Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 15].
you find, but the first in rank and value, the finest in the
house. This in contrast with his shabby clothes. {A ring}
(\daktulion\). Common in classical writers and the LXX, but here
only in the N.T. From \daktulos\, finger. See \chrusodaktulios\
in Jas 2:2. {Shoes} (\hupod•mata\). Sandals, "bound under."
Both sandals and ring are marks of the freeman as slaves were
barefooted.
15:23 {The fatted calf} (\ton moschon ton siteuton\). The calf
the fatted one. \Siteuton\ is the verbal adjective of \sileu•\,
to feed with wheat (\sitos\). The calf was kept fat for festive
occasions, possibly in the hope of the son's return. {Kill}
(\thusate\). Not as a sacrifice, but for the feast. {Make merry}
(\euphranth•men\). First aorist passive subjunctive (volitive).
From \euphrain•\, an old verb from \eu\ (well) and \phr•n\
(mind).
15:24 {And is alive} (\kai anez•sen\). First aorist active
indicative of \anaza•\, to live again. Literally, he was dead and
he came back to life. {He was lost} (\•n apol•l•s\, periphrastic
past perfect active of \apollumi\ and intransitive, in a lost
state) and he was found (\heureth•\). He was found, we have to
say, but this aorist passive is really timeless, he is found
after long waiting (effective aorist) The artists have vied with
each other in picturing various items connected with this
wonderful parable.
15:25 {As he came and drew nigh} (\h•s erchomenos •ggisen\). More
exactly, "As, coming, he drew nigh," for \erchomenos\ is present
middle participle and \•ggisen\ is aorist active indicative.
{Music} (\sumph•nias\). Our word "symphony." An old Greek word
from \sumph•nos\ (\sun\, together, and \ph•n•\, voice or sound),
{harmony, concord}, by a band of musicians. Here alone in the
N.T. {And dancing} (\kai chor•n\). An old word again, but here
alone in the N.T. Origin uncertain, possibly from \orchos\ by
metathesis (\orcheomai\, to dance). A circular dance on the
green.
15:26 {Servants} (\paid•n\). Not \douloi\ (bondslaves) as in
verse 22. The Greeks often used \pais\ for servant like the
Latin _puer_. It could be either a hired servant (\misthios\,
verse 17) or slave (\doulos\). {He inquired} (\epunthaneto\).
Imperfect middle, inquired repeatedly and eagerly. {What these
things might be} (\ti an ei• tauta\). Not "poor" Greek as Easton
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