MAT 20:12 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. λέγοντες
2. legō
3. saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VPPA·NMP
7. saying
8. saying
9. -
10. Y33; R13557
11. 13583
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. -
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. ¬that
8. ¬that
9. -
10. -
11. 13584
1. Οὗτοι
2. houtos
3. These
4. ‘These
5. 37780
6. E····NMP
7. these
8. these
9. D
10. Y33; R13545
11. 13585
1. οἱ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13586
1. ἔσχατοι
2. esχatos
3. last ones
4. -
5. 20780
6. S····NMP
7. last ‹ones›
8. last ‹ones›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13587
1. μίαν
2. heis
3. one
4. -
5. 15200
6. E····AFS
7. one
8. one
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13588
1. ὥραν
2. hōra
3. hour
4. hour
5. 56100
6. N····AFS
7. hour
8. hour
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13589
1. ἐποίησαν
2. poieō
3. worked
4. -
5. 41600
6. VIAA3··P
7. worked
8. worked
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13590
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13591
1. ἴσους
2. isos
3. equal
4. -
5. 24700
6. S····AMP
7. equal
8. equal
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13592
1. ἡμῖν
2. egō
3. to us
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1D·P
7. ˱to˲ us
8. ˱to˲ us
9. -
10. Y33; R13557
11. 13593
1. αὐτούς
2. autos
3. them
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3AMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13594
1. αὐτόν
2. autos
3. -
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3AMS
7. him
8. him
9. -
10. -
11. 13595
1. ἡμῖν
2. egō
3. -
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1D·P
7. us
8. us
9. -
10. -
11. 13596
1. ἐποίησας
2. poieō
3. you made
4. you
5. 41600
6. VIAA2··S
7. ˱you˲ made
8. ˱you˲ made
9. -
10. Y33; R13582
11. 13597
1. τοῖς
2. ho
3. to the ones
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····DMP
7. ˱to˲ the ‹ones›
8. ˱to˲ the ‹ones›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13598
1. βαστάσασι
2. bastazō
3. having borne
4. -
5. 9410
6. VPAA·DMP
7. ˓having˒ borne
8. ˓having˒ borne
9. -
10. Y33; R13557
11. 13599
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13600
1. βάρος
2. baros
3. burden
4. -
5. 9220
6. N····ANS
7. burden
8. burden
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13601
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13602
1. ἡμέρας
2. hēmera
3. day
4. day
5. 22500
6. N····GFS
7. day
8. day
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13603
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13604
1. τόν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13605
1. καύσωνα
2. kausōn
3. scorching heat
4. scorching
5. 27420
6. N····AMS
7. scorching_heat
8. scorching_heat
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13606

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 20:1–16: Jesus told a parable about vineyard workers

In this section, Jesus told a parable about some vineyard workers and the man who owned the vineyard. Even though the workers worked for a different number of hours, the owner gave them all the same pay. This parable continues the discussion about rewards for being a disciple (19:27–29). It also helps to explain the meaning of the saying “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first” (19:30). The main point of the parable is about God’s grace. In the kingdom, God gives his servants much more than they deserve. In the kingdom, the values are different than the values here on earth.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

The story about men who worked in a field of grapes

A story that shows God’s generosity/grace

Rewards for serving God

This parable occurs only in the book of Matthew.

20:12a

‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said,

saying, ‘These last men worked for only one hour,
They said, ‘Those men whom you hired last worked only for a short time.

These men who were hired last: This phrase refers to the last men whom the master hired. These were the men whom he hired at 5 o’clock.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

These last workers (GW)

These men who were hired last (NIV)

These men whom you hired last

This phrase is an important link to the topic of the “first will be last, and the last will be first” (see 19:30). It is important to keep the word last here.

worked only one hour: The phrase one hour refers to a short period of time compared to the twelve hours that the first men worked.

The word only is not in the Greek text, but most English versions include it. This word helps to make clear that the men were complaining.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

worked only for a short time

worked only at the end

20:12b

‘and you have made them equal to us

but you have treated them the same as us,
Yet you have paid them just as much as you paid us^(excl).

and: In 20:12b, the first men complain of an unexpected result. The last men worked only one hour. So the first men expected that less work would result in less pay. But the master paid the last workers the same as the first workers.

Here are some other ways to introduce this unexpected result:

But (NCV)

Yet (GW)

you have made them equal to us: This clause means that the master acted towards the last workers in the same way as he did the first workers. In this context, it refers to the master giving the same amount of money to the last workers as he gave to the first workers.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

You treated them in the same way that you treated us

you paid them the same that you did us (CEV)

you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us (NLT)

The first workers did not complain about how much money they received. Rather they were jealous that those hired last got the same amount.

them: The pronoun them refers to the last workers whom the master hired.

us: The pronoun us refers to the first group of workers whom the master hired. It does not refer to any other workers. If you have inclusive and exclusive pronouns in your language, choose the pronoun that refers to the first group.

20:12c

who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’

even though we have done most of the work and endured the heat all day!’
We^(excl) are the ones who have worked hard all day under the hot sun!’

