A "hireling" in biblical terms refers to a person who works solely for wages, without a vested interest in the well-being of the work or those they serve. This term is often used in a negative context, highlighting a lack of commitment or genuine care. The concept of a hireling is primarily discussed in the context of shepherding, where the hireling is contrasted with the good shepherd.

Biblical References:

1. John 10:12-13: In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the metaphor of the hireling to illustrate the difference between Himself, the Good Shepherd, and those who do not truly care for the sheep. The Berean Standard Bible states: "The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep." Here, the hireling is depicted as someone who lacks the dedication and protective instinct of a true shepherd, abandoning the flock in times of danger.

2. Job 7:1-2: The Book of Job also references the hireling in a broader sense of labor and expectation. Job laments, "Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand? Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages." . This passage reflects the transient and often burdensome nature of work for hire, where the laborer looks forward to the end of the day and the reward of wages.

3. Isaiah 16:14: The prophet Isaiah uses the term in a prophetic context, stating, "But now the LORD says, 'Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them, Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble.'" . Here, the hireling's time-bound service is used as a measure of impending judgment, emphasizing the temporary and limited nature of their engagement.

Theological Implications:

The concept of the hireling serves as a powerful metaphor in Scripture, particularly in illustrating the qualities of leadership and service. In John 10, Jesus contrasts the hireling with the Good Shepherd, emphasizing His own sacrificial love and commitment to His followers. The hireling's lack of genuine care serves as a warning against superficial or self-serving leadership within the church and community.

From a theological perspective, the hireling represents those who serve God or others out of obligation or for personal gain, rather than out of love and devotion. This distinction calls believers to examine their own motives in service, encouraging a heart of genuine care and commitment akin to that of the Good Shepherd.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Near Eastern societies, shepherding was a common occupation, and the distinction between a hired hand and a shepherd who owned the sheep would have been well understood. The hireling, being paid for his work, lacked the personal investment and responsibility that came with ownership. This cultural understanding enriches the biblical metaphor, as the audience would readily grasp the implications of a hireling's behavior in contrast to that of a dedicated shepherd.

Overall, the biblical portrayal of the hireling serves as a cautionary example, urging believers to pursue a deeper, more authentic commitment in their service to God and others, reflecting the heart of the Good Shepherd.A labourer employed on hire for a limited time (Job 7:1; 14:6; Mark 1:20). His wages were paid as soon as his work was over (Leviticus 19:13). In the time of our Lord a day's wage was a "penny" (q.v.) i.e., a Roman denarius (Matthew 20:1-14). 1. (n.) One who is hired, or who serves for wages; esp., one whose motive and interest in serving another are wholly gainful; a mercenary.

2. (a.) Serving for hire or wages; venal; mercenary.

HIRELING

hir'-ling (sakhir): Occurs only 6 times in the Old Testament, and uniformly means a laborer for a wage. In Job 7:1 there is reference to the hireling's anxiety for the close of the day. In Isaiah 16:14 and 21:16 the length of the years of a hireling is referred to, probably because of the accuracy with which they were determined by the employer and the employee. Malachi (3:5) speaks of the oppression of the hireling in his wages, probably by the smallness of the wage or by in some way defrauding him of part of it.

In the New Testament the word "hireling" (misthotos) occurs only in John 10:12, where his neglect of the sheep is contrasted unfavorably with the care and courage of the shepherd who owns the sheep, who leads them to pasture and lays down his life for their protection from danger and death.

