Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, March 28th, 2024
Maundy Thursday
There are 3 days til Easter!
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Bible Dictionaries
Hire

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Hindrance
Next Entry
Hireling
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

HIRE.—‘Hire’ (μισθός) occurs in two passages as the regular payment given for service rendered. In the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:8) it is spoken of the day’s wage, the denarius, owing by agreement to the workers. The proverbial phrase, ‘The labourer is worthy of his hire’ (Luke 10:7), is used by Christ in connexion with the mission of the Seventy. In Matthew 10:10 τροφή, ‘food,’ is substituted for μισθός. The latter Greek word occurs again (John 4:36) as the wages of the reaper. It is used in a good sense as the reward of devotion and service to God (Matthew 5:12; Matthew 6:1; Matthew 10:41, Mark 9:41, Luke 6:23), as well as to describe the ‘empty popularity’ attaching to the religious ostentation of the hypocrites (Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16). It is employed (Revelation 22:12) of Christ’s reward to His faithful followers: ‘My reward is with me.’

The term ‘hired servant’ or ‘hireling’ (μισθωτός) is used in speaking of Zebcdee’s servants (Mark 1:20), and of the false shepherd who deserts his flock at the approach of danger (John 10:12-13). A similar derivative (μίσθιος) describes the father’s servants in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:19). The verb ‘to hire’ (μισθόω) occurs (Matthew 20:1) of the householder who engaged the labourers for his vineyard. See also next article.

C. H. Prichard.

Bibliography Information
Hastings, James. Entry for 'Hire'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hdn/​h/hire.html. 1906-1918.
adsFree icon
Ads FreeProfile