Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "wage" primarily refers to the compensation or payment given for work or services rendered. The concept of wages is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible, reflecting both the economic practices of ancient times and the moral and ethical teachings related to labor and compensation.
Old Testament ReferencesThe Old Testament provides several insights into the concept of wages, emphasizing fairness and justice in compensation. 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 importance of timely and fair payment, reflecting God's concern for justice and the well-being of workers.
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 further elaborates on this principle: "Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers 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." Here, the emphasis is on the vulnerability of the worker and the moral obligation of the employer to provide just compensation.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the concept of wages is often used metaphorically to illustrate spiritual truths.
Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This passage contrasts the consequences of sin with the grace offered through Jesus Christ, using the idea of wages to convey the inevitability of spiritual outcomes based on one's actions.
The parable of the workers in the vineyard, found in
Matthew 20:1-16, also addresses the theme of wages. In this parable, Jesus illustrates the kingdom of heaven by describing a landowner who pays all his workers the same wage, regardless of the hours they worked. This account challenges human notions of fairness and highlights God's sovereignty and generosity.
Ethical and Moral ImplicationsThe biblical teachings on wages extend beyond mere economic transactions to encompass broader ethical and moral considerations. The Bible consistently advocates for justice, fairness, and compassion in the treatment of workers.
James 5:4 warns, "Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts." This admonition serves as a reminder of the divine accountability that employers have in their dealings with employees.
ConclusionThe biblical perspective on wages is deeply rooted in the principles of justice, fairness, and compassion. Both the Old and New Testaments provide guidance on the ethical treatment of workers, emphasizing the importance of timely and fair compensation. Through its teachings, the Bible calls for a reflection of God's justice and mercy in all economic interactions.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To pledge; to hazard on the event of a contest; to stake; to bet, to lay; to wager; as, to wage a dollar.
2. (v. t.) To expose one's self to, as a risk; to incur, as a danger; to venture; to hazard.
3. (v. t.) To engage in, as a contest, as if by previous gage or pledge; to carry on, as a war.
4. (v. t.) To adventure, or lay out, for hire or reward; to hire out.
5. (v. t.) To put upon wages; to hire; to employ; to pay wages to.
6. (v. t.) To give security for the performance of.
7. (v. i.) To bind one's self; to engage.
8. (v. t.) That which is staked or ventured; that for which one incurs risk or danger; prize; gage.
9. (v. t.) That for which one labors; meed; reward; stipulated payment for service performed; hire; pay; compensation; -- at present generally used in the plural. See Wages.
Greek
4754. strateuo -- to make war, hence to serve as a soldier... war, hence to serve as a soldier. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: strateuo
Phonetic Spelling: (strat-yoo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I
wage war, fight
...3833. panoplia -- full armor
... from 3956 , "every" and 3696 , "weapon") -- properly, a complete set of defensive
and offensive armor (weapons), ie everything needed towage successful warfare...
3408. misthos -- wages, hire
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition wages, hire NASB Word Usage pay (2),
price (1), reward (19),wage (1), wages (6). reward, wages....
3411. misthotos -- hired, a hired servant
... hired servant, hireling. From misthoo; awage-worker (good or bad) -- hired servant,
hireling. see GREEK misthoo. (misthotos) -- 2 Occurrences....
4170. polemeo -- to make war
... Word Origin from polemos Definition to make war NASB Word Usage make war (1),
quarrel (1),wage war (2), waged (1), wages war (1), waging (1)....
3696. hoplon -- a tool, implement, weapon
... weapons. 3696 -- properly, an implement (normally used for ). In the NT,
3696 ("instrument") is always in the (" towage war"). 3696...
3407. misthios -- a hired servant
... hired servant. From misthos; awage-earner -- hired servant. see GREEK misthos.
(misthioi) -- 1 Occurrence. (misthion) -- 1 Occurrence. 3406, 3407....
Strong's Hebrew
6633. tsaba -- towage war, serve... 6632b, 6633. tsaba. 6634 . to
wage war, serve. Transliteration: tsaba Phonetic
Spelling: (tsaw-baw') Short Definition: war. Word Origin a prim.
