New International Version“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
New Living Translation“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?
English Standard Version“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
Berean Standard BibleOr 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?
Berean Literal BibleOr what woman having ten drachmas, if she should lose one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and seek carefully until she finds it?
King James BibleEither 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?
New King James Version“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
New American Standard Bible“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
NASB 1995“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
NASB 1977“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
Legacy Standard Bible“Or what woman, if she has ten drachmas and loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
Amplified Bible“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins [each one equal to a day’s wages] and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
Christian Standard Bible“Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
Holman Christian Standard Bible“Or what woman who has 10 silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
American Standard VersionOr what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?
Contemporary English VersionJesus told the people another story: What will a woman do if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them? Won't she light a lamp, sweep the floor, and look carefully until she finds it?
English Revised VersionOr what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?
GOD'S WORD® Translation"Suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house, and look for the coin carefully until she finds it?
Good News Translation"Or suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them--what does she do? She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it.
International Standard Version"Or suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them. She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesn't she?
NET Bible"Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it?
New Heart English BibleOr what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, would not light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?
Webster's Bible TranslationEither what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loseth one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she findeth it?
Weymouth New Testament"Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleOr 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?
World English Bible“Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionOr what woman having ten drachmas, if she may lose one drachma, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek carefully until she may find?
Berean Literal BibleOr what woman having ten drachmas, if she should lose one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and seek carefully until she finds it?
Young's Literal Translation 'Or what woman having ten drachms, if she may lose one drachm, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek carefully till that she may find?
Smith's Literal TranslationOr what woman having ten drachmas, if she lose one drachma, lights not a lamp, and sweeps the house, and seeks diligently till she should find? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleOr what woman having ten groats; if she lose one groat, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?
Catholic Public Domain VersionOr what woman, having ten drachmas, if she will have lost one drachma, would not light a candle, and sweep the house, and diligently search until she finds it?
New American Bible“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?
New Revised Standard Version“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleOr what woman who has ten coins, and should lose one of them, would not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search for it carefully, until she finds it?
Aramaic Bible in Plain English“And who is the woman who has ten quarter shekels and will lose one of them and does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search for it carefully until she finds it?” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentOr, what woman that has ten drachmas, if she lose one drachma, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search carefully till she find it?
Godbey New TestamentOr what woman having ten drachmae, if she may lose one drachma, does she not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she may find it?
Haweis New Testament
Or what woman having ten pieces of silver coin, if she lose one of them, doth she not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and make diligent search until she find it?
Mace New Testament
or if a woman, that has ten pieces of money, should lose one of them, will she not light a lamp, sweep the house, and carefully search, till she find it?
Weymouth New Testament
"Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?
Worrell New Testament
"Or what woman, having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently, till she finds it?
Worsley New Testament
Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and search carefully till she findit?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Parable of the Lost Coin7In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent. 8Orwhatwomanwho hastensilver coinsandlosesoneof themdoes notlighta lamp,sweepherhouse,andsearchcarefullyuntilshe findsit?9And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’…
Cross References Matthew 13:44-46The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field. / Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. / When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
Matthew 18:12-14What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Proverbs 2:4if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,
Zephaniah 1:12And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’
John 10:3-4The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. / When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Ezekiel 34:11-12For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. / As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
Philippians 3:8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Isaiah 62:12And they will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of The LORD; and you will be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
Jeremiah 50:6My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.
1 Peter 1:7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 119:162I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. / Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
Isaiah 55:6Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Psalm 119:176I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
Treasury of Scripture Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? pieces. Luke 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. and seek. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheepthat are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold,and one shepherd. Jump to Previous BitBitsCandleCareCarefullyCoinCoinsDiligentlyDrachmaEitherFindFindethFoundHandsHouseLoseLostPiecePiecesSearchSearchingSeekSilverSupposeSweepTenWouldn'tJump to Next BitBitsCandleCareCarefullyCoinCoinsDiligentlyDrachmaEitherFindFindethFoundHandsHouseLoseLostPiecePiecesSearchSearchingSeekSilverSupposeSweepTenWouldn'tLuke 15 1.The parable of the lost sheep;8.of the piece of silver;11.of the prodigal son.Or what woman who has ten silver coinsIn the cultural context of the time, a woman possessing ten silver coins, or drachmas, would likely be referring to her dowry or savings, which held significant personal and financial value. The number ten often symbolizes completeness in biblical numerology, suggesting the importance of each coin. The coins could also represent a part of a headdress worn by married women, indicating her marital status and financial security. and loses one of them
The loss of one coin, while seemingly small, represents a significant portion of her wealth. This loss would be deeply felt, emphasizing the value of each individual coin. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for the loss of a soul, highlighting the importance of every individual to God. does not light a lamp
Lighting a lamp indicates the woman's determination to find the lost coin. In the historical context, homes were often dimly lit, with small windows, making a lamp necessary for searching. The lamp can symbolize the light of Christ or the Word of God, which illuminates the path to finding what is lost. sweep her house
Sweeping the house suggests a thorough and diligent search. Culturally, homes had dirt floors, and sweeping would help uncover the lost coin. This action can be seen as a metaphor for repentance and the cleansing process required to restore what is lost. and search carefully until she finds it?
