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Matthew 20:2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And having agreed with the workmen on a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />“When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />After agreeing with the workers on one denarius, he sent them into his vineyard for the day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />After agreeing with the workers on one denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />After he had agreed to pay them the usual amount for a day's work, he sent them off to his vineyard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />After agreeing to pay the workers the usual day's wages, he sent them to work in his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He agreed to pay them the regular wage, a silver coin a day, and sent them to work in his vineyard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />After agreeing to pay the workers one denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />and having made an agreement with them for a shilling a day, sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and having agreed with the workmen for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And having agreed with the workmen on a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and having agreed with the workmen for a denary a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And having agreed for a drachma a day, he sent them to his vineyard.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then, having made an agreement with the workers for one denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />He bargained with the laborers for a penny a day, and sent them to his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/20.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And he made an agreement with the laborers for a denarius for the day and he sent them to his vineyard.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/20.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />And when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/20.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>And having agreed with the laborers for a denarion per day, sent them into his vineyard.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/20.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />And when he had agreed with the labourers at a denarius a day, he sent them into the vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/20.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />having agreed with them for a penny a day, he sent them to his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />and having made an agreement with them for a shilling a day, sent them into his vineyard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/20.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>and, having agreed with the laborers for a denary a day, he sent them into his vineyard.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/20.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>and agreeing with the men for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard:<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/20-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=5647" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/20.htm">The Parable of the Workers</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/4856.htm" title="4856: symphōnēsas (V-APA-NMS) -- To agree with, harmonize with, agree together. From sumphonos; to be harmonious, i.e. to accord or stipulate.">He agreed</a> <a href="/greek/3326.htm" title="3326: meta (Prep) -- (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives. ">to pay</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tōn (Art-GMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2040.htm" title="2040: ergatōn (N-GMP) -- A field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman in general. From ergon; a toiler; figuratively, a teacher.">them</a> <a href="/greek/1220.htm" title="1220: dēnariou (N-GNS) -- A denarius, a small Roman silver coin. Of Latin origin; a denarius.">a denarius</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">for</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2250.htm" title="2250: hēmeran (N-AFS) -- A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. ">day</a> <a href="/greek/649.htm" title="649: apesteilen (V-AIA-3S) -- From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.">and sent</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autous (PPro-AM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">them</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.">into</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">his</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ton (Art-AMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/290.htm" title="290: ampelōna (N-AMS) -- A vineyard. From ampelos; a vineyard.">vineyard.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">3</span>About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28</a></span><br />But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-7.htm">Luke 10:7</a></span><br />Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/19-13.htm">Leviticus 19:13</a></span><br />You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/24-14.htm">Deuteronomy 24:14-15</a></span><br />Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. / You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/5-4.htm">James 5:4</a></span><br />Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/5-18.htm">1 Timothy 5:18</a></span><br />For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/22-21.htm">Exodus 22:21</a></span><br />You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/3-5.htm">Malachi 3:5</a></span><br />“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/4-1.htm">Colossians 4:1</a></span><br />Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/3-27.htm">Proverbs 3:27-28</a></span><br />Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. / Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/22-13.htm">Jeremiah 22:13</a></span><br />“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/15-19.htm">Luke 15:19</a></span><br />I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-4.htm">Romans 4:4</a></span><br />Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/29-15.htm">Genesis 29:15</a></span><br />Laban said to him, “Just because you are my relative, should you work for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/7-1.htm">Job 7:1-2</a></span><br />“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand? / Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.