...7939. sakar -- hire, wages
... Word Origin from sakar Definition hire, wages NASB Word Usage compensation (1),
fare (1), hire (1), reward (6), rewarded (1), service (1),wage (2), wages (15...
1624. garah -- to stir up (strife), engage in strife
... to stir up (strife), engage in strife NASB Word Usage contend (1), engaged in conflict
(1), mobilize (2), provoke (5), stirs (3), strive (1),wage war (1)....
7916. sakir -- hired
... Word Origin from sakar Definition hired NASB Word Usage hired (1), hired
man (11), hired servant (2), man hired (1),wage earner (1)....
4421. milchamah -- a battle, war
... war NASB Word Usage attacked (1), battle (148), battle* (1), battles (6), fight
(2), military (1), onslaught (1), soldiers* (3), time of war (1),wage war (1...
6213a. asah -- do, make
... 1), surely show (1), take action (6), thoroughly deal (1), treat (3), tried (1),
trim (1), trimmed (1), truly practice (1), use (1), used (4),wage (2), waged...
Library
Whether it is Always Sinful toWage War?
... OF WAR (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether it is always sinful towage war? Objection
1: It would seem that it is always sinful towage war....
The Labourers in the vineyard.
... For hours the sun had shown his face, When idlers in the market-place Once and
again were sent within The vineyard's wall theirwage to win....
Gehazi
... people. "A fair day'swage for a fair day's work," but let there be more
than money in thewage, and more than labour in the service....
Of the Diversity of Languages, by which the Intercourse of Men is...
... But, say they, the wise man willwage just wars. As if he would not all the
rather lament the necessity of just wars, if he remembers...
The Economic Challenge to the Church
... The IWW movement in the wheat fields and lumber camps of the Northwest is but the
beginning of thewage-earning consciousness as it spreads out from urban...
Soldier Priests
... with courage inspired by Him, but filling our hearts; not as though He needed us,
but inasmuch as He is pleased to use us, we have towage warfare for and to...
Gladden -- the Prince of Life
... Thewage question is at bottom a question of more or less life for the
wage-worker. Starvation wages are wages by which the hold...
Showing what Christ Will do in the Day of Doom
... He will give to the good, for every good work done in God, awage without measure,
that is to say, God's very Self, Whom no creature of itself can earn....
Whether Man Can Merit Everlasting Life Without Grace?
... Objection 2: Further, eternal life is thewage of reward bestowed by God on men,
according to Mat.5:12: "Your reward is very great in heaven." Butwage or...
The Warfare of Christian Service
... Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' But it is another sort of warfare about which I
am now speaking, the warfare which every Christian man has towage who flings...
Thesaurus
Wage (39 Occurrences)... 1. (vt) To pledge; to hazard on the event of a contest; to stake; to bet, to
lay; to wager; as, to
wage a dollar.
...Wage (39 Occurrences).
...Hire (48 Occurrences)
... (a) As a verb it means "to hire" for awage, either money or something else; in
this sense it is used with regard to ordinary laborers (1 Samuel 2:5 2...
Hireling (17 Occurrences)
... 13). In the time of our Lord a day'swage was a "penny" (qv) ie, a Roman
denarius (Matthew 20:1-14). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1...
Guidance (9 Occurrences)
... victory. (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV). Proverbs 20:18 Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance youwage war! (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)....
Wages (52 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A compensation given to a hired person for services;
price paid for labor; recompense; hire. SeeWage, n., 2. Int....
Wag (7 Occurrences)
War (529 Occurrences)
... fight. 10. (vt) To make war upon; to fight. 11. (vt) To carry on, as a contest;
towage. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WAR, MAN OF....
Natures (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I entreat you as pilgrims and foreigners not to indulge
the cravings of your lower natures: for all such cravingswage war upon the...
Utterances (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 1:18 This instruction I commit to you, my child Timothy, according to
the prophecies which led the way to you, that by them you maywage the good...
Gentiles (150 Occurrences)
... They might even possess Israelite slaves (Leviticus 25:47), and a Gentileservant
must not be defrauded of hiswage (Deuteronomy 24:15)....
Resources
What is the meaning of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard? | GotQuestions.orgWhat can I do when I am under spiritual attack? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about killing in war? Is killing in war a sin? | GotQuestions.orgWage: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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