Lexical Summary seker: Wages, reward, hire, payment Original Word: שֶׂכֶר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance reward, sluices From sakar; wages -- reward, sluices. see HEBREW sakar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sakar Definition hire, wages NASB Translation hired (1), reward (1), wages (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שֶׂ֫כֶר noun [masculine] hire, wages; — absolute ׳עשֵֹׁי שׂ Isaiah 19:10 (= שָׂכִיר); construct Proverbs 11:18. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Conceptual Overview שֶׂכֶר denotes wages, reward, or profit earned through labor or services rendered. In Scripture it embodies the principle of compensation—whether material, moral, or spiritual—and thus becomes a theological pointer to divine justice and human accountability. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Proverbs 11:18 – “The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.” Here שֶׂכֶר contrasts ill-gotten gain with the sure recompense God accords to righteousness. Historical and Cultural Background In the ancient Near East, timely and fair wages were vital to social stability. Mosaic law protects laborers (Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15), reflecting God’s concern for justice. Proverbs and prophets employ שֶׂכֶר to evaluate societal health: righteous societies honor fair compensation; corrupt societies withhold or destroy it, inviting divine censure. Theological Significance • Divine Justice: Proverbs links true reward to moral integrity, rooting remuneration in the character of God who “does not show partiality” (2 Chronicles 19:7). Ministry and Ethical Implications • Fair Employment Practices: Churches and Christian employers should champion just pay, echoing James 5:4, which condemns withheld wages. Connections to the Broader Biblical Canon • Old Testament Parallels: שָׂכָר (sakar, “reward”) in Psalms and Proverbs amplifies the motif; together they form a tapestry of divine remuneration. Pastoral and Devotional Applications • Examine Motives: Proverbs 11:18 invites believers to measure pursuits by eternal value rather than immediate profit. Summary שֶׂכֶר serves as a concise biblical witness to God’s righteous order in economic, moral, and eschatological realms. It summons individuals and communities to align work, commerce, and character with the Lord who alone guarantees a lasting reward. Forms and Transliterations שֶׂ֖כֶר שֶׂ֣כֶר שכר śe·ḵer Secher śeḵerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 11:18 HEB: וְזֹרֵ֥עַ צְ֝דָקָ֗ה שֶׂ֣כֶר אֱמֶֽת׃ NAS: deceptive wages, But he who sows KJV: [shall be] a sure reward. INT: sows righteousness wages a true Isaiah 19:10 2 Occurrences |
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