Wages:
The earliest mention of wages is of a recompense, not in money, but in kind, to Jacob from Laban (Genesis 29:15; 29:20; 30:28; 31:7-8; 31:41). In Egypt money payments by way of wages were in use, but the terms cannot now be ascertained (Exodus 2:9). The only mention of the rate of wages in Scripture is found in the parable of the householder and the vineyard (Matthew 20:2) where the laborer's wages was set at one denarius per day, probably 15 to 17 cents, a sum which may be fairly taken as equivalent to the denarius, and to the usual pay of a soldier (ten asses per diem) in the later days of the Roman republic. Tac. Ann. i. 17; Polyb. vi. 39. In earlier times it is probable that the rate was lower; but it is likely that laborers, and also soldiers, were supplied with provisions. The law was very strict in requiring daily payment of wages (Leviticus 19:13; 24:14-15). The employer who refused to give his‐laborers sufficient victuals is censured (Job 22:11) and the iniquity of withholding wages is denounced (Jeremiah 22:13; Malachi 3:5; James 5:4).
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
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