Lexical Summary misthios: Hired servant, hireling Original Word: μίσθιος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hired servant. From misthos; a wage-earner -- hired servant. see GREEK misthos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom misthos Definition a hired servant NASB Translation hired men (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3407: μίσθιοςμίσθιος, μισθια, μίσθιον, also of two terminations (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 11, 1) (μισθός), employed for hire, hired: as a substantive (A. V. hired servant), Luke 15:17, 19 (21 WH in brackets) (the Sept. for שָׂכִיר, Leviticus 25:50; Job 7:1. Tobit 5:12; Sir. 7:20 Sir. 31:27 Sir. 37:11. Anth. 6, 283, 3 Plutarch). Topical Lexicon Definition and scope A “hired servant” is a wage-earning laborer who enters into a short-term agreement, normally paid at the end of each day. The term appears three times in the Gospel of Luke—all within the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:17, 15:19, 15:21). Though scarce in the Greek New Testament, the role itself is well known throughout Scripture and ancient Near-Eastern culture. Historical background In first-century Judea, economic life was agrarian. Estates often relied on a mixture of slaves, household servants, and seasonal day-laborers. Hired servants ranked above slaves in freedom but below household members in status and security. Mosaic Law protected such workers: “Do not withhold wages from your hired hand overnight” (Leviticus 19:13); “You shall give him his wages on the same day” (Deuteronomy 24:15). Failure to pay could bring divine judgment (Jeremiah 22:13). Daily payment and freedom to leave distinguished the misthios from the doulos (slave) and from sons who shared in inheritance. Biblical context: the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32) 1. Contrast with the younger son. After squandering his inheritance, the son remembers that even his father’s hired servants “have plenty of bread” (Luke 15:17). He formulates a confession: “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:19). Theological implications: sonship versus servitude • Works versus grace. A hired servant earns daily bread by labor; a son receives inheritance by relationship. The repentance of the prodigal moves him from self-reliant wage-seeking to humble acceptance of unearned favor, foreshadowing justification by grace (Ephesians 2:8–9). Ministry applications 1. Preaching repentance. The misthios motif helps portray the futility of self-salvation efforts and the open arms of the Father. Related concepts and words • misthotos (“hired worker,” John 10:12–13) emphasizes lack of ownership. Summary Strong’s Greek 3407 exposes a vivid contrast central to the gospel: earning wages versus receiving grace. In Luke 15 the hired servant stands as the prodigal’s imagined destiny; the father’s welcome reveals God’s better plan—full sonship through repentance and faith. Forms and Transliterations μισθιοι μίσθιοι μισθίου μισθιων μισθίων misthioi místhioi misthion misthiōn misthíon misthíōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 15:17 Adj-NMPGRK: ἔφη Πόσοι μίσθιοι τοῦ πατρός NAS: of my father's hired men have more than enough KJV: How many hired servants of my INT: he said How many hired servants of the father Luke 15:19 Adj-GMP Luke 15:21 Adj-GMP Strong's Greek 3407 |
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