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.

LUKE 15:13KJV
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Luke 15:13 (KJV)

What does Luke 15:13 mean?

Luke 15:13 describes how the younger son quickly gathered all his belongings and left home for a distant country, where he wasted his wealth by living recklessly. This verse shows the son's decision to separate himself from his family and spend everything he had on a self-indulgent lifestyle.

In this part of Jesus’ parable, he is telling a story to a crowd that includes both religious leaders and everyday people. The younger son’s actions set up the main conflict of the story: he chooses independence and pleasure over responsibility and community. The verse highlights the speed (“not many days after”) and totality (“gathered all together”) of his departure, showing how determined he was to leave and how completely he turned his back on his former life.

The Greek behind Luke 15:13

  • The word for “wasted” is διασκορπίζω (diaskorpizō), which means to scatter or squander. This emphasizes that the son didn’t just spend his money—he lost it in a way that left nothing behind, highlighting the recklessness of his choices.
  • The phrase “riotous living” uses the Greek word ἀσώτως (asōtōs), meaning wildly or without restraint. This word paints a picture of a lifestyle with no self-control or thought for the future, helping the reader understand just how far the son went in his behavior.
  • The term for “far country” is χώραν μακράν (chōran makran), which means a distant land. This detail shows the son’s desire to get as far away from his home and its values as possible, not just physically but also in terms of lifestyle and choices.

Why Luke 15:13 matters

  • Luke 15:13 clears up any idea that the younger son simply made a mistake; the verse shows a deliberate and complete break from his family and values.
  • The verse sets the stage for the rest of the parable by showing how the son’s choices lead to his eventual downfall, making his later repentance and return more meaningful.
  • This verse connects to the wider message of Luke 15, where Jesus is teaching about lostness and restoration, using the younger son’s actions as a vivid example of how people can stray far but are still able to return.

Where else these words appear

“substance” Greek G3776 · used in 2 verses

  • 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.

“far” Greek G3117 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
  • Mark 12:40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
  • Luke 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

“journey” Greek G589 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
  • Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
  • Mark 12:1 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

“wasted” Greek G1287 · used in 9 verses

  • Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
  • Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
  • Luke 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.