Verse 20:12c is a relative clause. It is a sentence that explains something about the pronoun “us” in 20:12b. In some languages, it will be more natural to start a new sentence here. For example:

We bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat.

who have borne the burden: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as borne means “carry.” To “carry the burden of the day” is figurative speech. It refers to doing a day of hard work. The first workers worked hard all day, not the last workers. The first workers did most of the work that day. In that sense, they carried the burden.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

we worked hard all day (GW)

We have done most of the work…all day (NIRV)

We endured working all day

and the scorching heat of the day: The Greek noun that the BSB translates as scorching heat comes from a verb that means “burn up.” It refers to the heat of the middle of the day when the sun is shining strongly. The ones hired last did not experience the hot sun when they worked.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in the hot sun (CEV)

in all the heat (NJB)

while it was hot

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

λέγοντες, οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι μίαν ὥραν ἐποίησαν, καὶ ἴσους ἡμῖν αὐτοὺς ἐποίησας, τοῖς βαστάσασι τὸ βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν καύσωνα

saying (Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγοντες Οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι μίαν ὥραν ἐποίησαν καί ἴσους ἡμῖν αὐτούς ἐποίησας τοῖς βαστάσασι τό βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καί τόν καύσωνα)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: [saying that the last ones had done one hour, but the master of the house made them equal to themselves, the ones having borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat]

Note 2 topic: writing-quotations

λέγοντες

saying

Consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. Alternate translation: [and they said]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγοντες Οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι μίαν ὥραν ἐποίησαν καί ἴσους ἡμῖν αὐτούς ἐποίησας τοῖς βαστάσασι τό βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καί τόν καύσωνα)

Here the workers are referring to the other workers who were hired last. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [These ones who were hired last]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ἐποίησας

˱you˲_made

Because the workers are speaking to the master of the house, the word you is singular.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμῖν

˱to˲_us

By us, the workers mean themselves who were hired first but not any of the other workers, so use the exclusive form of that word in your translation if your language marks that distinction.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῖς βαστάσασι τὸ βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ τὸν καύσωνα

˱to˲_the_‹ones› ˓having˒_borne (Some words not found in SR-GNT: λέγοντες Οὗτοι οἱ ἔσχατοι μίαν ὥραν ἐποίησαν καί ἴσους ἡμῖν αὐτούς ἐποίησας τοῖς βαστάσασι τό βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας καί τόν καύσωνα)

Here, the workers are speaking of their hard work as if it were a burden that they had borne. They also speak as if the scorching heat were also an object that they had borne. They mean that they had to work hard and experience the hot sun during the middle of the day. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [ones having worked hard the whole day and having experienced the scorching heat]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ βάρος τῆς ἡμέρας

Here, the workers are using the possessive form to describe a burden that they had to bear during the day. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another. Alternate translation: [the burden during the day]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. saying
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-PPA·NMP
7. saying
8. saying
9. -
10. Y33; R13557
11. 13583
1. These
2. ‘These
3. 37780
4. D
5. houtos
6. E-····NMP
7. these
8. these
9. D
10. Y33; R13545
11. 13585
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMP
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13586
1. last ones
2. -
3. 20780
5. esχatos
6. S-····NMP
7. last ‹ones›
8. last ‹ones›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13587
1. worked
2. -
3. 41600
5. poieō
6. V-IAA3··P
7. worked
8. worked
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13590
1. one
2. -
3. 15200
5. heis
6. E-····AFS
7. one
8. one
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13588
1. hour
2. hour
3. 56100
5. hōra
6. N-····AFS
7. hour
8. hour
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13589
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13591
1. you made
2. you
3. 41600
5. poieō
6. V-IAA2··S
7. ˱you˲ made
8. ˱you˲ made
9. -
10. Y33; R13582
11. 13597
1. them
2. -
3. 8460
5. autos
6. R-···3AMP
7. them
8. them
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13594
1. equal
2. -
3. 24700
5. isos
6. S-····AMP
7. equal
8. equal
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13592
1. to us
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1D·P
7. ˱to˲ us
8. ˱to˲ us
9. -
10. Y33; R13557
11. 13593
1. to the ones
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····DMP
7. ˱to˲ the ‹ones›
8. ˱to˲ the ‹ones›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13598
1. having borne
2. -
3. 9410
5. bastazō
6. V-PAA·DMP
7. ˓having˒ borne
8. ˓having˒ borne
9. -
10. Y33; R13557
11. 13599
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13600
1. burden
2. -
3. 9220
5. baros
6. N-····ANS
7. burden
8. burden
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13601
1. of the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13602
1. day
2. day
3. 22500
5. hēmera
6. N-····GFS
7. day
8. day
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13603
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13604
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13605
1. scorching heat
2. scorching
3. 27420
5. kausōn
6. N-····AMS
7. scorching_heat
8. scorching_heat
9. -
10. Y33
11. 13606

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear MAT 20:12

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 20:1–16: Jesus told a parable about vineyard workers

20:12a

20:12b

20:12c

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)