</p><p class="hdg">he had.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/20-13.htm">Matthew 20:13</a></b></br> But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5,6</a></b></br> Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth <i>is</i> mine: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/5-27.htm">Deuteronomy 5:27-30</a></b></br> Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear <i>it</i>, and do <i>it</i>… </p><p class="hdg">a penny.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28</a></b></br> But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took <i>him</i> by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/22-19.htm">Matthew 22:19</a></b></br> Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/10-35.htm">Luke 10:35</a></b></br> And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave <i>them</i> to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.</p><p class="hdg">he sent.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/2-18.htm">1 Samuel 2:18,26</a></b></br> But Samuel ministered before the LORD, <i>being</i> a child, girded with a linen ephod… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/3-1.htm">1 Samuel 3:1,21</a></b></br> And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; <i>there was</i> no open vision… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/16-11.htm">1 Samuel 16:11,12</a></b></br> And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all <i>thy</i> children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/amos/3-3.htm">Agreed</a> <a href="/matthew/18-19.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/revelation/6-6.htm">Denarius</a> <a href="/luke/20-24.htm">Denary</a> <a href="/matthew/20-1.htm">Laborers</a> <a href="/matthew/18-34.htm">Pay</a> <a href="/matthew/10-29.htm">Penny</a> <a href="/revelation/6-6.htm">Shilling</a> <a href="/matthew/20-1.htm">Vine-Garden</a> <a href="/matthew/20-1.htm">Vineyard</a> <a href="/matthew/9-38.htm">Workmen</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/26-48.htm">Agreed</a> <a href="/matthew/20-13.htm">Agreement</a> <a href="/matthew/20-9.htm">Denarius</a> <a href="/matthew/20-9.htm">Denary</a> <a href="/matthew/20-8.htm">Laborers</a> <a href="/matthew/20-4.htm">Pay</a> <a href="/matthew/20-9.htm">Penny</a> <a href="/matthew/20-9.htm">Shilling</a> <a href="/matthew/20-4.htm">Vine-Garden</a> <a href="/matthew/20-4.htm">Vineyard</a> <a href="/matthew/20-8.htm">Workmen</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/20-1.htm">Jesus, by the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/20-17.htm">foretells his passion;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/20-20.htm">by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be humble;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/20-29.htm">and gives two blind men their sight.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day</b><br>In the context of first-century Judea, a denarius was a common day's wage for a laborer. This coin, typically made of silver, was the standard payment for a day's work, reflecting the economic practices of the Roman Empire. The agreement to pay a denarius underscores the fairness and sufficiency of the wage, aligning with the cultural expectations of the time. This phrase also highlights the landowner's integrity and the workers' acceptance of the terms, setting the stage for the parable's later exploration of grace and generosity. The denarius can be seen as a symbol of God's provision, echoing the daily bread mentioned in the Lord's Prayer (<a href="/matthew/6-11.htm">Matthew 6:11</a>).<p><b>and sent them into his vineyard</b><br>The vineyard is a significant biblical motif, often representing Israel (<a href="/isaiah/5.htm">Isaiah 5:1-7</a>) or the Kingdom of God. In this parable, the vineyard symbolizes the realm of God's work and mission. The act of sending workers into the vineyard reflects the call to participate in God's purposes, reminiscent of Jesus sending out His disciples (<a href="/matthew/10-5.htm">Matthew 10:5-8</a>). The vineyard setting also evokes the imagery of fruitfulness and harvest, themes prevalent in Jesus' teachings (<a href="/john/15.htm">John 15:1-8</a>). This phrase invites reflection on the nature of divine calling and the privilege of laboring in God's service, emphasizing the inclusivity of the Kingdom where all are invited to contribute, regardless of the hour they begin.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/l/landowner.htm">Landowner</a></b><br>Represents God, who is sovereign and just in His dealings with humanity. He owns the vineyard and hires laborers to work in it.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/l/laborers.htm">Laborers</a></b><br>Symbolize believers or those called to work in God's kingdom. They agree to work for a denarius, which was a typical day's wage at the time.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/v/vineyard.htm">Vineyard</a></b><br>Represents the kingdom of God, where believers are called to labor and serve.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/d/denarius.htm">Denarius</a></b><br>A Roman coin that was the standard daily wage for a laborer, symbolizing the reward or blessing given by God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_justice.htm">God's Sovereignty and Justice</a></b><br>God, as the landowner, is just and sovereign in His dealings. He sets the terms and fulfills His promises.