Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
HIRE'LING, one who is employed on hire for a limited time, as a day or year, Job 14:6. By the Levitical law such a one was to be paid his wages daily. Lev 19:13. "The years of a hireling" were years exactly reckoned, since the hireling would know the day of his release, and the master would not let him go a day too soon. Isa 16:14; Josh 21:16. The little interest which would be felt by such a temporary laborer, compared with that of the shepherd orpermanent keeper of the flock, furnishes a striking illustration in one of our Lord's discourses, John 10:12-13. V. instead of its.
In one sentence this fact has misled many. Thus: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness," Matt 6:33. The "his" refers to God, not to kingdom.
✦ Scripture References 6 references