Bible story · Luke 15:11–32

The Prodigal Son

A son runs away and wastes everything, and his father welcomes him home. A 2-minute animated story, told simply for children and families, with each verse from the King James Version.

Start the story For parents

1 of 8

Jesus told a story about a father who had two sons.

And he said, A certain man had two sons:
Luke 15:11 KJV

2 of 8

The younger son said, “Father, give me my share of the family money now.” So the father divided what he had between his two sons.

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.
Luke 15:12 KJV

3 of 8

A few days later the younger son packed up and went to a country far away. There he wasted all his money on wild living.

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 15:13 KJV

4 of 8

Then a famine came. The only job he could find was feeding pigs, and he was so hungry he wished he could eat the pigs’ food.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Luke 15:16 KJV

5 of 8

At last he came to his senses. “I will go home to my father,” he thought, “and tell him I am sorry.”

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luke 15:18 KJV

6 of 8

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him. Filled with love, the father ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luke 15:20 KJV

7 of 8

“Bring the best robe and a ring, and let’s have a feast!” said the father. “My son was lost, and now he is found.” And they began to celebrate.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:24 KJV

8 of 8

The older brother was angry. But the father said, “You are always with me, and all I have is yours. We had to celebrate, because your brother was lost and is found.”

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15:32 KJV

The end

Next story: The Ten Lepers

What does this story teach?

God loves us even when we run away from him.
It is never too late to come home and say sorry.
God is like the father, watching and running to welcome us back.
We can be glad, not jealous, when someone is forgiven.

Questions to talk about

Use these with your children after the story, at bedtime, at the table or in a class.

Why do you think the younger son wanted to leave home?
What made him decide to go back?
How did the father feel when he saw his son coming?
Why was the older brother upset? What would you have said to him?

Read the story in the Bible

This retelling uses simple words for young readers. Read the full account in Luke 15:11–32, one verse per screen:

Frequently asked questions

Where is the story of the Prodigal Son in the Bible?

The parable of the Prodigal Son is in Luke 15:11–32. It follows two shorter parables in the same chapter, the lost sheep and the lost coin.

What does prodigal mean?

Prodigal means wasteful, especially with money. The word does not appear in the story itself; it comes from the son wasting his inheritance “with riotous living” (Luke 15:13).

What does the father represent in the Prodigal Son?

The father is usually understood as a picture of God, who watches for those who have wandered away and welcomes them home with joy and forgiveness.

What is the lesson of the Prodigal Son?

God’s love and forgiveness are bigger than our mistakes, and heaven rejoices when someone comes home. The older brother’s part also warns against resenting God’s grace to others.

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