Matthew 20 · Verse 10

Matthew 20:10

But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

Matthew 20:10, King James Version

Matthew 20:10 in other translations

BSB	So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius.
WEB	When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
ASV	And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling.
YLT	‘And the first having come, did suppose that they shall receive more, and they received, they also, each a denary,
DARBY	And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more, and they received also themselves each a denarius.
BBE	Then those who came first had the idea that they would get more; and they, like the rest, were given a penny.
Webster	But when the first came, they supposed that they should receive more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

What does Matthew 20:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

10. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more--This is that calculating, mercenary spirit which had peeped out--though perhaps very slightly--in Peter's question (Mt 19:27), and which this parable was designed once for all to put down among the servants of Christ.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 10. They supposed that they should have received more. They had worked longer; they had been in the heat; they supposed that it was his intention to pay them, not according to contract, but according to the time of the labour.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 20:1-16

The direct object of this parable seems to be, to show that though the Jews were first called into the vineyard, at length the gospel should be preached to the Gentiles, and they should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. The parable may also be applied more generally, and shows, 1. That God is debtor to no man. 2. That many who begin last, and promise little in religion, sometimes, by the…

Read the full comment on Matthew 20:1-16 →

Matthew 20:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐλθόντεςelthonteshaving comeG2064

οἱhoitheG3588

πρῶτοιprōtoifirstG4413

ἐνόμισανenomisanthey thoughtG3543

ὅτιhotithatG3754

πλεῖονpleionmoreG4119

λήμψονται·lēmpsontaithey will receive;G2983

καὶkaibutG2532

ἔλαβονelabonthey receivedG2983

ἀνὰanaeachG303

δηνάριονdēnariona denariusG1220

καὶkaialsoG2532

αὐτοί.autoithemselves.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Context

Matthew 20:9
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Matthew 20:10
But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Matthew 20:11
And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

Read all of Matthew 20

Matthew 20:10 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y viniendo también los primeros, pensaron que habían de recibir más; pero también ellos recibieron cada uno un denario.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	et quand les premiers furent venus, ils croyaient recevoir davantage, mais ils reçurent, eux aussi, chacun un denier.
German Elberfelder 1871	Als aber die ersten kamen, meinten sie, daß sie mehr empfangen würden; und auch sie empfingen je einen Denar.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Venientes autem et primi, arbitrati sunt quod plus essent accepturi: acceperunt autem et ipsi singulos denarios.