Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the concept of being "hired" often relates to labor, employment, and the exchange of services for wages. The term appears in various passages throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both literal and metaphorical uses.
Old Testament ReferencesThe notion of hiring is evident in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with laborers and shepherds. In
Genesis 30:16, Leah hires Jacob for the night with her son's mandrakes, illustrating the transactional nature of hiring. The Hebrew word for "hire" is often translated as "sakar," which implies a contractual agreement for services rendered.
In
Leviticus 19:13, the law commands, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand." This verse underscores the ethical treatment of hired workers, emphasizing timely payment and fairness, reflecting God's justice and care for all individuals, especially those in vulnerable positions.
The book of Job also references hired labor, as Job laments, "Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hired man he waits for his wages" (
Job 7:2). This comparison highlights the anticipation and dependence of hired workers on their wages for sustenance.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the concept of hiring is further explored, particularly in the parables of Jesus. In
Matthew 20:1-16, the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Jesus describes a landowner who hires laborers at different times of the day but pays them the same wage. This parable illustrates the kingdom of heaven's principles, where God's grace and generosity transcend human notions of fairness and merit.
The Gospel of John also mentions hired hands in the context of shepherding. Jesus contrasts Himself as the Good Shepherd with hired hands, stating, "The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away" (
John 10:12). Here, the hired hand symbolizes those who lack genuine commitment and care for the flock, unlike the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
Cultural and Theological ImplicationsThe biblical portrayal of hired workers reflects broader cultural and theological themes. In ancient Israel, hiring was a common practice, essential for agricultural and domestic work. The Law of Moses provided guidelines to ensure the fair treatment of hired laborers, reflecting God's concern for justice and compassion.
Theologically, the concept of hiring serves as a metaphor for divine-human relationships. Just as laborers depend on their wages, believers are called to rely on God's provision and grace. The parables and teachings of Jesus often use the imagery of hiring to convey spiritual truths about the kingdom of God, emphasizing themes of grace, justice, and the value of each individual in God's eyes.
Overall, the biblical treatment of "hired" individuals underscores the importance of justice, fairness, and compassion in human relationships, reflecting God's character and His expectations for His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Hire.
Greek
3411. misthotos --hired, ahired servant...hired, a
hired servant. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: misthotos
Phonetic Spelling: (mis-tho-tos') Short Definition: a
hired servant Definition
...3407. misthios -- ahired servant
... ahired servant. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: misthios Phonetic Spelling:
(mis'-thee-os) Short Definition: a paid worker Definition: a paid worker...
1455. egkathetos --hired to lie in wait, lying in wait
...hired to lie in wait, lying in wait. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
egkathetos Phonetic Spelling: (eng-kath'-et-os) Short Definition: a spy...
3410. misthoma -- rent, a rented house
... of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: misthoma Phonetic Spelling: (mis'-tho-mah)
Short Definition: a rented house Definition: a rented house,hired dwelling...
3000. latreuo -- to serve
... Word Origin from latris (ahired servant) Definition to serve NASB Word Usage offer
(1), serve (15), served (1), service (1), serving (1), worship (1...
3409. misthoo -- to let for hire, to hire
... hire, engage. Word Origin from misthos Definition to let for hire, to hire
NASB Word Usage hire (1),hired (1). hire. From misthos...
2853. kollao -- to glue, unite
... Word Origin from kolla (glue) Definition to glue, unite NASB Word Usage associate
(3), cling (1), clings (1),hired (1), join (1), joined (2), joins (2), piled...
2351. thorubos -- an uproar
... hubbub" (Souter). (Mk 5:35-39) Josephus ( ad 1st century) reports thathired
flute players were common in NT times. They performed...
1496. eidololatres -- an image worshiper
... Word Origin from eidolon and latris (ahired servant) Definition an image worshiper
NASB Word Usage idolater (2), idolaters (5). idolater....
Strong's Hebrew
7916. sakir --hired... 7915, 7916. sakir. 7917 .
hired. Transliteration: sakir Phonetic Spelling:
(saw-keer') Short Definition: man. Word Origin from sakar
...7917. skiyrah -- that ishired
... that ishired. Transliteration: skiyrah Phonetic Spelling: (sek-ee-raw') Short
Definition:hired. that ishired Feminine of sakiyr; a hiring -- that ishired....
7917a. sekirah -- that ishired
... sekirah. 7917b . that ishired. Transliteration: sekirah Short Definition:hired.
Word Origin fem. of sakir, qv NASB Word Usagehired (1), mercenaries (1)....
