MAT 20:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For the kingdom of the heavens is like a man, the master of the house, who went out with the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

UST In fact, here is what God’s heavenly kingdom is like: a man who managed a household left his house in the morning to go to the town’s open area. He wanted to hire people to take care of his grape vines.

BLB For the kingdom of the heavens is like to a man, a master of a house, who went out in the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard.

AICNT “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man, a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

OEB For the kingdom of heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire labourers for his vineyards.

WEBBE “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

LSV “For the kingdom of the heavens is like to a man, a householder, who went forth with the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard,

FBV For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

TCNT “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

T4T “In order to illustrate how God rewards people, I will compare the way God [MTY/EUP] rules his people with what the owner of an estate did. Early in the morning the owner of the estate went to the market where people who wanted work gathered. He went there to hire laborers to work in his vineyard.

LEB “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man—the master of the house—who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

BBE For the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out early in the morning to get workers into his vine-garden.

Moff For the Realm of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard;

Wymth "For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like an employer who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard,

ASV For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

DRA The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

YLT 'For the reign of the heavens is like to a man, a householder, who went forth with the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard,

Drby For the kingdom of the heavens is like a householder who went out with the early morn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

RV For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
(For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householdr, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. )

SLT For the kingdom of the heavens is like to a man, master of a house, who went out as soon as morning to hire workmen for his vineyard.

Wbstr For the kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

KJB-1769 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.
( For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householdr, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. )

KJB-1611 ¶ For the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a man that is an housholder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
(¶ For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householdr, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.)

Bshps For the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a man, that is an householder, whiche went out earlye in the mornyng to hire labourers into his vineyarde.
(For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man, that is an householdr, which went out earlye in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.)

Gnva For the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a certaine, housholder, which went out at the dawning of the day to hire labourers into his vineyarde.
(For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain, householdr, which went out at the dawning of the day to hire labourers into his vineyard. )

Cvdl The kyngdome of heauen is like vnto an housholder, which wete out early in the mornynge, to hyre labourers in to his vyniarde.
(The kingdom of heaven is like unto an householdr, which went out early in the morning, to hire labourers in to his vineyard.)

TNT For the kyngdome of heven ys lyke vnto an houssholder which went out erly in the morninge to hyre labourers into hys vyneyarde.
(For the kingdom of heaven is like unto an householdr which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. )

Wycl The kyngdom of heuenes is lijc to an housbonde man, that wente out first bi the morewe, to hire werk men in to his vyneyerd.
(The kingdom of heavens is like to an housbonde man, that went out first by the morning, to hire work men in to his vyneyerd.)

Luth Das Himmelreich ist gleich einem Hausvater, der am Morgen ausging, Arbeiter zu mieten in seinen Weinberg.
(The heaven_riches/kingdom is even on housevater, the/of_the in/at/on_the morning exit, work/jober to/for mieten in his vineyard.)

ClVg Simile est regnum cælorum homini patrifamilias, qui exiit primo mane conducere operarios in vineam suam.[fn]
(Simile it_is kingdom of_the_heavens to_man patrifamilias, who/which went_out at_first in_the_morning conducere to_workos in/into/on vineyard his_own. )

20.1 Simile est regnum. Ostendit per parabolam, quia primi erunt novissimi, et novissimi primi. Pater iste familias conditor noster est, qui habet vineam, universalem Ecclesiam, quæ ab Abel usque ad ultimum electum qui in fine nasciturus est quotquot sanctos protulit, tot palmites misit. Hic pater exiit ad excolendam vineam mane hora tertia, sexta, nona, undecima operarios conduxit a mundi hujus initio usque ad finem: ad erudiendam fidelium plebem prædicatores mittere non desistit. Simile est regnum. Non homini solum, sed toti negotio ab homine gesto, et in similibus similiter. Primo mane. Manifeste cœpit a primo justo æterna mercede prædicatores ad plantandam Ecclesiam invitare.

20.1 Simile it_is kingdom. Ostendit through parable, because first they_will_be last, and last primi. Pater this families founder our it_is, who/which has vineyard, universelem assembly/church, which away Abel until to last chosen who/which in/into/on fine is_bornus it_is as_many_as saints brought_out, so_many palm_trees he_sent. Here/This father went_out to excolendam vineyard in_the_morning hour third, sixth, ninth, eleventh to_workos conduxit from world of_this at_first/in_the_beginning until to the_end: to erudiendam faithful the_people preachers to_send not/no stops. Simile it_is kingdom. Not/No to_man only, but toti business away man gesto, and in/into/on similarbus likewise. At_first mane. Clearly/Obviously he_began from at_first just eternal reward preachers to plant(n)ndam assembly/church invitare.

UGNT ὁμοία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ, οἰκοδεσπότῃ, ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωῒ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.
(homoia gar estin haʸ Basileia tōn Ouranōn anthrōpōi, oikodespotaʸ, hostis exaʸlthen hama prōi misthōsasthai ergatas eis ton ampelōna autou.)

