← G3407 G3409 →

μισθός

misthós

G3408 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Compensation, wage, or payment received in exchange for work or service; more generally, any recompense or reward for action or conduct. In some contexts, refers specifically to wages paid for manual labor or employment, but may also indicate a recompense (positive or negative) for moral behavior or actions, including divine reward or retribution. The primary sense is material or tangible remuneration, with an extended sense covering general reward or outcome resulting from an action.

Semantic Range

wages for labor, payment for service, hire, reward for action or conduct, recompense for good or evil, compensation, outcome resulting from one's deeds

Root / Etymology

Generally considered a primary Greek term, from the root μισθ-, denoting the idea of compensation or wages. No clear derivation from another Greek term; possibly linked with the concept of recompense or exchange, but ultimate origin uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μισθός most often denotes pay or wages given to hired workers, mercenaries, or those offering services (e.g., Herodotus, Thucydides). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, its use expands to include more abstract senses of 'reward' or 'recompense,' often in moral, ethical, or religious contexts—such as the reward for virtuous conduct or punishment for wrongdoing. The Septuagint frequently uses μισθός to translate Hebrew words for wages but also for recompense and reward, both positive and negative (e.g., Proverbs, Psalms). In the New Testament, μισθός has a dual nuance: literal remuneration for labor (e.g., Matthew 20:8; Luke 10:7) and metaphorical or eschatological reward (e.g., Matthew 5:12; 6:1), including divine recompense. Standard English translations render μισθός as 'wages,' 'reward,' 'hire,' but these do not always capture its broader figurative and moral applications in Koine usage. It does not entail gift, grace, or unmerited favor but compensation justly due for work or behavior.

Translation Consistency

primary "wages" 29 occurrences

μισθός primarily denotes payment for labor or service — the everyday sense is ‘wages’ (as in pay received for work). ‘Wages’ is natural English, neutral (can cover both positive and negative recompense in context, e.g. “the wages of sin is death”), and fits the typical New Testament usage better than the more positive ‘reward’ or the more formal ‘recompense’. Using ‘wages’ ensures consistent, natural renderings across all forms of this lemma.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad:--hire, reward, wages.

Root Family

μισθός (misthos) — pay, hire, recompense, reward

Root μισθ- pay, hire, recompense, reward

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3408-01 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG reward recompense wages 18
G3408-02 μισθὸς misthos N NOM M SG reward recompense wages 7
G3408-03 μισθοῦ misthou N GEN M SG wages of recompense of wages 4

Occurrences in Scripture

29 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3408-02 Matthew 5:12 μισθὸς misthos N NOM M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 5:46 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 6:1 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 6:2 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 6:5 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 6:16 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 10:41 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 10:41 μισθὸν misthon-2 N ACC M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 10:42 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG reward recompense wages
G3408-01 Matthew 20:8 μισθὸν misthon N ACC M SG wages recompense wages
← G3407 Greek Lexicon G3409 →