WAGES (Heb. שָׂכָר֒, H8510, מַשְׂכֹּ֫רֶת, H5382, פֹּ֫עַל, H7189, פְּעֻלָּה, H7190; Gr. μισθός, ὀψωνία, variously tr. as “hire, recompense, reward, wages”). Compensation to a person hired for performing some work or service.

In the nomadic, pastoral society of the patriarchal period there was no wage-earning class. When men worked for others, it was generally for their own maintenance; and often they received some payment in kind for their services. Jacob’s service to Laban was on this basis (Gen 29:15; 30:32, 33; 31:8, 41). With the increasing complexity of a more settled community, once the Israelites were in Canaan, people were needed to engage in trades and crafts of all kinds. For these services payment, in whole or in part, was made by weighing out quantities of bronze or silver. Coinage in the standard sense was a later invention, being first used in Asia Minor by the Lydians just before 700 b.c. From here its use spread throughout the Gr. world, but it was prob. not in common use in the Near E until the Hel. period (beginning approx. 300 b.c.).

There were certainly many industrial and commercial enterprises for which wages were paid and which are not directly mentioned in the Biblical text. Some specific occupations for which people received wages are mentioned however: shepherds (Gen 29:15; 30:32, 33; John 10:12); laborers and farm hands (Matt 20:1, 2; Luke 10:7; 15:17; John 4:36; James 3:4); fishermen’s helpers (Mark 1:20); mercenary soldiers (Luke 3:14); nurses (Exod 2:9).

As is the case in the Near E even today, bargaining was a common practice. Where there were no set scales for payment, it was usual to negotiate terms in this way in each individual case. The story of Jacob and Laban illustrates this, from the first question: “What shall your wages be?” down to the last accusation: “Your father cheated me and changed my wages ten times.” The story details the kind of cheating and trickery that both parties practiced. (See Gen 30:28-33; 31:7-41.) The same tendency to bargain appears in the parable of the vineyard (Matt 20:1-16), but here the employer was a just and generous man. To protect workers against exploitation certain safeguards were instituted, e.g. wages were to be paid daily, before sundown, to those who had earned them (Lev 19:13; Deut 24:14, 15). In spite of such injunctions, however, the lot of the wage earner was hard, and the prophets found it necessary constantly to condemn the practices of employers who took advantage of those who worked for them (Jer 22:13; Mal 3:5).

The Biblical writers make fig. use of the Heb. and Gr. terms with reference to God’s dealings with men. Thus God’s benefits to His people are referred to as recompense (Isa 40:10; 62:11); and the retribution of God is spoken of as reward (Ps 109:20) or gain (2 Pet 2:15). Death is called the wages due for serving sin (Rom 6:23).

Bibliography On the general topic, see Kittel, TWNT, IV, 699-736; IDB; Oxford Classical Dictionary (s.v. Coinage).