8Or what woman having ten silver drachmas — if she loses one — does not light an oil lamp and sweep the house and search diligently until she finds it? [15:9] And having found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, because I found the drachma I had lost.' [15:10] Jesus said: In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner genuinely changing direction.
LUK 15:8-10
The Parable of the Lost Coin
In the world it was spoken into
In a 1st-century Galilean household, the loss of a single drachma would have been a significant event. A drachma, equivalent to a day’s wage, represented not just monetary value but also the labor required to earn it. For a woman managing a household, losing one of ten drachmas could disrupt the family’s fragile economic stability. The search described—lighting a lamp, sweeping the dirt floor, and seeking diligently—reflects the practical realities of a modest home, where coins could easily be lost in the cracks or debris. The use of a (oil lamp) highlights the dim, confined space typical of such dwellings. The woman’s thoroughness underscores her determination to recover what was lost. Upon finding the coin, her celebration with friends and neighbors aligns with communal practices of sharing joy, reinforcing social bonds in a tight-knit village. The parable’s climax, comparing her joy to the angels’ joy over a repentant sinner, would resonate with listeners familiar with Jewish teachings on repentance and divine mercy.
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How other translations render this
LUK 15:8
- KJV
- Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
- BSB
- Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?
- Koinōnos
- Or what woman having ten silver drachmas — if she loses one — does not light an oil lamp and sweep the house and search diligently until she finds it?
LUK 15:9
- KJV
- And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
- BSB
- And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’
- Koinōnos
- And having found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, because I found the drachma I had lost.
LUK 15:10
- KJV
- Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
- BSB
- In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of Godʼs angels over one sinner who repents.”
- Koinōnos
- Jesus said: In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner genuinely changing direction.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 15:8
- drachmas:The word translated 'drachmas' refers to a silver coin, roughly equivalent to a day's wage for a common laborer. This detail emphasizes the significant value of the lost coin to the woman.
- a lamp:The term used here for 'a lamp' refers to a small, portable oil lamp, the primary source of artificial light in ancient homes, often providing dim illumination.
- she sweeps:The word translated 'she sweeps' implies a thorough and diligent search, not just a casual cleaning. It suggests an active and persistent effort to find something lost.
- carefully:The word translated 'carefully' conveys a sense of diligent attention and thoroughness in the search, highlighting the woman's meticulous effort to recover the lost coin.