μισθόω (misthoō)
misthoō
to hire
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb misthoō describes the practical act of hiring someone or letting them out for work. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in Matthew 20, where Jesus tells a parable about landowners going into the marketplace to hire laborers for their vineyard.
Its meaning is straightforward and economic: it refers to the agreement between employer and worker based on a set wage. The word comes from misthos, meaning "wage" or "hire," grounding the action in a clear exchange of labor for pay. This usage highlights the contractual nature of the relationship rather than a personal bond.
Translators typically render it as "hired" or "let out." By focusing on the transactional aspect, the text underscores the fairness and obligation inherent in the master-worker dynamic, setting the stage for the surprising generosity shown later in the story.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word misthoō captures the straightforward agreement between an employer and a worker. In the marketplace of ancient Israel, this was a daily reality for many people seeking fair wages to support their families. It represents a clear contract where labor is exchanged for pay, establishing a relationship based on mutual obligation rather than personal affection.
Jesus uses this familiar economic term in Matthew 20 to illustrate the Kingdom of Heaven. By starting with a standard hiring process, He sets up a story that challenges our understanding of fairness and grace. The master’s actions remind us that while we may expect strict justice, God often offers generosity beyond what is strictly earned.
This passage invites you to trust in God’s character even when His ways seem different from human expectations. Whether you feel you have worked long hours or just arrived for the day shift, His provision is sufficient. We can rest in the knowledge that He values every person and meets our needs according to His wisdom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to hire1×
- has hired.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐμισθώσατο.1×
- μισθώσασθαι1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 20:1
“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
This verse establishes the parable’s setting by showing the master actively seeking workers, highlighting the normal economic practice of hiring laborers for a vineyard.
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Matthew 20:7
“They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’
Here the word appears in the mouths of idle workers who explain their unemployment, emphasizing that they were not hired because no one employed them.