William Joseph McGlothlin

3411. misthotos -- hired, a hired servant
... of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: misthotos Phonetic Spelling:
(mis-tho-tos') Short Definition: a hired servant Definition: a hired servant, hireling ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3411.htm - 6k

3407. misthios -- a hired servant
... Transliteration: misthios Phonetic Spelling: (mis'-thee-os) Short Definition: a
paid worker Definition: a paid worker, hired servant, hireling (contrasted with ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3407.htm - 6k

7916. sakir -- hired
... hired man, servant, hireling. From sakar; a man at wages by the day or year -- hired
(man, servant), hireling. see HEBREW sakar. 7915, 7916. sakir. 7917 . ...
/hebrew/7916.htm - 6k

The Tenth Chapter of the Gospel of John. Of the Shepherd, and the ...
... The tenth chapter of the Gospel of John. Of the shepherd, and the hireling, and
the thief. [CXXXVII. Ben.] ... Of the shepherd, and the hireling, and the thief. ...
/.../sermon lxxxvii the tenth chapter.htm

That Wages be Quickly Paid to the Hireling.
... 81. That wages be quickly paid to the hireling. In Leviticus: "The wages of thy
hireling shall not sleep with thee until the morning." [4550]. Footnotes: ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/81 that wages be quickly.htm

The Shepherd of Our Souls.
... prey. The hireling shepherd is not tried. ... sheep. The hireling fleeth, because
he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.". ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xvi the shepherd of.htm

Whether it is Lawful for a Bishop on Account of Bodily Persecution ...
... For our Lord said (Jn.10:12) that he is a hireling and no true shepherd, who "seeth
the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep and flieth": and Gregory says (Hom. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 11.htm

John Chapter x. 13-Nov
... Who the thieves and robbers are, was made clear in yesterday's lesson; and to-day
we have heard of the hireling, as we have heard also of the wolf. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xlvi john chapter x.htm

And Jesus Said, to Judge the World am I Come...
... [2532] [2533] I am the good shepherd; and the good shepherd giveth [15] himself
[2534] for his sheep. [2535] But the hireling, who is not a shepherd, and whose ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxxvii and jesus said.htm

To Eulalius, Bishop of Persian Armenia.
... For, as the Lord says, "he that is an hireling" when he sees "the wolf coming,"
"fleeth because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep," but "the good ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/lxxvii to eulalius bishop of.htm

Jesus the Good Shepherd.
... He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth
the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth ...
/.../xxi jesus the good shepherd.htm

The Good Shepherd.
... (John 10:12). 12. But the hireling . . . . leaveth his sheep and fleeth. It is not
the bare fact of a man receiving pay that makes him a hireling. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the good shepherd.htm

Whether the Old Law Set Forth Suitable Precepts About the Members ...
... If thy brother, constrained by poverty, sell himself to thee, thou shalt not oppress
him with the service of bondservants: but he shall be as a hireling and a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the old law set.htm

Hireling (17 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HIRELING. hir ... In Job 7:1 there is reference
to the hireling's anxiety for the close of the day. In ...
/h/hireling.htm - 13k

Hired (49 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS NIV). Job 7:2 As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow,
and as a hireling that looketh for his wages; (See NAS NIV). ...
/h/hired.htm - 21k

Fleeth (54 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fleeth (54 Occurrences). John 10:13 The hireling fleeth,
because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/f/fleeth.htm - 22k

Caring (23 Occurrences)
... may we give, or may we not give?' (YLT). John 10:13 and the hireling doth flee because
he is an hireling, and is not caring for the sheep. (YLT). ...
/c/caring.htm - 14k

Careth (10 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Careth (10 Occurrences). John 10:13 The hireling fleeth,
because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/c/careth.htm - 9k

Wages (52 Occurrences)
... and the prey of Egypt "shall be the wages for his army" (Ezekiel 29:19); swift and
sure judgment is predicted against "those that oppress the hireling in his ...
/w/wages.htm - 28k

Wage (39 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Job 7:2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling
who looks for his wages, (Root in WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/w/wage.htm - 18k

Hire (48 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/h/hire.htm - 27k

Agriculture
... Human nature has not changed since the time when Christ made the distinction
between the true shepherd and the hireling (John 10:12). ...
/a/agriculture.htm - 27k

Owns (13 Occurrences)
... John 10:12 and the hireling, and not being a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not,
doth behold the wolf coming, and doth leave the sheep, and doth flee; and ...
/o/owns.htm - 10k

What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the good Shepherd?” | GotQuestions.org

Hireling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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