Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, July 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible
Etheridge Translation
Matthew 20:3
And he went forth in three hours, and saw others who were standing in the public place and unemployed.
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Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
When he went out about nine in the morning,
When he went out about nine in the morning,
King James Version (1611)
And he went out about the third houre, and saw others standing idle in the market place,
And he went out about the third houre, and saw others standing idle in the market place,
King James Version
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
English Standard Version
And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
New American Standard Bible
"And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
"And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
New Century Version
About nine o'clock the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there, doing nothing.
About nine o'clock the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there, doing nothing.
Amplified Bible
"And he went out about the third hour (9:00 a.m.) and saw others standing idle in the market place;
"And he went out about the third hour (9:00 a.m.) and saw others standing idle in the market place;
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he went out about the third houre, & sawe other standing idle in the market place,
And he went out about the third houre, & sawe other standing idle in the market place,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place;
"And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place;
Legacy Standard Bible
And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
Berean Standard Bible
About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
Contemporary English Version
About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do.
About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then, on going out at about nine in the morning, he saw more men standing around in the market-square doing nothing,
Then, on going out at about nine in the morning, he saw more men standing around in the market-square doing nothing,
Darby Translation
And having gone out about [the] third hour, he saw others standing in the market-place idle;
And having gone out about [the] third hour, he saw others standing in the market-place idle;
Easy-to-Read Version
"About nine o'clock the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there. They were doing nothing.
"About nine o'clock the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there. They were doing nothing.
George Lamsa Translation
And he went out at the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place.
And he went out at the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market place.
Good News Translation
He went out again to the marketplace at nine o'clock and saw some men standing there doing nothing,
He went out again to the marketplace at nine o'clock and saw some men standing there doing nothing,
Lexham English Bible
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
Literal Translation
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market.
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market.
American Standard Version
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
Bible in Basic English
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others in the market-place doing nothing;
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others in the market-place doing nothing;
Hebrew Names Version
He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
International Standard Version
When he went out about nine o'clock,the third hour">[fn] he saw others standing in the marketplace without work.
When he went out about nine o'clock,the third hour">[fn] he saw others standing in the marketplace without work.
Murdock Translation
And he went out at the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place:
And he went out at the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he went out about the thirde houre, and sawe other standyng idle in the market place,
And he went out about the thirde houre, and sawe other standyng idle in the market place,
English Revised Version
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
World English Bible
He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market-place.
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the market-place.
Weymouth's New Testament
About nine o'clock he went out and saw others loitering in the market-place.
About nine o'clock he went out and saw others loitering in the market-place.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he yede out aboute the thridde our, and say othere stondynge idel in the chepyng.
And he yede out aboute the thridde our, and say othere stondynge idel in the chepyng.
Update Bible Version
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;
Webster's Bible Translation
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place,
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place,
New English Translation
When it was about nine o'clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work.
When it was about nine o'clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work.
New King James Version
And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
New Living Translation
"At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.
"At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing.
New Life Bible
Later in the morning he went to the center of the town where people gather. He saw men standing there doing nothing.
Later in the morning he went to the center of the town where people gather. He saw men standing there doing nothing.
New Revised Standard
When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, going forth about the third hour, he saw others, standing in the market-place, unemployed;
And, going forth about the third hour, he saw others, standing in the market-place, unemployed;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle.
And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the marketplace idle.
Revised Standard Version
And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place;
And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he went out about the thyrde houre and sawe other stonding ydell in the marketplace
And he went out about the thyrde houre and sawe other stonding ydell in the marketplace
Young's Literal Translation
`And having gone forth about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market-place idle,
`And having gone forth about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market-place idle,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And aboute ye thirde houre he wente out, and sawe other stondinge ydle in the market place,
And aboute ye thirde houre he wente out, and sawe other stondinge ydle in the market place,
Mace New Testament (1729)
he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said to them,
he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, and said to them,
THE MESSAGE
"Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went. "He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?' "They said, ‘Because no one hired us.' "He told them to go to work in his vineyard. "When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.' "Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, ‘These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.' "He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn't we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?' "Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first." Jesus, now well on the way up to Jerusalem, took the Twelve off to the side of the road and said, "Listen to me carefully. We are on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. They will then hand him over to the Romans for mockery and torture and crucifixion. On the third day he will be raised up alive." It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request. "What do you want?" Jesus asked. She said, "Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand." Jesus responded, "You have no idea what you're asking." And he said to James and John, "Are you capable of drinking the cup that I'm about to drink?" They said, "Sure, why not?" Jesus said, "Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that's not my business. My Father is taking care of that." When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage." As they were leaving Jericho, a huge crowd followed. Suddenly they came upon two blind men sitting alongside the road. When they heard it was Jesus passing, they cried out, "Master, have mercy on us! Mercy, Son of David!" The crowd tried to hush them up, but they got all the louder, crying, "Master, have mercy on us! Mercy, Son of David!" Jesus stopped and called over, "What do you want from me?" They said, "Master, we want our eyes opened. We want to see!" Deeply moved, Jesus touched their eyes. They had their sight back that very instant, and joined the procession.
