Matthew 20:12
What does Matthew 20:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 20:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 20:12 means
The laborers' complaint articulates their sense of injustice: they bore the "burden of the day and the scorching heat," yet were made "equal" to those who worked for only an hour. Their focus is on the disparity of effort compared to the equality of reward. This highlights a common human expectation that compensation should be directly proportional to labor and suffering, thereby clashing with the householder's broader principle of generosity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862that These, the last, wrought one hour, and thou didst make them equal to us, who were bearing the burden of the day--and the heat.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Saying: These last have worked but one hour. and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890saying, These last have worked one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the heat.
Context
This verse gives voice to the specific grievance of the first-hired workers, directly following their murmuring. Their complaint clearly states the reason for their indignation: the perceived unfairness of equal pay for unequal work. This explicit articulation of their grievance sets the stage for the householder's direct response and his justification of his actions.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Malachi 3:14
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?
- Zechariah 7:3
and to speak unto the priests of the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
- Isaiah 58:2
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near unto God.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
- Romans 9:30
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:
- Romans 3:22
even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;
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