And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.

MATTHEW 20:9KJV
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Matthew 20:9 (KJV)

What does Matthew 20:9 mean?

Matthew 20:9 describes how the workers who were hired late in the day—about the eleventh hour—each received a full day's wage, a "penny," just like those who had worked all day. This surprises the reader because these latecomers are paid the same as those who worked longer hours.

In this verse, Jesus is telling a parable to His disciples about a landowner hiring workers for his vineyard. The "eleventh hour" means very late in the workday, and yet these workers receive the same payment as those hired earlier. The story sets up a lesson about generosity, fairness, and how God’s ways can be different from human expectations.

The Greek behind Matthew 20:9

  • ἑνδεκάτη (hendekátē, "eleventh"): This word marks the time as very late in the day, emphasizing how little these workers contributed compared to others. It highlights the unexpectedness of their reward.
  • δηνάριον (dēnarion, "penny"): The "penny" here refers to a Roman denarius, which was the standard daily wage for a laborer. The use of this word shows that the landowner is treating the latecomers with the same generosity as those who worked all day.

Why Matthew 20:9 matters

  • Matthew 20:9 challenges common ideas about fairness by showing that the landowner’s generosity does not depend on hours worked but on his own decision to give.
  • The verse prepares the reader for the reaction of the earlier workers and the teaching point Jesus will make about the kingdom of heaven in the following verses.
  • Understanding the cultural value of a "penny" (denarius) helps clarify that the payment was not a token amount, but a full, fair wage, making the landowner’s actions even more striking.

Where else these words appear

“eleventh” Greek G1734 · used in 3 verses

  • Matthew 20:6 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?
  • Revelation 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

“man” Greek G303 · used in 14 verses

  • Matthew 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
  • Luke 9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

“penny” Greek G1220 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 18:28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
  • Matthew 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
  • Luke 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

“hour” Greek G5610 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
  • Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
  • John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.