Paragraph 20:8–16

20:8a

When evening came: Jesus continued his parable in 20:8. The time in the parable was at least one hour later in the day than 20:7. You should connect 20:1–7 and 20:8 in a way that is natural in your language.

Here are some other ways to do this:

When evening came (New International Version)
-or-
Then when evening came
-or-
That evening (Contemporary English Version)

evening came: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as evening refers to the end of the day. It could be just before the sun went down, or just after.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

at the end of the day (New Century Version)

the owner of the vineyard: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as owner is the same word that is often translated as “lord.” In this context, it refers to the same person as the word translated “landowner” in 20:1a.

In addition, this word can also provide a link in this story between the actions of the master of the house and the way that the Lord God acts. If possible, translate it as you would the term “lord.” For example:

the lord of the vineyard (King James Version)
-or-
the master of the vineyard

his foreman: A foreman was a man who worked for the owner of the vineyard. He directed the other workers while they worked. The master of the house gave this person the responsibility to make sure that the work was done.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

his manager (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the supervisor (God’s Word)
-or-
the boss of all the workers (New Century Version)
-or-
the big/chief worker

20:8b

Call the workers: This is a command from the owner to the foreman to call the workers to come. The owner had probably gone to the vineyard at the end of the day to give this command to the foreman.

Here are some other ways to translate this command:

Call/Tell the workers ⌊to come⌋
-or-
Summon the workers

pay them their wages: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pay has a general meaning of “give” or “give out.” The foreman was responsible to distribute money to the workers. The money came from the owner, not the foreman.

The owner probably instructed the foreman on what he was to pay each worker. He also told him the order that he was to pay them.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

give them their pay (Revised English Bible)
-or-
give them their money (Contemporary English Version)

20:8c

starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first: These words indicate the order in which the foreman was supposed to pay the workers. The master told the foremen to first pay those who worked only an hour. Then he was supposed to pay those who worked longer. At the end, he was supposed to pay those who worked all day.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

starting with those who were hired last and ending with those who were hired first (Good News Translation)
-or-
Start with the last, and end with the first. (God’s Word)

-or-

First pay the people who began working at 5:00. ⌊After that, pay the people who began to work at 3:00.⌋ Continue until you get to the people who worked from early morning.

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