In biblical times, a hireling referred to a laborer or worker who was employed for wages. The concept of a hireling is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible, emphasizing the ethical treatment and fair compensation of such workers. The biblical mandate to treat hirelings justly is rooted in the broader scriptural principles of justice, mercy, and the inherent dignity of every individual created in the image of God.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides clear instructions regarding the treatment of hirelings. In Leviticus 19:13, the Israelites are commanded, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand." This verse underscores the importance of timely payment and fair treatment, reflecting God's concern for justice and the well-being of workers.

Deuteronomy 24:14-15 further elaborates on this principle: "Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise, he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin." This passage highlights the vulnerability of hirelings, particularly those who are poor and dependent on their daily wages for survival. The command to pay wages promptly is not only a matter of economic fairness but also a moral obligation to prevent the oppression of the needy.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the concept of the hireling is addressed in the context of spiritual leadership and responsibility. In John 10:12-13, Jesus contrasts the good shepherd with the hireling: "The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. So 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 lacking the commitment and care of a true shepherd, serving as a metaphor for leaders who do not genuinely care for their charges.

While this passage primarily addresses spiritual leadership, it also implicitly calls for integrity and responsibility in all forms of employment. The hireling's failure to protect the sheep serves as a cautionary tale against neglecting one's duties and responsibilities, whether in spiritual or secular contexts.

Ethical Implications

The biblical injunctions against oppressing hirelings have significant ethical implications for contemporary Christian practice. Employers are called to reflect God's justice and compassion in their treatment of employees, ensuring fair wages, humane working conditions, and respect for the dignity of all workers. The biblical narrative consistently upholds the principle that those in positions of power and authority bear a responsibility to protect and uplift the vulnerable, including hirelings.

In summary, the Bible's teachings on hirelings emphasize the importance of justice, timely compensation, and the ethical treatment of workers. These principles serve as a timeless reminder of the moral obligations that accompany the employment relationship, urging believers to act with integrity and compassion in all their dealings.Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, said the LORD of hosts.
Nave's Topical Index

The Lost Sheep.
... of that which is elsewhere ascribed to the "hireling whose own ... 6. Far from being
oppressed by the burden of his ... His joy begins not when the work is over, but ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/xxii the lost sheep.htm

Thy Rod and Thy Staff they Comfort Me.
... of God, should suffer alike and be oppressed with miseries is ... is not always upon
us; we are not, without ceasing ... and his days are like the days of a hireling. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/callan/the shepherd of my soul/viii thy rod and thy.htm

Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his ...
... the origin of the traditions by which the Church has hitherto been oppressed to
the ... of Christ is heard by them, and the sheep follow not a hireling, but the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 of the power.htm

The Theory of the Church, and the History of Its Perversion.
... all the official acts of this wretched hireling, whilst no ... and intolerable tyranny
by which it was ever oppressed. ... real unity of His Church is, not any merely ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter xiii the theory of.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... What kind of prayer would this be? "O Lord, I am indeed doubtful whether or not
thou art inclined to hear me; but being oppressed with anxiety I fly to thee ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations.
... vicious, moreover, and tyrannical, he oppressed during the ... the subjection to barbarous
leaders of hireling free-lances ... and his successors; but yet not events at ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter i the holy see.htm

The Epistle of St. James
... James does not describe God as the Father of Jesus Christ, but the collocation
here and the phrase in ii.1 imply a divine authority for Christ. ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the epistle of st james.htm

part ii
... How long shall I, the child of God, be flesh, notwithstanding that I was born in
holy baptism, "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Some Gospel Truths Opened, According to the Scriptures; Or, the ...
... wrote his admirable treatise on the resurrection of the dead, he does not accuse
the ... be too hard for me.'[3] And when accused of being a hireling priest, how ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/some gospel truths opened according.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... Thus was he for many weeks oppressed and cast down, and near to 'giving up ... to Revelation,
which lasted for above a year, and although he could not find that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

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

Hireling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus