Topical Bible: Hire

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the concept of hire, or wages, was integral to the economic and social structures of ancient Israel and the surrounding cultures. The term "hire" refers to the payment or compensation given for services rendered or labor performed. This entry explores the biblical understanding of hire, its regulations, and its implications within the scriptural context.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous references to the concept of hire, emphasizing fair treatment and timely payment for laborers. In Leviticus 19:13, the law explicitly commands, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand." This directive underscores the importance of justice and integrity in economic transactions.

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 your land. 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 laborer and the moral obligation to provide timely compensation.

The account of Jacob and Laban in Genesis 29-31 illustrates the complexities of hire and labor agreements. Jacob worked for Laban for seven years to marry his daughter Rachel, only to be deceived into marrying Leah. This narrative highlights issues of fairness and the potential for exploitation in labor arrangements.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of hire is addressed in the context of parables and teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 20:1-16, the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard illustrates the kingdom of heaven through the lens of labor and wages. The landowner hires workers at different times of the day but pays them all the same wage, challenging conventional notions of fairness and emphasizing divine grace.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, also touches on the subject of hire. In 1 Timothy 5:18, he writes, "For the Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker is worthy of his wages.'" This passage affirms the right of workers, including those in ministry, to receive fair compensation for their labor.

Cultural and Theological Implications

The biblical treatment of hire reflects broader theological themes of justice, mercy, and the dignity of work. The consistent call for fair treatment of laborers aligns with the biblical understanding of humanity created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), deserving of respect and equitable treatment.

The biblical laws concerning hire also serve as a reminder of God's concern for the marginalized and vulnerable. The frequent mention of the poor and needy in the context of labor laws underscores the divine mandate to protect and uplift those who are economically disadvantaged.

In summary, the biblical concept of hire encompasses not only the economic transaction of wages but also the ethical and theological dimensions of justice, fairness, and compassion. The scriptures call for a community where labor is honored, and workers are treated with dignity and respect, reflecting the character of God in economic relationships.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (pron.) See pron.

2. (n.) The price, reward, or compensation paid, or contracted to be paid, for the temporary use of a thing or a place, for personal service, or for labor; wages; rent; pay.

3. (n.) A bailment by which the use of a thing, or the services and labor of a person, are contracted for at a certain price or reward.

4. (n.) To procure (any chattel or estate) from another person, for temporary use, for a compensation or equivalent; to purchase the use or enjoyment of for a limited time; as, to hire a farm for a year; to hire money.

5. (n.) To engage or purchase the service, labor, or interest of (any one) for a specific purpose, by payment of wages; as, to hire a servant, an agent, or an advocate.

6. (n.) To grant the temporary use 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 has hired out his horse, or his time.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HIRE

hir: Two entirely different words are translated "hire" in the Old Testament:

(1) The most frequent one is sakhar, verb sakhar, and verbal adjective sakhir.

(a) As a verb it means "to hire" for a wage, either money or something else; in this sense it is used with regard to ordinary laborers (1 Samuel 2:5 2 Chronicles 24:12), or mercenary soldiers (2 Samuel 10:6 2 Kings 7:6 1 Chronicles 19:6 2 Chronicles 25:6), or a goldsmith (Isaiah 46:6), or a band of loose followers (Judges 9:4), or a false priest (Judges 18:4), or Balaam (Deuteronomy 23:4 Nehemiah 13:2), or hostile counselors (Ezra 4:5), or false prophets (Nehemiah 6:12 f). As a verbal adjective it refers to things (Exodus 22:15 Isaiah 7:20)or men (Leviticus 19:13 Jeremiah 46:21).

(b) As a noun it denotes the wage in money, or something else, paid to workmen for their services (Genesis 30:32; Genesis 31:8 Deuteronomy 24:15 1 Kings 5:6 Zechariah 8:10), or the rent or hire paid for a thing (Exodus 22:15), or a work-beast (Zechariah 8:10). In Genesis 30:16 Leah hires from Rachel the privilege of having Jacob with her again, and her conception and the subsequent birth of a son, she calls her hire or wage from the Lord for the gift of her slave girl to Jacob as a concubine (Genesis 30:18).

