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class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<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"><a href="/niv/matthew/20.htm">New International Version</a> These who were hired last worked only one hour,&#8217 they said, &#8216and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.&#8217 <a href="/nlt/matthew/20.htm">New Living Translation</a> ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ <a href="/esv/matthew/20.htm">English Standard Version</a> saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ <a href="/bsb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ <a href="/blb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> saying, 'These the last have worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us, the ones having borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' <a href="/kjv/matthew/20.htm">King James Bible</a> Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. <a href="/nkjv/matthew/20.htm">New King James Version</a> saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ <a href="/nasb_/matthew/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> saying, ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day’s work and the scorching heat.’ <a href="/nasb/matthew/20.htm">NASB 1995</a> saying, &#8216These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.&#8217 <a href="/nasb77/matthew/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a> saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ <a href="/lsb/matthew/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ <a href="/amp/matthew/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a> saying, ‘These men who came last worked [only] one hour, and yet you have made them equal [in wages] to us who have carried [most of] the burden and [worked in] the scorching heat of the day.’ <a href="/csb/matthew/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> ‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day’s work and the burning heat.’ <a href="/hcsb/matthew/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!&#8217 <a href="/asv/matthew/20.htm">American Standard Version</a> saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. <a href="/cev/matthew/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> They said, "The ones who were hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did us. And we worked in the hot sun all day long!" <a href="/erv/matthew/20.htm">English Revised Version</a> saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. <a href="/gwt/matthew/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> They said, 'These last workers have worked only one hour. Yet, you've treated us all the same, even though we worked hard all day under a blazing sun.' <a href="/gnt/matthew/20.htm">Good News Translation</a> 'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'while we put up with a whole day's work in the hot sun--yet you paid them the same as you paid us!' <a href="/isv/matthew/20.htm">International Standard Version</a> These last fellows worked only one hour, but you paid them the same as us, and we've been working all day, enduring the scorching heat!' <a href="/msb/matthew/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?These men who were hired last worked only one hour,? they said, ?and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.? <a href="/net/matthew/20.htm">NET Bible</a> saying, 'These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.' <a href="/nheb/matthew/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' <a href="/wbt/matthew/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. <a href="/wey/matthew/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "'These who came last have done only one hour's work, and you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day and have borne the scorching heat.' <a href="/web/matthew/20.htm">World English Bible</a> saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’ <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> that, These, the last, worked one hour, and you made them equal to us, who were bearing the burden of the day—and the heat. <a href="/blb/matthew/20.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> saying, 'These the last have worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us, the ones having borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' <a href="/ylt/matthew/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> that These, the last, wrought one hour, and thou didst make them equal to us, who were bearing the burden of the day -- and the heat. <a href="/slt/matthew/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Saying, That these last worked one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, having borne the burden and heat of the day.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> saying, ‘These last have worked for one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who worked bearing the weight and heat of the day.’ <a href="/nabre/matthew/20.htm">New American Bible</a> saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Saying, These last ones have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal with us who have borne the weight of the day and its heat. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/20.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And they were saying, 'These last ones have worked one hour and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.'<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/20.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> saying: These last have worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day, and the heat. <a href="/godbey/matthew/20.