5600. ó

Lexical Summary

ó: to be, exist

Original Word: ὦ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ó
Pronunciation: o
Phonetic Spelling: (o)
KJV: + appear, are, (may, might, should) be, X have, is, + pass the flower of her age, should stand, were
Word Origin: [subjunctive of G1510 (εἰμί - am)]

1. may be, (might, can, could, would, should, must, etc.) be
{also with G1487 and its comparative, as well as with other particles}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

may, might

Including the oblique forms, as well as es (ace); e (ay); etc. The subjunctive of eimi; (may, might, can, could, would, should, must, etc.; also with ei and its comparative, as well as with other particles) be -- + appear, are, (may, might, should) be, X have, is, + pass the flower of her age, should stand, were.

see GREEK eimi

see GREEK ei

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
the subjunctive of eimi, q.v.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Setting

Strong’s Greek 5600 occurs once in the New Testament, embedded in the phrase “whatever is right” of Jesus’ parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:7). In the Greek, the term expresses a state of being that is open-ended—“whatever may be right”—inviting listeners to trust the master’s integrity before the final wage is revealed.

The Parable of the Laborers (Matthew 20:1–16)

Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a landowner who hires workers at successive hours. To those hired at the eleventh hour he says, “You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive” (Matthew 20:7). The word behind “may be” (5600) highlights:

1. The master’s sovereign freedom to define “what is right.”
2. The workers’ call to rely on the master’s promise rather than on a negotiated contract.
3. The suspense that sets up the surprising equality of the final payment (Matthew 20:9).

Theological Themes

1. Divine justice and generosity. By placing “right” (dikaios) in an open-ended construction, Jesus depicts God as both righteous and unexpectedly generous (compare Romans 3:26; Titus 3:5-6).
2. Faith over calculation. The late-hour laborers accept work without knowing the wage, mirroring discipleship that rests on God’s character rather than human bargaining (compare Hebrews 11:6).
3. Reversal of expectations. The phrase prepares for the punch line, “So the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16), revealing the kingdom’s counter-cultural economy of grace.

Historical Insights

Day laborers in first-century Judea depended on daily wages to survive (see Leviticus 19:13). Hiring workers near day’s end was unusual, underscoring their vulnerability. Jesus’ audience would feel the tension of trusting an employer with no agreed amount, making the master’s fairness—or lack thereof—dramatically important.

Relation to Broader Biblical Teaching

• Genesis 18:25 affirms that the Judge of all the earth “will do what is right.”
• Deuteronomy 32:4 calls God “just and upright.”
• Psalm 89:14 places righteousness at the foundation of God’s throne.
• James 5:4 warns earthly masters who withhold wages.

The single use of 5600 in Matthew 20:7 harmonizes with this larger witness: God’s ways are always right, though sometimes disclosed only at the end.

Ministry Implications

• Encourages employers and leaders to act with transparent fairness, reflecting the Master’s character.
• Calls believers to serve without demanding advance proof of reward, trusting God to define “whatever is right.”
• Comforts latecomers to the faith; the decisive issue is entering the vineyard, not the hour of entry.

Summary

Though 5600 appears only once, its placement in Jesus’ parable powerfully conveys the invitational, righteous, and gracious heart of God. It assures every laborer in the vineyard—early or late—that whatever He deems right will indeed be granted, and that His definition of “right” is both just and abundantly generous.

Forms and Transliterations

η ᾖ ωαν ωάν ώαν e ē êi ē̂i

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 20:7 V-PSA-3S
GRK: ὁ ἐὰν ᾖ δίκαιον λήψεσθε
KJV: whatsoever is right,
INT: what ever is right you shall receive

Strong's Greek 5600
1 Occurrence

ᾖ — 1 Occ.