"Later, about nine o'clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went. "He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o'clock. At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?' "They said, ‘Because no one hired us.' "He told them to go to work in his vineyard. "When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.' "Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, ‘These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.' "He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven't been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn't we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?' "Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first." Jesus, now well on the way up to Jerusalem, took the Twelve off to the side of the road and said, "Listen to me carefully. We are on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. They will then hand him over to the Romans for mockery and torture and crucifixion. On the third day he will be raised up alive." It was about that time that the mother of the Zebedee brothers came with her two sons and knelt before Jesus with a request. "What do you want?" Jesus asked. She said, "Give your word that these two sons of mine will be awarded the highest places of honor in your kingdom, one at your right hand, one at your left hand." Jesus responded, "You have no idea what you're asking." And he said to James and John, "Are you capable of drinking the cup that I'm about to drink?" They said, "Sure, why not?" Jesus said, "Come to think of it, you are going to drink my cup. But as to awarding places of honor, that's not my business. My Father is taking care of that." When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, "You've observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It's not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage." As they were leaving Jericho, a huge crowd followed. Suddenly they came upon two blind men sitting alongside the road. When they heard it was Jesus passing, they cried out, "Master, have mercy on us! Mercy, Son of David!" The crowd tried to hush them up, but they got all the louder, crying, "Master, have mercy on us! Mercy, Son of David!" Jesus stopped and called over, "What do you want from me?" They said, "Master, we want our eyes opened. We want to see!" Deeply moved, Jesus touched their eyes. They had their sight back that very instant, and joined the procession.
Simplified Cowboy Version
"About nine in the morning he went out and saw some other cowboys hanging around the livery stables and not doin' anything.
"About nine in the morning he went out and saw some other cowboys hanging around the livery stables and not doin' anything.
Contextual Overview
1 FOR the kingdom of heaven is like a man, a house-lord, who went forth in the early morn to hire labourers for his vinery. 2 And he bargained with the labourers for a denarius a day, and sent them into his vinery. 3 And he went forth in three hours, and saw others who were standing in the public place and unemployed. 4 And he said to them, Go also you in the vinery, and what is suitable I will give you. Then went they. 5 And he went forth again in six and nine hours, and did the same. 6 And about eleven hours he went out, and found others who were standing and unemployed; and he said to them, Why are you standing all the day unemployed ? 7 They say to him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them, Go also you into the vinery, and whatever is suitable you shall receive. 8 But when it was evening, the lord of the vinery said to the chief of his household, Call the workmen and give to them their wages; and begin from the last unto the first. 9 And they came who (had wrought) from eleven hours; and they received each a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they expected to take more; but they also received each a denarius.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
the third: Mark 15:25, Acts 2:15
standing: Matthew 20:6, Matthew 20:7, Matthew 11:16, Matthew 11:17, Proverbs 19:15, Ezekiel 16:49, Acts 17:17-21, 1 Timothy 5:13, Hebrews 6:12
Reciprocal: 2 Peter 1:8 - barren
Cross-References
Matthew 1:20
But while (on) these (things) he reflected, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said to him, Jauseph, son of David, fear not to take Mariam thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is from the Spirit of Holiness.
But while (on) these (things) he reflected, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said to him, Jauseph, son of David, fear not to take Mariam thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is from the Spirit of Holiness.
Matthew 27:19
But while the governor sat upon his tribunal, his wife sent to him saying, Let there be nothing between thee and that Just One; for much have I suffered in a dream to-day on his account.
But while the governor sat upon his tribunal, his wife sent to him saying, Let there be nothing between thee and that Just One; for much have I suffered in a dream to-day on his account.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And he went out about the third hour,.... About nine o'clock in the morning,
and saw others standing idle in the market place: the place where labourers used to be hired: and may design the world, because a place full of people, and of great wickedness, for the whole world lies in it; a place of trade and traffic in worldly things, and likewise of worldly and carnal pleasure, and also of idleness. Now God's elect before calling, are in this place: they are natives of it, have their conversation according to it: here Christ came in person, and here he sends his ministers, his Gospel, to find them out, and by his Spirit and grace he calls them from hence; so that afterwards they are no more of it, though they are in it: but before conversion they belong to it, and their posture then is standing idle; being sluggish, and slothful in business, unwilling to work, and afraid of a little danger and trouble, sauntering away their time in carnal pleasures, and so clothed with rags, and in a starving, famishing condition: but Christ's eye is upon them; he observes, and takes notice of them in this disagreeable position and situation, and speaks of them in the following manner.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
About the third hour - The Jews divided their days into twelve equal parts, or hours, beginning at sunrise and ending at sunset. This was, therefore about nine oâclock in the morning.
Standing idle in the market-place - A place where provisions are sold in towns. Of course, many resort to such places, and it would be the readiest place to meet persons and find employers. They were not, therefore, disposed to be idle, but were waiting in the proper place to find employers.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 20:3. The third hour — Nine o'clock in the morning.
Market-place — Where labourers usually stood till they were hired. I have often seen labourers standing in the market places of large towns in these countries, waiting to be employed.