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>saying, These labored one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who bore the burden of the day and the heat.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/20.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> saying, These last have wrought only a single hour, and thou hast put them on an equality with us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. <a href="/mace/matthew/20.htm">Mace New Testament</a> these last have work'd but an hour, and you put them upon the level with us, who have born the whole fatigue and heat of the day. <a href="/wey/matthew/20.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "'These who came last have done only one hour's work, and you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day and have borne the scorching heat.' <a href="/worrell/matthew/20.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>saying, 'These last wrought but one hour, and you made them equal with us, who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!'<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/20.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>saying, These last have worked <Fr>but<FR> one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burthen and heat of the day.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/20-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=5726" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/20.htm">The Parable of the Workers</a> …11On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12<a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: Houtoi (DPro-NMP) -- This; he, she, it. ">‘These</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-NMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">men who were hired</a> <a href="/greek/2078.htm" title="2078: eschatoi (Adj-NMP) -- Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final.">last</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: epoiēsan (V-AIA-3P) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">worked</a> <a href="/greek/1520.htm" title="1520: mian (Adj-AFS) -- One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.">only one</a> <a href="/greek/5610.htm" title="5610: hōran (N-AFS) -- Apparently a primary word; an hour.">hour,’</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legontes (V-PPA-NMP) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">they said,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">‘and</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: epoiēsas (V-AIA-2S) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">you have made</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/2470.htm" title="2470: isous (Adj-AMP) -- Equal, equivalent, identical. Probably from eido; similar.">equal</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: hēmin (PPro-D1P) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">to us</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">who</a> <a href="/greek/941.htm" title="941: bastasasi (V-APA-DMP) -- Perhaps remotely derived from the base of basis; to lift, literally or figuratively.">have borne</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: to (Art-ANS) -- 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/922.htm" title="922: baros (N-ANS) -- Probably from the same as basis; weight; in the New Testament only, figuratively, a load, abundance, authority.">burden</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</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.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2742.htm" title="2742: kausōna (N-AMS) -- A scorching heat, hot wind. From kausoo; a glare.">scorching heat</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/2250.htm" title="2250: hēmeras (N-GFS) -- A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. ">day.’</a> 13But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/luke/15-29.htm">Luke 15:29-30</a> But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. / But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ <a href="/luke/7-39.htm">Luke 7:39</a> When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!” <a href="/luke/18-11.htm">Luke 18:11-12</a> The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. / I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ <a href="/james/5-9.htm">James 5:9</a> Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door! <a href="/romans/9-20.htm">Romans 9:20-21</a> But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use? <a href="/1_corinthians/10-10.htm">1 Corinthians 10:10</a> And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. <a href="/philippians/2-14.htm">Philippians 2:14</a> Do everything without complaining or arguing, <a href="/hebrews/13-5.htm">Hebrews 13:5</a> Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” <a href="/exodus/16-8.htm">Exodus 16:8</a> And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.” <a href="/numbers/11-4.htm">Numbers 11:4-6</a> Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? / We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. / But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!” <a href="/numbers/16-11.htm">Numbers 16:11</a> Therefore, it is you and all your followers who have conspired against the LORD! As for Aaron, who is he that you should grumble against him?” <a href="/job/21-15.htm">Job 21:15</a> Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’ <a href="/job/35-3.htm">Job 35:3</a> For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’ <a href="/isaiah/58-3.htm">Isaiah 58:3</a> “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. <a href="/ezekiel/18-25.htm">Ezekiel 18:25</a> Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Saying, These last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal to us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.wrought but one hour.