1 Timothy 5:18
Arabic Simplified (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)
فَالكِتَابُ يَقُولُ: «لَا تُكَمِّمْ ثَوْرًا وَهُوَ يَدْرُسُ القَمْحَ.» وَيَقُولُ أيْضًا: «أُجرَةُ العَامِلِ حَقٌ لَهُ.»
What Does This Mean?
This verse teaches that animals working should not be prevented from eating and that people who work deserve to get paid for their efforts. It quotes two parts of the Bible: Deuteronomy about oxen, and Luke about workers being rewarded.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're helping your mom or dad in the kitchen by stirring a big pot of soup. Just like how they let you taste the soup while you work, this verse says that anyone who helps out should get something good for their effort too!
Historical Background
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Timothy around AD 63-65. It was aimed at guiding Timothy on pastoral duties in Ephesus. The cultural context includes Jewish and Greco-Roman agricultural practices where oxen were used in threshing grain.
Living It Out Today
In modern terms, this could apply to a freelance worker who creates content for a website. They should be paid fairly for their work just as the ox is allowed to eat while treading out the corn.
Topics
justicefairnessanimal welfarerewards of workpastoral guidancebiblical principles
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this verse apply to employers?
Employers should ensure that their workers are fairly compensated, just as oxen working in fields were allowed to eat while they worked.
What is the origin of the phrase 'worthy of his reward'?
'Worthy of his reward' comes from Luke 10:7 where Jesus tells the seventy disciples that a worker deserves their pay, emphasizing fair treatment for those who serve.
Can you explain the first part about not muzzling an ox?
The reference to not muzzling an ox comes from Deuteronomy 25:4 and means that animals working should be allowed to eat while they work, reflecting a principle of fair treatment.
What does this verse teach about the value of labor?
It underscores that all forms of honest work have value and deserve just compensation. Workers should not be deprived of their rightful earnings or nourishment.