And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
And get the fat young ox and put it to death, and let us have a feast, and be glad.
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;
and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:
The fatted calf, and kill it - Θυσατε, Sacrifice it. In ancient times the animals provided for public feasts were first sacrificed to God. The blood of the beast being poured out before God, by way of atonement for sin, the flesh was considered as consecrated, and the guests were considered as feeding on Divine food. This custom is observed among the Asiatics to this day.
Be merry - Literally, "eating, let us rejoice." The word "merry" does not quite express the meaning of the Greek. "Merriment" denotes a light, playful, jovial mirth. The Greek denotes simply "joy - let us be happy, or joyful."
15:23 Let us be merry - Both here, and wherever else this word occurs, whether in the Old or New Testament, it implies nothing of levity, but a solid, serious, religious, heartfelt joy: indeed this was the ordinary meaning of the word two hundred years ago, when our translation was made.