<a href="/luke/14-10.htm">Luke 14:10,11</a> But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee… <a href="/romans/3-22.htm">Romans 3:22-24,30</a> Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: … <a href="/ephesians/3-6.htm">Ephesians 3:6</a> That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:borne.<a href="/isaiah/58-2.htm">Isaiah 58:2,3</a> Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God… <a href="/zechariah/7-3.htm">Zechariah 7:3-5</a> And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? … <a href="/malachi/1-13.htm">Malachi 1:13</a> Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/3-10.htm">Bearing</a> <a href="/matthew/5-10.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/matthew/11-30.htm">Burden</a> <a href="/matthew/12-20.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/daniel/8-11.htm">Equal</a> <a href="/matthew/19-23.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/matthew/13-6.htm">Heat</a> <a href="/matthew/20-10.htm">Hired</a> <a href="/matthew/20-9.htm">Hour</a> <a href="/luke/24-33.htm">Hour's</a> <a href="/matthew/19-30.htm">Last</a> <a href="/jonah/4-8.htm">Scorching</a> <a href="/daniel/6-18.htm">Spent</a> <a href="/zechariah/1-19.htm">These</a> <a href="/nahum/3-19.htm">Undergone</a> <a href="/matthew/18-26.htm">Whole</a> <a href="/matthew/20-9.htm">Work</a> <a href="/matthew/13-33.htm">Worked</a> <a href="/zephaniah/2-3.htm">Wrought</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/mark/14-13.htm">Bearing</a> <a href="/matthew/23-4.htm">Borne</a> <a href="/matthew/21-5.htm">Burden</a> <a href="/matthew/22-7.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/mark/12-42.htm">Equal</a> <a href="/matthew/23-4.htm">Hard</a> <a href="/mark/1-30.htm">Heat</a> <a href="/matthew/20-14.htm">Hired</a> <a href="/matthew/24-36.htm">Hour</a> <a href="/luke/24-33.htm">Hour's</a> <a href="/matthew/20-14.htm">Last</a> <a href="/luke/12-55.htm">Scorching</a> <a href="/matthew/21-17.htm">Spent</a> <a href="/exodus/32-8.htm">These</a> <a href="/mark/5-26.htm">Undergone</a> <a href="/matthew/21-10.htm">Whole</a> <a href="/matthew/20-13.htm">Work</a> <a href="/mark/16-20.htm">Worked</a> <a href="/matthew/21-15.htm">Wrought</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 20</div>1. <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> 17. <a href="/matthew/20-17.htm">foretells his passion;</a> 20. <a href="/matthew/20-20.htm">by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be humble;</a> 29. <a href="/matthew/20-29.htm">and gives two blind men their sight.</a> </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>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <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> </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>‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, This phrase highlights the parable of the workers in the vineyard, where laborers are hired at different times of the day but receive the same wage. The context is a vineyard, a common setting in Israel, symbolizing God's kingdom. The complaint reflects human notions of fairness and justice, contrasting with divine grace. The one-hour workers represent those who come to faith later in life, emphasizing that God's grace is not earned by the length of service but is a gift.‘and you have made them equal to us’ This statement underscores the theme of equality in the kingdom of heaven. It challenges the cultural and societal norms of the time, where status and hierarchy were prevalent. The equality here is a reflection of the early church's teaching that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free (<a href="/galatians/3-28.htm">Galatians 3:28</a>). It points to the radical nature of God's grace, which does not discriminate based on human standards.‘who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ This phrase reflects the hard labor and conditions faced by the early workers, symbolizing those who have long served in God's kingdom. The "burden" and "scorching heat" can be seen as the trials and perseverance required in the Christian life. It echoes the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness and the endurance of the prophets. This imagery also connects to Jesus' own suffering and the call for His followers to take up their cross (<a href="/matthew/16-24.htm">Matthew 16:24</a>), highlighting the cost of discipleship.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/l/landowner.htm">Landowner</a> Represents God, who is sovereign and just in His dealings with humanity. 2. <a href="/topical/l/laborers.htm">Laborers</a> Symbolize believers or followers of Christ, each called to work in God's vineyard (kingdom). 3. <a href="/topical/v/vineyard.htm">Vineyard</a> Represents the kingdom of God, where believers are called to serve. 4. <a href="/topical/d/day's_work.htm">Day's Work</a> The labor and service believers offer in their lifetime. 5. <a href="/topical/d/denarius.htm">Denarius</a> The wage agreed upon, symbolizing the reward of eternal life.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_grace.htm">God's Sovereignty and Grace</a> God is sovereign in dispensing His grace and rewards. We must trust His wisdom and fairness. <a href="/topical/e/equality_in_the_kingdom.htm">Equality in the Kingdom</a> In God's kingdom, all believers are equal recipients of His grace, regardless of when they come to faith. <a href="/topical/a/avoiding_comparison.htm">Avoiding Comparison</a> Comparing our service or rewards with others can lead to discontentment. Focus on serving God faithfully. <a href="/topical/g/gratitude_for_god's_generosity.htm">Gratitude for God's Generosity</a> Be thankful for God's generosity and grace, which are not based on human merit. <a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_service.htm">Faithfulness in Service</a> Serve diligently and faithfully, trusting that God sees and rewards all efforts in His time.