94. Agur -- "hired," an author of proverbs
... 93, 94. Agur. 95 . "hired," an author of proverbs. Transliteration: Agur
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-goor') Short Definition: Agur. Word...
7936. sakar -- to hire
... 7935, 7936. sakar. 7937 . to hire. Transliteration: sakar Phonetic Spelling:
(saw-kar') Short Definition:hired. Word Origin a prim....
7938. seker -- hire, wages
... 7937, 7938. seker. 7939 . hire, wages. Transliteration: seker Phonetic
Spelling: (seh'-ker) Short Definition:hired. Word Origin...
5534b. sakar -- to hire
... sakar. 5535 . to hire. Transliteration: sakar Short Definition:hired. Word Origin
a prim. root Definition to hire NASB Word Usagehired (1). 5534a, 5534b....
6092. atseb -- toiler
... Word Origin from atsab Definition toiler NASB Word Usage workers (1). labor. From
atsab; a (hired) workman -- labour. see HEBREW atsab. 6091, 6092....
8566. tanah -- to hire
... naw') Short Definition: hire. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to hire
NASB Word Usage hire (1),hired (1). hire. A primitive root...
Library
Sermon for Septuagesima Sunday
... THIS householder went out early at the first hour, and again at the third and
at the sixth hours, andhired labourers for a penny a day....
Some Other Towns Near Tiberias. Beth-Meon. Caphar Chittaia....
... In the Talmudists we meet with other names also. I.-Beth-Meon. "The men of Tiberias,
who went up to Beth-Meon to behired for workmen, werehired according to...
Matthew xx. 1, and C.
... place, to hire Men to come and work for Him, in his Vineyard; that He met with some
sooner than He did with others; that those whom Hehired latest, came as...
Jesus Tells what He came to Do
... But ahired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, leaves them and
runs away when he sees the wolf coming, and the wolf snatches the sheep and...
Heathen Plots
... Sanballat and his companionshired men who professed to be the friends of
Nehemiah, to give him evil counsel as the word of the Lord....
Are You Willing to be a Servant?
... There are thehired servants, who have wages paid to them and have certain rights....
Hired servants may expect something, but not bond-servants....
The Prodigal and his Father
... And when he came to himself, he said, How manyhired servants of my father's
have bread enough, and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18....
If, Then, You Really Intend to do an Act of Repentance for those...
... one reproach which he levels against me, and think it hardly worthy of a reply;
that, namely, in which, in recounting the various teachers whom hehired, as he...
Delivered on the Lord's Day, on that which is Written in the...
... His vineyard. He went out in the morning," andhired those whom he found,
and agreed with them for a denarius as their hire. He...
Port of Spain
... They stand idle in the marketplace, not because they have not beenhired, but because
they do not want to behired; being able to live like the Lazzaroni of...
Thesaurus
Hired (49 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Hired (49 Occurrences).
... Matthew 20:9 "When those who were
hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
...Hireling (17 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One who ishired, or who serves for wages; esp., one whose motive and
interest in serving another are wholly gainful; a mercenary....
Flees (19 Occurrences)
... Flees (19 Occurrences). John 10:12 He who is ahired hand, and not a shepherd, who
doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees....
Resident (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Resident (6 Occurrences). Exodus 12:45 A foreigner
and ahired servant shall not eat of it. (See NIV). Leviticus...
Settler (8 Occurrences)
... my dead from before me.' (YLT). Exodus 12:45 A settler and ahired servant
shall not eat it. (DBY YLT). Leviticus 22:10 And no stranger...
Hire (48 Occurrences)
... of, for compensation; to engage to give the service of, for a price; to let; to
lease; -- now usually with out, and often reflexively; as, he hashired out his...
Maacah (30 Occurrences)
... The inhabitants of these kingdoms, however, were not driven out by Israel (Joshua
13:13), and at a later day the children of Ammonhired mercenaries from...
Foreigner (99 Occurrences)
... No foreigner shall eat of it, (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 12:45 A foreigner
and ahired servant shall not eat of it. (WEB KJV WBS)....
Doesn't (300 Occurrences)
... (WEB). John 10:12 He who is ahired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn't own
the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees....
Zebedee (11 Occurrences)
... He seems to have been a man of some position in Capernaum, for he had two boats
(Luke 5:4) and "hired servants" (Mark 1:20) of his own....
Resources
What is the meaning of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the scribes that often argued with Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Calvary Chapel? | GotQuestions.orgHired: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
