Overview
The Bible addresses employee across 33 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Job and Deuteronomy. Closely related themes include Vineyard, Employer, Labor and Wages.
Key Bible verses about employee
Old Testament
Deuteronomy
Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee. setteth: Heb. lifteth his soul unto it
Job
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? an appointed: or, a warfare
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: earnestly: Heb. gapeth after
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
New Testament
Matthew
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. penny: the Roman penny is the eighth part of an ounce, which after five shillings the ounce is seven pence halfpenny; about fourteen cents
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
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. have wrought: or, have continued one hour only
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Take that thine is, and go thy way I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?1487 Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one and killed another, and stoned another.
Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
Luke
In the Bible dictionary
Studying employee for yourself
- Begin with Deuteronomy 24:14, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Matthew, Job and Deuteronomy each treat the theme.
- Widen the study to related themes: Vineyard, Employer, Labor and Wages.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about employee?
The Bible addresses employee across 33 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Matthew, Job and Deuteronomy. Closely related themes include Vineyard, Employer, Labor and Wages.
How many Bible verses are about employee?
The Bible references employee in 33 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention employee?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Deuteronomy 24:14: “Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:”
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