"hire, wages, Mt. 20:8; Jas. 5:4; reward, Mt. 5:12, 46; 6:1, 2, 5, 16; punishment, 2 Pet. 2:13"
Definition and meaning
hire, wages, Mt. 20:8; Jas. 5:4; reward, Mt. 5:12, 46; 6:1, 2, 5, 16; punishment, 2 Pet. 2:13
In the original Greek the word is written: μισθός
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of misthos (G3408) across the King James Bible.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
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Common questions
Strong's G3408 (misthos) is a Greek word that means: hire, wages, Mt. 20:8; Jas. 5:4; reward, Mt. 5:12, 46; 6:1, 2, 5, 16; punishment, 2 Pet. 2:13 It appears 28 times in the King James Bible.
The word misthos (G3408) appears 28 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3408 is misthos, a Greek word defined as: hire, wages, Mt. 20:8; Jas. 5:4; reward, Mt. 5:12, 46; 6:1, 2, 5, 16; punishment, 2 Pet. 2:13. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
misthos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.