(2) The other word translated hire is 'ethnan, once 'ethnan. It is rather a gift (from root nathan, "to give") than a wage earned by labor, and is used uniformly in a bad sense. It is the gift made to a harlot (Deuteronomy 23:18), or, reversing the usual custom, made by the harlot nation (Ezekiel 16:31, 41). It was also used metaphorically of the gifts made by Israelites to idols, since this was regarded as spiritual harlotry (Isaiah 23:17 Micah 1:7; compare also Hosea 8:9 f).

In the English New Testament the word occurs once as a verb and 3 times as a noun as the translation of misthos, and its verbal form. In Matthew 20:1, 8 and James 5:4 it refers to the hiring of ordinary field laborers for a daily wage. In Luke 10:7 it signifies the stipend which is due the laborer in the spiritual work of the kingdom of God. It is a wage, earned by toil, as that of other laborers. The word is very significant here and absolutely negatives the idea, all too prevalent, that money received by the spiritual toiler is a gift. It is rather a wage, the reward of real toil.

William Joseph McGlothlin

Greek

3409. misthoo -- to let for hire, to hire
... to let for hire, to hire. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: misthoo Phonetic
Spelling: (mis-tho'-o) Short Definition: I hire out, hire, engage Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3409.htm - 6k

3408. misthos -- wages, hire
... wages, hire. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: misthos Phonetic Spelling:
(mis-thos') Short Definition: wages, reward Definition: (a) pay, wages ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3408.htm - 6k

1554. ekdidomi -- to give up, give out, let out for hire
... to give up, give out, let out for hire. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekdidomi
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-did-o'-mee) Short Definition: I give out, let, let ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1554.htm - 6k

2052. eritheia -- rivalry, hence ambition
... seeking; a feud, faction. 2052 (from , "work for hire") -- properly, work
done (as a ), referring therefore to (). Ancient Greek uses ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2052.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

7936. sakar -- to hire
... 7935, 7936. sakar. 7937 . to hire. Transliteration: sakar Phonetic Spelling:
(saw-kar') Short Definition: hired. ... earn wages, hire out self, reward, surely. ...
/hebrew/7936.htm - 6k

8566. tanah -- to hire
... tanah. 8567 . to hire. Transliteration: tanah Phonetic Spelling: (taw-naw') Short
Definition: hire. ... root Definition to hire NASB Word Usage hire (1), hired (1) ...
/hebrew/8566.htm - 5k

7939. sakar -- hire, wages
... 7938, 7939. sakar. 7940 . hire, wages. Transliteration: sakar Phonetic Spelling:
(saw-kawr') Short Definition: wages. ... hire, price, rewarded, wages, worth. ...
/hebrew/7939.htm - 6k

4242. mechir -- price, hire
... 4241, 4242. mechir. 4243 . price, hire. Transliteration: mechir Phonetic Spelling:
(mekk-eer') Short Definition: price. ... gain, hire, price, sold, worth. ...
/hebrew/4242.htm - 6k

7938. seker -- hire, wages
... 7937, 7938. seker. 7939 . hire, wages. Transliteration: seker Phonetic
Spelling: (seh'-ker) Short Definition: hired. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7938.htm - 6k

5534b. sakar -- to hire
... sakar. 5535 . to hire. Transliteration: sakar Short Definition: hired. Word Origin
a prim. root Definition to hire NASB Word Usage hired (1). ...
/hebrew/5534b.htm - 5k

868. ethnan -- the wages (of a harlot)
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition the wages (of a harlot) NASB Word Usage
earnings (4), harlot's wages (2), hire (1), lovers (1), money (3). ...
/hebrew/868.htm - 6k

7809. shachad -- to give a present, bribe
... hire, give a reward. A primitive root; to donate, ie Bribe -- hire, give
a reward. 7808, 7809. shachad. 7810 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7809.htm - 6k

