Lexical Summary
misthos: Reward, wages, recompense
Original Word: μισθός
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: misthos
Pronunciation: mis-thos'
Phonetic Spelling: (mis-thos')
KJV: hire, reward, wages
NASB: reward, wages, pay, price, wage
Word Origin: [apparently a primary word]
1. payment for service (good or bad)
{literally or figuratively}
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
reward, wages.
Apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad -- hire, reward, wages.
HELPS Word-studies
3408 misthós (a primitive word, so NAS dictionary) – a reward (recompense) that appropriately compensates a particular decision (action).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. word
Definitionwages, hire
NASB Translationpay (2), price (1), reward (19), wage (1), wages (6).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3408: μισθόςμισθός,
μισθοῦ,
ὁ (from
Homer down), the
Sept. for
שָׂכָר, also for
מַשְׂכֹּרֶת, etc.;
1. dues paid for work; wages, hire: Romans 4:4 (κατά ὀφείλημα); in a prov., Luke 10:7 and 1 Timothy 5:18; Matthew 20:8; James 5:4; Jude 1:11 (on which see ἐκχέω, at the end); μισθός ἀδικίας, wages obtained by iniquity, Acts 1:18; 2 Peter 2:15 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 1 a.).
2. reward: used — of the fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavors, John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 9:18; — of divine recompense:
a. in both senses, rewards and punishments: Revelation 22:12.
b. of the rewards which God bestows, or will bestow, upon good deeds and endeavors (on the correct theory about which cf. Weiss, Die Lehre Christi vom Lohn, in the Deutsche Zeitschr. für christl. Wissenschaft, 1853, p. 319ff; Mehlhorn,
d. Lohnbegr. Jesu, in the Jahrbb. f. protest. Theol., 1876, p. 721ff; (cf. Beyer in Herzog xx, pp. 4-14)): Matthew 5:12; Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; Matthew 10:41; Mark 9:41; Luke 6:23, 35; 1 Corinthians 3:8, 14; 2 John 1:8; Revelation 11:18; ἔχειν μισθόν, to have a reward, is used of those for whom a reward is reserved by God, whom a divine reward awaits, Matthew 5:46; 1 Corinthians 9:17; with παρά τῷ πατρί ὑμῶν τῷ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς added, Matthew 6:1.
c. of punishments: μισθός ἀδικίας, 2 Peter 2:13; τῆς δυσσεβείας, 2 Macc. 8:33.
Topical Lexicon
Semantic ScopeStrong’s Greek 3408 (misthos, incl. the cognates misthon, misthou) denotes the wage, recompense, or reward that is due for work rendered, whether righteous or unrighteous, temporal or eternal. The term never signifies a vague sentiment; it speaks of an actual payment—material, relational, or eschatological—that corresponds precisely to deeds done.
Rewards in the Teaching of Jesus
Jesus employs the term chiefly in the Sermon on the Mount to expose hidden motives (Matthew 5:12, 5:46; 6:1-18). Three repeated warnings—“they have received their reward” (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16)—contrast fleeting human applause with the Father’s lasting recompense. When the Lord later promises, “Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones… will never lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42), He affirms that no kingdom-minded action is too small for divine remuneration. Likewise, the vineyard parable (Matthew 20:8) stresses the Master’s right to dispense wages as He wills, underscoring grace rather than strict human calculation.
Apostolic Instruction on Ministerial Wages
Paul applies misthos to gospel labor. Agricultural and construction metaphors in 1 Corinthians 3:8-14 teach that each worker “will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” Faithful service on the foundation of Christ survives the testing fire and secures reward; shoddy work forfeits it, though the worker himself is saved. In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul distinguishes between a rightful material wage for preaching and a higher, voluntary reward gained by surrendering that right (9:17-18). Luke echoes the same principle for itinerant workers: “the worker is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7), a maxim Paul cites verbatim when directing churches to honor elders who labor in preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:18).
Warnings against Unrighteous Gain
New Testament writers press the prophetic theme that ill-gotten wages become a curse. Peter foretells that false teachers will “suffer harm as the wages of their wickedness” (2 Peter 2:13) and recalls Balaam who “loved the wages of wickedness” (2 Peter 2:15). Jude repeats the indictment (Jude 11). James denounces unjust landowners: “The wages you failed to pay the workmen… are crying out against you” (James 5:4). Acts 1:18 records Judas purchasing a field with “the reward of his wickedness,” bitter evidence that silver gained by treachery pays only death.
Eschatological Recompense
Misthos culminates in the consummation of God’s kingdom. Revelation twice employs the term: at the sounding of the seventh trumpet “the time has come… to reward Your servants” (Revelation 11:18), and the risen Christ announces, “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to repay each one according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). These declarations secure the believer’s hope and sober the unrepentant: final judgment is neither arbitrary nor generalized but an exact settlement of accounts.
Intertextual Roots
While misthos is Greek, the concept draws heavily on the Hebrew idea of sakar (“wage, reward”). Proverbs 13:21, Isaiah 40:10, and Jeremiah 31:16 promise that the LORD comes with reward in hand, themes John explicitly imports into Revelation 22:12. The righteous-reward motif also parallels Genesis 15:1 where God Himself is Abram’s “very great reward,” hinting that the ultimate recompense is not a thing but a Person.
Historical and Cultural Background
In the Greco-Roman world a misthos was a standard contractual term: soldiers, day laborers, and household servants expected fixed remuneration. Jesus and the apostles harness this marketplace language to communicate kingdom realities in familiar economic imagery. The assurance of divine wages dignifies humble service, while the threat of withholdings or punitive pay cuts through self-righteous façades.
Pastoral and Discipleship Implications
1. Motive Integrity: Public acts of piety aimed at human recognition terminate in earthly reward; secrecy before the Father secures eternal reward.
2. Faithful Stewardship: Every believer is a builder on Christ’s foundation; quality, not quantity, determines reward.
3. Gospel Generosity: Ministers may relinquish material wages to gain a higher, spiritual reward, yet churches remain obligated to supply just remuneration.
4. Ethical Labor Practices: Withholding fair wages invites divine judgment; employers must treat workers as image-bearers.
5. Perseverance under Persecution: “Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12) strengthens those oppressed for righteousness’ sake.
6. Hope of Christ’s Return: The certainty that “My reward is with Me” fuels holy living and urgent mission.
Doctrinal Synthesis
Scripture presents two complementary truths: salvation is a free gift apart from works (Romans 4:4-5), yet deeds done in grace are repaid with proportionate reward. This distinguishes entrance into the kingdom (entirely by grace) from estate within the kingdom (subject to evaluation). Far from undermining grace, the doctrine of rewards magnifies it, for God stoops to value and recompense service He Himself enables.
Key References
Matthew 6:2; Matthew 10:41-42; Luke 6:35; John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 9:18; James 5:4; 2 Peter 2:15; Revelation 22:12.
Forms and Transliterations
μισθον μισθόν μισθὸν μισθος μισθός μισθὸς μισθου μισθού μισθοῦ μισθούς misthon misthòn misthos misthós misthòs misthou misthoû
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
