The Meaning of Matthew 20:10 Explained

Matthew 20:10

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

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.

ASV: And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 20:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 20:1-16 - The Bargaining Spirit Rebuked
This parable originated in Peter's question. He had seen the rich young man go away sorrowful, because he could not meet the test which had been put to him; and he contrasted with that great refusal the swift willingness with which he and his fellow Apostles had left all to follow the Lord Jesus.
"Take care," said Jesus, "or your bargaining for the rewards of the Kingdom, will put you down among the lowest; while they who don't bargain will come out at the top." The last made no agreement; they came in at the eleventh hour, and were only too glad to take the vineyard path, leaving the vine owner to give what he thought right. The first "agreed," taking care to strike a bargain of so much money for so much work. But they would have done better if they had left the payment to the grace of their employer. "For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed," Romans 4:16, r.v. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 20

1  Jesus, by the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man;
17  foretells his passion;
20  by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be humble;
29  and gives two blind men their sight

Greek Commentary for Matthew 20:10

Every man a penny [ανα δηναριον και αυτοι]
Literally, “themselves also a denarius apiece” (distributive use of ανα — ana). Bruce asks if this householder was a humorist when he began to pay off the last first and paid each one a denarius according to agreement. False hopes had been raised in those who came first who got only what they had agreed to receive. [source]
Every man a penny [τὸ ἀνὰ δηνάριον]
Lit., the sum amounting in each case to a penny; or a penny apiece. Ἀνά is distributive. Wyc., each one by himself a penny. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 20:10 mean?

And having come the first they thought that more they will receive but they received those each a denarius also themselves
καὶ ἐλθόντες οἱ πρῶτοι ἐνόμισαν ὅτι πλεῖον λήμψονται καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ ἀνὰ δηνάριον καὶ αὐτοί

ἐλθόντες  having  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
πρῶτοι  first 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πρῶτος  
Sense: first in time or place.
ἐνόμισαν  they  thought 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: νομίζω  
Sense: to hold by custom or usage, own as a custom or usage, to follow a custom or usage.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
πλεῖον  more 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular, Comparative
Root: πολύς  
Sense: greater in quantity.
λήμψονται  they  will  receive 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
ἔλαβον  they  received 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
τὸ  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀνὰ  each 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἀνά  
Sense: into the midst, in the midst, amidst, among, between.
δηνάριον  a  denarius 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: δηνάριον  
Sense: A Roman silver coin in NT time.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
αὐτοί  themselves 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.

What are the major concepts related to Matthew 20:10?

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