Library

On the Mission of the Seventy Disciples, and Christ's Charge to ...
... from, the Creator. "The labourer is worthy of his hire." [4433] Who could
better pronounce such a sentence than the Judge? For to ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xxiv on the mission of.htm

But Lest any Should Fancy that this was Granted Only to the Twelve ...
... And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as are with them:
for the workman is worthy of his hire." [2494] Here it appears that these ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 7 but lest any.htm

Delivered on the Lord's Day, on that which is Written in the ...
... xx. 1, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went
out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.". [LXXXVII. ...
/.../sermon xxxvii delivered on the.htm

The Testament of Issachar Concerning Simplicity.
... who are beloved of the Lord. I was the fifth son born to Jacob, even the
hire of the mandrakes. [124] For Reuben [125] brought in ...
/.../v the testament of issachar concerning.htm

The vineyard Labourers.
... "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went
out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/ix the vineyard labourers.htm

Matthew xx. 1, and C.
... 1, & c. For the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Man that is an Housholder, which
went out early in the Morning to hire Labourers into his Vineyard, & c. ...
/.../sermon xviii matthew xx 1.htm

Matt. xix. 27
... "For the kingdom of Heaven," He said, "is like to a man that is an householder,
which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxiv matt xix 27.htm

The Social Challenge to the Church
... The schools cannot assume charge of community center activities without danger either
of overworking the teachers or of having to hire special assistance for ...
/.../vogt/church cooperation in community life/chapter iv the social challenge.htm

And He Comes Back Again, and in all Ways...
... above he said of his fellow-apostles; of whom the Lord Himself saith, "The workman
is worthy of his meat;" and, "The workman is worthy of his hire." This meat ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 10 and he comes.htm

Sermon for Septuagesima Sunday
... Matthew 20:1.""The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder,
which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.". ...
/.../ix sermon for septuagesima sunday.htm

Thesaurus

Hire (48 Occurrences)
... or estate) from another person, for temporary use, for a compensation or equivalent;
to purchase the use or enjoyment of for a limited time; as, to hire a farm ...
/h/hire.htm - 27k

Wage (39 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To adventure, or lay out, for hire or reward; to hire out. 5. (vt)
To put upon wages; to hire; to employ; to pay wages to. ...
/w/wage.htm - 18k

Wages (52 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A compensation given to a hired person for services;
price paid for labor; recompense; hire. See Wage, n., 2. Int. ...
/w/wages.htm - 28k

Hack (1 Occurrence)
... 9. (n.) A kick on the shins. 10. (n.) A horse, hackneyed or let out for common hire;
also, a horse used in ... 15. (vt) To use as a hack; to let out for hire. 16. ...
/h/hack.htm - 8k

Hireling (17 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A labourer employed on hire for a limited time (Job
7:1; 14:6; Mark 1:20). ... 2. (a.) Serving for hire or wages; venal; mercenary. Int. ...
/h/hireling.htm - 13k

Labourers (11 Occurrences)
... Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder,
which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. ...
/l/labourers.htm - 9k

Earnings (6 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 23:18 You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the wages of
a dog, into the house of Yahweh your God for any vow: for even both these are ...
/e/earnings.htm - 8k

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:34 You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that no
one follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no ...
/p/prostitution.htm - 22k

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To offer, as a woman, to a lewd use;
to give up to lewdness for hire. 2. (vt) To devote to base ...
/p/prostitute.htm - 33k

Goats (134 Occurrences)
... This will be my hire. ... Genesis 30:33 So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter,
when you come concerning my hire that is before you. ...
/g/goats.htm - 37k

Resources

What does the Bible say about nepotism? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about discrimination? | GotQuestions.org

What items should be included in a church constitution? | GotQuestions.org

Hire: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Hire (48 Occurrences)

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.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

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.'
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 20:8
So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
(KJV ASV WBS NIV)