SBL-GNT Ὁμοία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωῒ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.
(Homoia gar estin haʸ basileia tōn ouranōn anthrōpōi oikodespotaʸ hostis exaʸlthen hama prōi misthōsasthai ergatas eis ton ampelōna autou.)

RP-GNT Ὁμοία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ, ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωῒ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.
(Homoia gar estin haʸ basileia tōn ouranōn anthrōpōi oikodespotaʸ, hostis exaʸlthen hama prōi misthōsasthai ergatas eis ton ampelōna autou.)

TC-GNT Ὁμοία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ, ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωῒ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ.
(Homoia gar estin haʸ basileia tōn ouranōn anthrōpōi oikodespotaʸ, hostis exaʸlthen hama prōi misthōsasthai ergatas eis ton ampelōna autou. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN 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.

20:1a

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner

¶ “Let me explain. The kingdom of heaven is like this story: a landowner
¶ To explain/illustrate, Jesus continued, “I can compare God’s rule to this parable. There was a certain man who owned some land.

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces an explanation for something that was just said. In this case, the parable that follows explains the statement that Jesus made in 19:30. He said that, at the renewal of all things, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Here are some other ways to introduce this explanation:

Let me explain

Jesus continued, explaining

the kingdom of heaven is like: Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to the entire parable in 20:1–16. Jesus did not just compare the kingdom of heaven to the master of a house. Make sure your grammar indicates that. Here are some examples:

Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like:

The kingdom of heaven is like this story.

I can compare the kingdom of heaven to this parable.

the kingdom of heaven: The phrase the kingdom of heaven last occurred in 19:23b. You should translate it the same ways in both places. For help to translate this phrase, see the note at 18:23a.

a landowner: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates a landowner is more literally “a man a house-master.” Jesus often used the phrase “a man” to introduce the main character of a parable he told. Follow the pattern of your language to indicate that this man is the main character of the story. For example:

There was a certain man who owned some land

This phrase refers to someone who was rich enough to own a house and possibly other property and land.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

a master of the house (ESV)

a person who owned some land (NCV)

the owner of a farm/field

20:1b

who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

went out early in the morning to find some men whom he would pay to work in his grape farm.
One morning about sunrise, he left his house and went to the market to look for some men to work in his field of grapes.

who went out: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as went out indicates that the master of the house went outside his house. He went to the marketplace to find people willing to work for him. This is where people looking for work would gather. That place is made explicit in 20:3, but you may need to mention it here. For example:

who went out to the marketplace

He went to the public square

early in the morning: This phrase probably refers to a time soon after sunrise. It was as soon as there was enough daylight to work. In Israel this would have been about 6 o’clock in the morning.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

One morning…very early (NCV)

at daybreak (NJB)

to hire workers: The Greek word that the BSB translates as to hire is based on the word for “wage.” It means “to pay wages/money to.” The master of the house intended to give the men money for the work that they would do.

The Greek word that the BSB translates workers refers to people who do work which requires physical labor. (This same word occurs in 10:10b.)

Here are some other ways to translate this entire phrase:

to employ workers

to find people whom he would pay to work

to look for people to work

for his vineyard: A vineyard is a field where grapevines are planted. Grapevines are long, woody vines that produce a fruit called grapes. People used sticks to hold the vines off the ground so that the fruit hung down without touching the ground.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in his grape farm

in his field of grape vines

In some languages, there may not be a word for “vineyard” or for “grape.” If this is true in your language, here are two other options to consider:

Borrow the word for “grape” from another language and add a general expression that describes what a grape farm is. For example:
farm for producing a fruit called grapes
farm for raising fruit from grape vines
Use a general word for fruit that would fit in this context. For example:
farm to produce a fruit used to make wine

You may also want to add a footnote. For example:

The fruit called “grape” grows on a vine. The fruit is used for making wine.

Note that “grape” and “grapefruit” are not the same thing.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parables

ὁμοία γάρ ἐστιν ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ

similar (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁμοία Γάρ ἐστίν ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωΐ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τόν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ)

To teach the disciples, Jesus offers a story or illustration. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: [Now listen to this story: the kingdom of the heavens is like a man]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γάρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁμοία Γάρ ἐστίν ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωΐ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τόν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ)

Here, the word For introduces an explanation of what Jesus said about how the first will be last and the last first ([19:30](../19/30.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Here is what I mean:] or [Let me explain:]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / go

ἐξῆλθεν

came_out

In a context such as this, your language might say “came” instead of went. Alternate translation: [came out]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἅμα πρωῒ

together_with (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁμοία Γάρ ἐστίν ἡ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ οἰκοδεσπότῃ ὅστις ἐξῆλθεν ἅμα πρωΐ μισθώσασθαι ἐργάτας εἰς τόν ἀμπελῶνα αὐτοῦ)

Here, the phrase with the morning means that the master of the house left as soon as it was morning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [as soon as the sun rose] or [as soon as it was morning]

Parallel MAT 20:1

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

20:1a

20:1b