The careful search reflects the persistence and dedication required to recover the lost coin. This mirrors God's relentless pursuit of lost souls. The phrase underscores the value of perseverance and the joy of restoration, akin to the rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents, as seen in the broader context ofLuke 15. Persons / Places / Events 1. The WomanRepresents an individual who values what she possesses. In the parable, she symbolizes God's diligent search for the lost. 2. The Ten Silver CoinsThese coins, known as "drachmas," were valuable and could represent a significant portion of a person's savings. They symbolize the value of each soul to God. 3. The Lost CoinRepresents a lost soul, emphasizing the importance of every individual to God. 4. The HouseThe setting of the parable, symbolizing the world or the community where the lost can be found. 5. The Lamp and the SearchThe woman's actions of lighting a lamp and sweeping the house illustrate the thorough and persistent nature of God's search for the lost. Teaching Points The Value of the IndividualEach person is precious to God, just as the lost coin was valuable to the woman. We should view others with the same value and importance. Diligence in Seeking the LostThe woman's careful search is a model for how we should seek out those who are spiritually lost, using all available resources and efforts. God's Persistent LoveJust as the woman did not give up until she found the coin, God does not give up on us. His love is relentless and patient. The Role of LightThe lamp represents the truth and guidance of God's Word, which illuminates the path to finding the lost. We are called to be bearers of this light. Rejoicing in RestorationThe joy of finding the lost coin mirrors the heavenly celebration over a sinner's repentance. We should share in this joy and encourage others to return to God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Luke 15:8?
2.How does Luke 15:8 illustrate God's pursuit of the lost?
3.What does the woman's diligence in Luke 15:8 teach about seeking the lost?
4.How can we apply the woman's persistence to our evangelism efforts today?
5.What other scriptures emphasize God's joy in finding the lost?
6.How can we prioritize seeking the lost in our daily lives?
7.What does the parable of the lost coin in Luke 15:8 symbolize about God's love?
8.How does Luke 15:8 reflect the value of repentance in Christian theology?
9.Why does the woman in Luke 15:8 search so diligently for one lost coin?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 15?
11.How does God value the lost and found?
12.How was the woman with the issue of blood healed?
13.Why does the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11–32 not address the older brother’s grievances more directly?
14.Does Luke 15:7 imply that some souls are more celebrated than others, contradicting the idea of God’s impartiality?What Does Luke 15:8 Mean Setting withinLuke 15Jesus is speaking to Pharisees and scribes who grumble that He receives sinners (Luke 15:1-2). After the parable of the lost sheep, He immediately gives a second illustration—“Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them…” (Luke 15:8). The shift from a shepherd to a housewife widens the audience, showing that the lesson applies to every social level, echoing that “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34-35).
Ten Silver Coins• Each coin (a drachma) equals about a day’s wages—valuable but not extravagant. • The number ten suggests completeness; losing one threatens that completeness. Cross reference: Jesus pictures similar proportional loss in “one sheep out of a hundred” (Luke 15:4). Both emphasize that even a small fraction matters greatly to the owner, mirroring God’s heart that “He is patient… not wanting anyone to perish” (2 Peter 3:9).
The Moment of Loss“…and loses one of them…” (Luke 15:8). • The coin is lost through no fault of its own; it is lifeless, helpless, utterly dependent on the owner’s initiative. • Spiritually, sinners are “dead in trespasses” (Ephesians 2:1) and cannot rescue themselves. • The woman immediately recognizes the loss, paralleling the Good Shepherd who notices one sheep missing.
Lighting a Lamp“does not light a lamp…” (Luke 15:8). • Ancient homes were dark; finding anything required light. • Scripturally, light symbolizes revelation: “Your word is a lamp to my feet” (Psalm 119:105). • God takes the first step by sending light—ultimately Christ Himself, “the true Light” (John 1:9).
Sweeping the House“…sweep her house…” (Luke 15:8). • Sweeping stirs dust, lifting obstacles that conceal the coin. • The Holy Spirit convicts, exposing sin (John 16:8). • The woman’s action illustrates diligence, aligning with the shepherd who searched “until he finds it” (Luke 15:4).
Searching Carefully“…and search carefully until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8). • “Carefully” shows painstaking focus; nothing deters her. • God’s pursuit is persistent: Jesus “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). • The open-ended “until” guarantees success; God’s purpose cannot fail (Isaiah 55:11).
Implied Joy in the RecoveryThough verse 8 ends with finding the coin, verse 9 completes the thought: “When she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors…” The immediate celebration echoes the heavenly rejoicing in verse 10 “over one sinner who repents.” Cross reference: similar joy appears with the lost sheep (Luke 15:6-7) and lost son (Luke 15:22-24). God’s joy in redemption is a consistent theme.