Luke 10:7
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Corinthians 11:8
I spoiled other assemblies, receiving hire for ministry towards you.
(DBY)

1 Timothy 5:18
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire.
(ASV DBY)

James 5:4
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
(KJV ASV WBS)

2 Peter 2:15
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the 'son' of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;
(ASV)

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah's rebellion.
(WEB ASV)

Genesis 29:15
And Laban saith to Jacob, 'Is it because thou 'art' my brother that thou hast served me for nought? declare to me what 'is' thy hire.'
(YLT)

Genesis 30:18
Leah said, "God has given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband." She named him Issachar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Genesis 30:28
He saith also, 'Define thy hire to me, and I give.'
(YLT)

Genesis 30:32
I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 30:33
So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be counted stolen."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 31:7
and your father hath played upon me, and hath changed my hire ten times; and God hath not suffered him to do evil with me.
(YLT)

Genesis 31:8
If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ring-streaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ring-streaked.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 31:41
This 'is' to me twenty years in thy house: I have served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock; and thou changest my hire ten times;
(YLT)

Exodus 2:9
and the daughter of Pharaoh saith to her, 'Take this lad away, and suckle him for me, and I -- I give thy hire;' and the woman taketh the lad, and suckleth him.
(YLT)

Exodus 22:15
But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 18:31
and ye have eaten it in every place, ye and your households, for it 'is' your hire in exchange for your service in the tent of meeting;
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 15:18
It shall not seem hard to you, when you let him go free from you; for to the double of the hire of a hireling has he served you six years: and Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 23:18
You shall not bring the hire of a prostitute, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Yahweh your God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination to Yahweh your God. "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 24:15
in his day you shall give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down on it; for he is poor, and sets his heart on it: lest he cry against you to Yahweh, and it be sin to you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Judges 9:4
They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 2:5
Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 10:6
When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 19:6
When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 19:7
So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 13:2
because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 19:10
The pillars will be broken in pieces. All those who work for hire will be grieved in soul.
(WEB ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Isaiah 23:17
And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 23:18
And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Isaiah 40:10
Lo, the Lord Jehovah with strength cometh, And His arm is ruling for Him, Lo, His hire 'is' with Him, and His wage before Him.
(YLT)

Isaiah 46:6
Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down-yes, they worship.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS

Isaiah 62:11
Lo, Jehovah hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth: 'Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Lo, thy salvation hath come,' Lo, his hire 'is' with him, and his wage before him.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 22:13
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; who uses his neighbor's service without wages, and doesn't give him his hire;
(WEB JPS ASV)

Ezekiel 16:31
In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;
(KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Ezekiel 16:34
You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that no one follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different.
(WEB JPS ASV RSV)

Ezekiel 16:41
They shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women; and I will cause you to cease from playing the prostitute, and you shall also give no hire any more.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Ezekiel 29:20
I have given him the land of Egypt as his recompense for which he served, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord Jehovah.
(See JPS)

Hosea 2:12
And I will lay waste her vines and her fig-trees, whereof she hath said, These are my hire that my lovers have given me; and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.
(ASV JPS RSV)

Hosea 8:10
Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Hosea 9:1
Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, like the peoples; for thou hast played the harlot, departing from thy God; thou hast loved hire upon every grain-floor.
(ASV DBY JPS RSV)

Micah 1:7
All her idols will be beaten to pieces, and all her temple gifts will be burned with fire, and all her images I will destroy; for of the hire of a prostitute has she gathered them, and to the hire of a prostitute shall they return."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Zechariah 8:10
For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Zechariah 11:12
And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.
(ASV DBY JPS YLT)

Malachi 3:5
I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don't fear me," says Yahweh of Armies.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Subtopics

Hire

Hire: Law Concerning Hired Property

Related Terms

Wage (39 Occurrences)

Wages (52 Occurrences)

Hack (1 Occurrence)

Hireling (17 Occurrences)

Labourers (11 Occurrences)

Earnings (6 Occurrences)

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)

Prostitute (83 Occurrences)