Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Ten pieces of silver (draxmav deka). The only instance in the N.T. of this old word for a coin of 65.5 grains about the value of the common dhnariuv (about eighteen cents), a quarter of a Jewish shekel. The double drachma (didraxmon) occurs in the N.T. only in Matthew 17:24. The root is from drassomai, to grasp with the hand (I Corinthians 3:19), and so a handful of coin. Ten drachmas would be equal to nearly two dollars, but in purchasing power much more.
Sweep (saroi). A late colloquial verb sarow for the earlier sairw, to clear by sweeping. Three times in the N.T. (Luke 11:25; Luke 15:8; Matthew 12:44). The house was probably with out windows (only the door for light and hence the lamp lit) and probably also a dirt floor. Hence Bengel says: non sine pulvere. This parable is peculiar to Luke.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Luke 15:8:
Luke 15:8
Luke 15:11
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