Matthew 20:12
Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Matthew 20:12 in other translations
| BSB | ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ |
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| WEB | saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’ |
| ASV | saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. |
| YLT | that These, the last, wrought one hour, and thou didst make them equal to us, who were bearing the burden of the day--and the heat. |
| DARBY | saying, These last have worked one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the heat. |
| BBE | Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat. |
| Webster | Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. |
What does Matthew 20:12 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
(1) "have wrought", or, "have continued one hour only"
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…
Matthew 20:12 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Matthew 20:12
- Romans 11:5-6
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
- 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; …
- Luke 14:10-11
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
- Luke 18:11-12
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
- Luke 12:55
And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
- Isaiah 58:2-3
Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
- Luke 15:29-30
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
- Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
- Zechariah 7:3-5
And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me, saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
- Malachi 1:13
Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.
- Malachi 3:14
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Matthew 20:11
And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
- Matthew 20:12
Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
- Matthew 20:13
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Matthew 20:12 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Diciendo: Estos postreros sólo han trabajado una hora, y los has hecho iguales á nosotros, que hemos llevado la carga y el calor del día. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | disant: Ces derniers n’ont travaillé qu’une heure, et tu les as faits égaux à nous qui avons porté le faix du jour et la chaleur. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | und sprachen: Diese letzten haben eine Stunde gearbeitet, und du hast sie uns gleich gemacht, die wir die Last des Tages und die Hitze getragen haben. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | dicentes: Hi novissimi una hora fecerunt, et pares illos nobis fecisti, qui portavimus pondus diei, et æstus. |