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 20</a> <a href="/q/why_do_bible_books_contradict_details.htm">If the Bible is historically accurate, why do different biblical books contradict each other in details such as the number of angels at Jesus' tomb?</a> <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 href="/q/why_does_jesus_heal_on_the_sabbath.htm">Matthew 12:9-14: Why does Jesus seem to disregard the command to rest on the Sabbath by healing someone, reportedly violating Exodus 20:8-10?</a> <a href="/q/how_many_blind_men_healed_near_jericho.htm">How many blind men did Jesus heal near Jericho? (Matthew 20:30 vs. Mark 10:46)</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>(12) But one hour.--Literally, in what was probably the technical language of labourers, made but one hour:The burden and heat of the day.--The word rendered "heat" is elsewhere used--as in <a href="/james/1-11.htm" title="For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it wither the grass, and the flower thereof falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.">James 1:11</a>, and the LXX. of <a href="/jonah/4-8.htm" title="And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.">Jonah 4:8</a>--for the "burning wind" that often follows on the sunrise, and makes the labour of the first half of the day harder than that of the latter.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 12. - These last have wrought but one hour; μίαν ὥραν ἐπσίησαν: una hora fecerunt (Vulgate); have spent but one hour (Revised Version). The verb ποιεῖν is used with nouns of time in the sense of "spend," "pass," as in <a href="/ruth/2-19.htm">Ruth 2:19</a> (Septuagint); <a href="/acts/15-33.htm">Acts 15:33</a>, etc. They speak of the late workers contemptuously (οὑτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι), "these fellows who are last." They do not allow that they laboured - they "made" one hour nominally. Equal unto us. Bengel notes, "Envy does not demand more for itself, but wishes that others should have less." Their complaint is that others who have worked less are not docked of their wages in due proportion. Burden and heat of the day; τό βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν καύσωνα: the burden of the day and the scorching heat (Revised Version). The latter word is used for the hot dry wind which, blowing from the east, was fatal to vegetation and prejudicial to human comfort, if not to life. The remonstrance of these men may be compared with that of the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son (<a href="/luke/15-29.htm">Luke 15:29, 30</a>). They how somewhat of the spirit of the apostles when they asked, "What shall we have therefore?" (<a href="/matthew/19-27.htm">Matthew 19:27</a>). <a href="/commentaries/matthew/20-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>‘These Οὗτοι (Houtoi) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. [men who were hired] οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. last ἔσχατοι (eschatoi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2078.htm">Strong's 2078: </a> Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final. worked ἐποίησαν (epoiēsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. only one μίαν (mian) Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1520.htm">Strong's 1520: </a> One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. hour,’ ὥραν (hōran) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5610.htm">Strong's 5610: </a> Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'. they said, λέγοντες (legontes) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ‘and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. you have made ἐποίησας (epoiēsas) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. them αὐτοὺς (autous) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. equal ἴσους (isous) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2470.htm">Strong's 2470: </a> Equal, equivalent, identical. Probably from eido; similar. to us ἡμῖν (hēmin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. who τοῖς (tois) Article - Dative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. have borne βαστάσασι (bastasasi) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_941.htm">Strong's 941: </a> Perhaps remotely derived from the base of basis; to lift, literally or figuratively. the τὸ (to) Article - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. burden βάρος (baros) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_922.htm">Strong's 922: </a> Probably from the same as basis; weight; in the New Testament only, figuratively, a load, abundance, authority. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. the τὸν (ton) Article - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. scorching heat καύσωνα (kausōna) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2742.htm">Strong's 2742: </a> A scorching heat, hot wind. From kausoo; a glare. of the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. day.’ ἡμέρας (hēmeras) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2250.htm">Strong's 2250: </a> A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/20-12.htm">Matthew 20:12 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/20-12.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 20:12 Saying 'These last have spent one hour (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/20-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 20:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 20:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/20-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 20:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 20:13" /></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>