Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 15:23

"and bring the fatted calf, [and] kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:" — Luke 15:23 (ASV)

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.