Matthew 20:3

Matthew 20:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
• New International Version (NIV)“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

Context of Matthew 20:3

1“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.

Matthew 20:3 word by word

καὶ ἐξελθὼν περὶ τρίτην ὥραν εἶδεν ἄλλους ἑστῶτας ἐν τῇ ἀγορᾷ ἀργούςRead the interlinear

• ·καίkai · andG2532
• Aboutπερίperi · aboutG4012
• the thirdτρίτοςtritos · thirdG5154
• hourὥραhōra · hourG5610
• he went outἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• othersἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
• standingἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• marketplaceἀγοράagora · marketplaceG58
• doing nothingἀργόςargos · idleG692

Cross-references for Matthew 20:3

• Mark 15:25It was the third hour when they crucified Him.
• Acts 2:15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!
• Matthew 20:6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked.
• Matthew 11:16To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
• Proverbs 19:15Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
• Ezekiel 16:49Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy.
• Acts 17:17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.
• 1 Timothy 5:13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
• Hebrews 6:12Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Commentaries on Matthew 20:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3The third hour - Nine o'clock in the morning. Market-place - Where laborers usually stood till they were hired. I have often seen laborers standing in the market places of large towns in these countries, waiting to be employed.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3About the third hour - The Jews divided their days into twelve equal parts, or hours, beginning at sunrise and ending at sunset. This was, therefore about nine o‘clock in the morning. Standing idle in the market-place - A place where provisions are sold in towns. Of course, many resort to such places, and it would be the readiest place to meet persons and find employers. They were not, therefore, disposed to be idle, but were waiting in the proper place…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-16This parable is like the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11–32). In both, God shows grace to two groups, but one complains about unfair treatment.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. And he went out about the third hour--about nine o'clock, or after a fourth of the working day had expired: the day of twelve hours was reckoned from six to six. and saw others standing idle in the market place--unemployed.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 20:3

• Contracts
• Employee
• Gospel
• Hours
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Labor
• Penny
• Reward
• Servant
• Vineyard
• Wages
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Choose
• Condemn
• Drink
• Hireling
• Idle
• Marketplace
• Prepare
• Ransom
• Wages

Commentaries on Matthew 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings