Bible Strands
Matthew 20:2
He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus narrates a parable to his disciples about a landowner who goes out early in the morning to hire laborers. In this verse, the landowner negotiates terms with the first group before dispatching them to work.
The words — συμφωνήσας (sumphōnēsas) means "having agreed" or "reached a contract," indicating a formal wage arrangement. δηναρίου (dēnariou) translates to "a denarius," the standard daily wage referenced in the narrative.
The thread — The denarius appears elsewhere as currency for taxes in Matthew 22:19 and as payment for care in Luke 10:35. The covenantal promise of being God’s treasured possession in Exodus 19:5 parallels the landowner’s binding agreement with his workers.
Why it lands — The text records a straightforward employment contract before outlining the day’s labor, establishing a baseline of agreed terms. It requires the reader to notice how a fixed wage is set before the narrative introduces the later complications of equal pay for unequal hours.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Cross-references
- Exodus 19:5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
- Matthew 22:19 Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
- Luke 10:35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’
- 2 Timothy 3:15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Deuteronomy 5:27 Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then you can tell us everything the LORD our God tells you; we will listen and obey.”
- 1 Samuel 2:18 Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.
- 1 Samuel 2:26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with man.
- 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
- 1 Kings 3:6 Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving devotion by giving him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
- 1 Kings 18:12 I do not know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off when I leave you. Then when I go and tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD from my youth.