Personal Application• Every person has intrinsic worth; losing even one is unacceptable to God. • God initiates, illuminates, and persists in the rescue mission. • Believers are called to reflect that heart—valuing the overlooked, shining gospel light, sweeping away barriers (Matthew 5:14-16; Jude 23).
summaryLuke 15:8 paints a vivid picture of God’s relentless, loving quest for each lost soul. Like the woman who refuses to rest until her missing coin is restored, the Lord actively brings light, removes hindrances, and searches with unfailing care. The verse assures us of our value and calls us to share in Heaven’s joy over every sinner brought home. (8) Either what woman having ten pieces of silver.--The main lesson of the parable that thus opens is, of course, identical with that of the Lost Sheep. We are justified, however, in assuming that the special features of each were meant to have a special meaning, and that we have therefore more than a mere ornamental variation of imagery. Looking to these points of difference we note (1) the use of the silver coin (the drachma) as a symbol of the human soul. Here the reason of the choice lies on the surface. The coin is what it is because it has on it the king's image and superscription. Man is precious because he too has the image and superscription of the great King, the spiritual attributes of Thought and Will, by which he resembles God, stamped upon him. (2) There is, perhaps, a special significance in the fact that the coin is lost in the house, while the sheep strays from the fold. What seems implied here is the possibility that a soul that is precious in the sight of God may be lost even within the society, Israel or the Church of Christ, which is for the time being the visible house of God. (3) It is a woman who seeks, and not a man, and the change, at least, reminds us of the woman in the parable of the Leaven. (See Note on Matthew 13:33.) It is hardly an adequate explanation in either case, though it may be true in itself, that the variation was made to interest a different class of hearers, the women who were listening, who had no experience in going after the sheep that was lost. We must at least see in it the lesson that what we call feminine virtues and graces are needed for the deliverance of souls that have fallen--patience, and diligence, and minute observation--not less than what we think of as the more manly qualities of courage, and enterprise, and endurance. Lastly, in the "woman" of the parable we may venture to see that which answers in part to the ideal representation of Wisdom in the book of Proverbs (Luke 8, 9), in part to the Church as answering in its collective unity to the ideal of womanhood, as Christ Himself does to the ideal of manhood ( Ephesians 5:23). Doth not light a candle, and. . . . seek diligently . . .?--The symbolic meaning of each act lies almost on the surface. To "light the candle" can be nothing else than to put forth the full power of truth and holiness. To "sweep the house" can be nothing else than to use all available means for discovering the possible good that lies hidden or seemingly lost. In the later actual life of the Church, faithful preaching of the word answers to the one, faithful organisation of charity to the other. The rest of the parable is simply an identical reproduction,mutatis mutandis, of the conclusion of the former. Verse 8. - 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? Another and very homely picture is painted in this parable. This time the chief figure is a woman, a dweller in a poor Syrian village, to whom the loss of a coin of small value out of her little store is a serious matter. In the story of the lost sheep the point of the parable turns upon the suffering and the sin of man, under the image of a lost sheep searched for and restored by the Divine pity. Here, in the second parable-story, the ruined soul is represented as a lost coin, and we learn from it that God positively misses each lost soul, and longs for its restoration to its true sphere and place in the heaven life and work for which it was created. In other words, in the first parable the lost soul is viewed from man's standpoint; in the second, from God's. If, then, a soul be missed, the result will be, not only missing for itself, but something lost for God.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek OrἪ(Ē)Conjunction
Strong's 2228:Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.whatτίς(tis)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5101:Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.womanγυνὴ(gynē)Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1135:A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.who hasἔχουσα(echousa)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.tenδέκα(deka)Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1176:Ten. A primary number; ten.silver coinsδραχμὰς(drachmas)Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1406:A drachma, a Greek silver coin. From drassomai; a drachma or coin.[and]ἐὰν(ean)Conjunction
Strong's 1437:If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.losesἀπολέσῃ(apolesē)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 622:From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively.oneμίαν(mian)Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1520:One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.[of them]δραχμὴν(drachmēn)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1406:A drachma, a Greek silver coin. From drassomai; a drachma or coin.{does} notοὐχὶ(ouchi)IntPrtcl
Strong's 3780:By no means, not at all. Intensive of ou; not indeed.lightἅπτει(haptei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 681:To kindle, light. A primary verb; properly, to fasten to, i.e. to set on fire.a lamp,λύχνον(lychnon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3088:A lamp. From the base of leukos; a portable lamp or other illuminator.sweepσαροῖ(saroi)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4563:To sweep, cleanse by sweeping. From a derivative of sairo; meaning a broom; to sweep.[her]τὴν(tēn)Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.house,οἰκίαν(oikian)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3614:From oikos; properly, residence, but usually an abode; by implication, a family.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.searchζητεῖ(zētei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2212:To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot.carefullyἐπιμελῶς(epimelōs)Adverb
Strong's 1960:Carefully, diligently. Adverb from a derivative of epimeleomai; carefully.untilἕως(heōs)Preposition
Strong's 2193:A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.she findsεὕρῃ(heurē)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2147:A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.it?οὗ(hou)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.
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NT Gospels: Luke 15:8 Or what woman if she had ten (Luke Lu Lk) |
