from μισθός; to let out for wages, i.e. (middle voice) to hire:--hire.
Transliteration:misthóō
Pronunciation:mis-tho'-o
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`) fundamentally means "to let out for wages" in its active voice. However, its primary use in the New Testament, and indeed its most common usage in Koine Greek, is in the middle voice, where it means "to hire" or "to engage for wages." This middle voice construction emphasizes that the subject performs the action for their own benefit or on their own behalf. The word is directly derived from the noun μισθός (misthós, `{{G3406}}`), which signifies "wages," "pay," "reward," or "recompense." Thus, μισθόω inherently carries the connotation of an agreement for service in exchange for payment. It describes the act of securing labor or service by offering remuneration, highlighting the employer's initiative in establishing the contractual relationship.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`) appears exclusively in the Gospel of Matthew, specifically within the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Its two occurrences are crucial for understanding the parable's message:
* **[[Matthew 20:1]]**: "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire (μισθώσασθαι) laborers for his vineyard." Here, the master's proactive role in seeking and engaging workers is highlighted. The act of "hiring" establishes a clear agreement for service and a promised wage (a denarius). This initial act of hiring sets the stage for the subsequent events of the parable, emphasizing the divine initiative in calling people to service.
* **[[Matthew 20:7]]**: "They said to him, 'Because no one has hired (ἐμισθώσατο) us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.'" This second instance refers to the laborers who stood idle in the marketplace throughout the day. Their inability to find work meant no one had engaged them for wages. The master's subsequent act of hiring them, even late in the day, underscores his generosity and sovereign prerogative in offering opportunity.
In both instances, the middle voice of μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`) is used, consistently portraying the "master" as the one who actively undertakes the hiring process for his own vineyard. The context of the parable uses this common economic transaction to illustrate profound spiritual truths about the Kingdom of Heaven, divine calling, and God's sovereign grace.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`) is rich with related terms that illuminate its meaning:
* **μισθός (misthós, `{{G3406}}`)**: The root noun, meaning "wages," "pay," or "reward." This is the object of the hiring agreement.
* **μισθόομαι (misthóomai, `{{G3407}}`)**: A verb closely related in form, often used in the passive or middle voice to mean "to be hired" or "to receive wages." While μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`) focuses on the act of hiring by the employer, μισθόομαι (misthóomai, `{{G3407}}`) focuses on the experience of the one being hired.
* **μισθωτός (misthōtós, `{{G3408}}`)**: A noun meaning "hired servant" or "hireling." This refers to the person who has been engaged for wages.
* **ἔργον (ergon, `{{G2041}}`)**: "Work" or "labor." The act of hiring implies a task or service to be performed.
* **ἐργάτης (ergatēs, `{{G2040}}`)**: "Worker" or "laborer." The one who is hired to perform the work.
Concepts intertwined with μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`) include:
* **Employment and Labor**: The fundamental economic exchange of work for pay.
* **Agreement/Covenant**: The hiring process establishes a mutual understanding and obligation between employer and employee.
* **Divine Calling**: In the parable, the "hiring" by the master symbolizes God's invitation and calling to individuals to participate in His work.
* **Remuneration/Reward**: The promise of wages is integral to the act of hiring.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`) is almost entirely derived from its function within the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard ([[Matthew 20:1-16]]).
1. **Divine Initiative in Calling**: The "master" (representing God) actively goes out to "hire" laborers. This illustrates God's sovereign initiative in calling people into His service and kingdom. It is not humanity seeking God, but God seeking and inviting humanity.
2. **Grace Over Merit**: The parable's controversial ending, where all laborers receive the same wage regardless of hours worked, challenges human notions of fairness based on merit. The act of hiring establishes a baseline agreement, but the master's subsequent generosity transcends strict proportionality. This highlights God's boundless grace in salvation and reward, where His gifts are not contingent solely on human effort or "firstness," but on His sovereign will and goodness. The initial "hiring" itself is an act of grace, offering opportunity.
3. **Kingdom Service**: Being "hired" into the vineyard signifies being called to participate in the work of God's Kingdom. It implies a purposeful engagement in divine service, not merely for personal gain, but for the master's harvest.
4. **God's Sovereignty in Distribution**: The master's right to pay as he wishes ("Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own money?" [[Matthew 20:15]]) underscores God's absolute sovereignty over His resources and His right to dispense grace and reward according to His divine wisdom and generosity, not according to human expectations or comparisons.
### Summary
The Greek verb μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`), meaning "to hire" or "to engage for wages" (especially in the middle voice), is a key term in the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard ([[Matthew 20:1-16]]). Derived from μισθός (misthós, `{{G3406}}`, "wages"), it describes the act of an employer actively securing labor for remuneration. In its two New Testament occurrences, μισθόω (misthóō, `{{G3409}}`) underscores the divine initiative in calling individuals to serve in God's Kingdom. Theologically, it illuminates profound truths about God's sovereign grace, challenging human meritocracy by demonstrating His right to dispense blessings and rewards according to His generous will, rather than strict human effort. It frames participation in God's work as a divine calling initiated by Him, promising a just, yet ultimately gracious, recompense.
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