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_serve.htm">The Call to Serve</a></b><br>Believers are called to labor in God's vineyard, representing the call to serve in His kingdom with diligence and faithfulness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/contentment_with_god's_provision.htm">Contentment with God's Provision</a></b><br>The agreed wage of a denarius teaches contentment with what God provides, trusting in His fairness and generosity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/equality_in_the_kingdom.htm">Equality in the Kingdom</a></b><br>The parable illustrates that all who labor in God's kingdom receive the same reward of eternal life, regardless of when they are called.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_timing.htm">Trust in God's Timing</a></b><br>The laborers' agreement to work at different times of the day reflects trust in God's timing and His plan for each individual's life.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_pay_latecomers_like_early_workers.htm">Why should latecomers receive equal pay as early workers?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_a_50,000-coin_scroll_burning_realistic.htm">Acts 19:19 records believers burning magic scrolls worth 50,000 silver coins; how historically or economically realistic is such a massive bonfire of valuable items?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_equal_pay_for_latecomers.htm">Why do latecomers receive equal pay as early workers?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_equal_pay_for_latecomers_in_matthew_20.htm">Matthew 20:1–16 – If God is perfectly just, why would He reward latecomers the same as those who worked all day? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">A penny a day.</span>--Measured by its weight, the "penny--<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> the Roman <span class= "ital">denarius,</span> then the common standard of value in Palestine--was, as nearly as possible, sevenpence-halfpenny of our coinage. Its real equivalent, however, is to be found in its purchasing power, and, as the average price of the unskilled labour of the tiller of the soil, it may fairly be reckoned as equal to about half-a-crown of our present currency. It was, that is, in itself, an adequate and just payment.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">When he had agreed with the labourers.</span> With those first hired he makes a special agreement for the pay of the day's work; with the others he acts differently. <span class="cmt_word">For a penny a day</span> (<span class="greek">ἐκ ηηναρίου τὴν ἡμέραν</span>). The denarius (always translated "a penny" in our version) was a silver coin about equal in value to the French franc, but of course in its buying capacities worth in those days a great deal more. We learn from Tacitus ('Annal.,' 1:17) that it was the usual pay of a Roman soldier. It was equivalent to the Greek drachma, which Tobit (5:14) offered to Azarias as daily wages. Our rendering of "a penny" conveys a very erroneous impression to unlearned hearers, both in this passage and in other places where it occurs. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/20-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">He agreed</span><br /><span class="grk">συμφωνήσας</span> <span class="translit">(symphōnēsas)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4856.htm">Strong's 4856: </a> </span><span class="str2">To agree with, harmonize with, agree together. From sumphonos; to be harmonious, i.e. to accord or stipulate.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[to pay]</span><br /><span class="grk">μετὰ</span> <span class="translit">(meta)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3326.htm">Strong's 3326: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">[them]</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐργατῶν</span> <span class="translit">(ergatōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2040.htm">Strong's 2040: </a> </span><span class="str2">A field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman in general. From ergon; a toiler; figuratively, a teacher.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a denarius</span><br /><span class="grk">δηναρίου</span> <span class="translit">(dēnariou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1220.htm">Strong's 1220: </a> </span><span class="str2">A denarius, a small Roman silver coin. Of Latin origin; a denarius.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐκ</span> <span class="translit">(ek)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> </span><span class="str2">From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τὴν</span> <span class="translit">(tēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">day</span><br /><span class="grk">ἡμέραν</span> <span class="translit">(hēmeran)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2250.htm">Strong's 2250: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and] sent</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀπέστειλεν</span> <span class="translit">(apesteilen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_649.htm">Strong's 649: </a> </span><span class="str2">From apo and stello; set apart, i.e. to send out literally or figuratively.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοὺς</span> <span class="translit">(autous)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into</span><br /><span class="grk">εἰς</span> <span class="translit">(eis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1519.htm">Strong's 1519: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(autou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">vineyard.</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀμπελῶνα</span> <span class="translit">(ampelōna)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_290.htm">Strong's 290: </a> </span><span class="str2">A vineyard. From ampelos; a vineyard.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/20-2.htm">Matthew 20:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/20-2.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 20:2 When he had agreed with the laborers (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/20-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 20:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 20:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/20-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 20:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 20:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>