fattened for the market; but he, the swineherd, was valueless - he might starve. The husks in question were the long bean-shaped pods of the carob tree (Caratonia siliqua), commonly used for fattening swine in Syria and Egypt. They contain a proportion of sugar. The very poorest of the population occasionally use them as food. <a href="/commentaries/luke/15-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>He longed ἐπεθύμει (epethymei) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1937.htm">Strong's 1937: </a> To long for, covet, lust after, set the heart upon. From epi and thumos; to set the heart upon, i.e. Long for. to fill γεμίσαι (gemisai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active <a href="/greek/strongs_1072.htm">Strong's 1072: </a> To fill, load. Transitive from gemo; to fill entirely. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. belly κοιλίαν (koilian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2836.htm">Strong's 2836: </a> From koilos; a cavity, i.e. the abdomen; by implication, the matrix; figuratively, the heart. with ἐκ (ek) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. pods κερατίων (keratiōn) Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2769.htm">Strong's 2769: </a> A husk (pod) of the carob. Neuter of a presumed derivative of keras; something horned, i.e. the pod of the carob-tree. the οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. pigs χοῖροι (choiroi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5519.htm">Strong's 5519: </a> A swine, hog, sow. Of uncertain derivation; a hog. were eating, ἤσθιον (ēsthion) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2068.htm">Strong's 2068: </a> Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat. but καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. no one οὐδεὶς (oudeis) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3762.htm">Strong's 3762: </a> No one, none, nothing. would give ἐδίδου (edidou) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1325.htm">Strong's 1325: </a> To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give. him [ a thing ]. αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/luke/15-16.htm">Luke 15:16 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/luke/15-16.htm">NT Gospels: Luke 15:16 He wanted to fill his belly (Luke Lu Lk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/luke/15-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Luke 15:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Luke 15:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/luke/15-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Luke 15:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Luke 15:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>