Topical Bible: Servant: Hired in Money

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the concept of a servant hired for money is a significant aspect of the socio-economic structure of ancient Israel and the surrounding cultures. The term "servant" in the Bible can refer to various roles, from bondservants to hired workers, each with distinct rights and responsibilities.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "servant" is "ebed," which can mean a slave, servant, or hired worker, depending on the context. A hired servant, specifically, is one who works for wages rather than being owned as property. The Mosaic Law provided specific regulations for the treatment of hired servants, emphasizing fair treatment and timely payment.

Leviticus 19:13 states, "You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand." This command underscores the importance of justice and fairness in economic transactions, reflecting God's concern for the dignity and well-being of all individuals, including those in servitude.

Deuteronomy 24:14-15 further elaborates, "Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers 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 hired servants and the moral obligation of employers to ensure their needs are met promptly.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word "misthios" is used to describe a hired servant. The parable of the workers in the vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1-16, illustrates the concept of hired laborers. In this parable, the landowner hires workers at different times of the day but pays them the same wage, emphasizing the generosity and sovereignty of God.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, also addresses the relationship between masters and servants, urging fairness and mutual respect. Colossians 4:1 instructs, "Masters, supply your servants with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven." This teaching reinforces the principle that all human relationships, including those involving hired servants, should reflect the justice and mercy of God.

Cultural and Theological Implications

The role of a hired servant in biblical times was integral to the agricultural and domestic economy. These individuals were often employed on a temporary or seasonal basis, and their labor was essential for the functioning of households and estates. The biblical mandate for fair treatment of hired servants reflects a broader theological theme of justice and compassion, rooted in the character of God.

The biblical perspective on hired servants challenges believers to consider the ethical dimensions of employment and labor relations. It calls for a recognition of the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of their social or economic status, and a commitment to just and equitable treatment in all areas of life.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 20:2
And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Glad Givers and Faithful Workers
... in to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God ... they did day by day,
and gathered money in abundance ... of the house of the Lord, and hired masons and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/glad givers and faithful workers.htm

The Three Parables of the Gospel: of the Recovery of the Lost - of ...
... lost, fallen among the dust that accumulates - practically, was no longer money,
or of ... This favour only would he seek, to be as a hired servant in his father's ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii the three parables.htm

'To Him that Hath Shall be Given'
... about that and say, 'It never rains but it pours, and the man that needs more money
least gets it ... It used to be the custom when a servant was hired for the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/to him that hath shall.htm

The Life of Mr. Andrew Duncan.
... how miserable Judas was, who lost himself for a trifle of money, that never ... said,
"See what a good master I serve." After this she hired a servant again, but ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr andrew 2.htm

The Parable of the Householder. A Sermon, by Bishop Latimer.
... that some laboured the whole day, which are hired for a ... like as we have a piece of
money which we ... ourselves, each man in his vocation; the servant would think ...
/.../the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /the parable of the householder.htm

God's Love Even for Sinners
... into a distant country where he wasted his money in reckless ... Treat me as one of your
hired servants.'. ... The servant said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/gods love even for sinners.htm

Eighth Commandment
... "Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is ... The sin overreaches itself. A man
who takes money that does not belong to him never gets any lasting comfort. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/eighth commandment.htm

Concerning the Revolt of the Trachonites; How Sylleus Accused ...
... those pastures also which they had hired, and kept ... money to the courtiers, and promised
much money to Caesar ... Sylleus as having been a wicked servant, and having ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 concerning the revolt.htm

Joseph --The Savior of his People.
... way, but Joseph had told the steward to put the money of each ... O, my lord, let thy
servant speak a ... them the best of the land for their flocks, and hired some of ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter viii josephthe savior of.htm

The Life of Mr. John Craig.
... in the day-time, and travel over night; by this means any little money he had ... he
might purge himself, and said "If he had thought his hired servant (meaning Mr ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr john 2.htm