שֶׂכֶר

שֶׂכֶר

wages

Definition

The Hebrew noun שֶׂכֶר (seker) primarily means 'wages' or 'reward' for work performed. In its two biblical occurrences, it carries the sense of a payment or return for labor. In Proverbs 11:18, it is used metaphorically for the 'reward' or sure gain that comes from righteous work, contrasting with the deceptive 'wages' of wickedness. In Isaiah 19:10, the meaning shifts to a more technical, literal sense, where it refers to the 'hirelings' or 'paid workers' (often translated as 'sluices' in the KJV, relating to paid laborers at the Nile's irrigation works) whose livelihoods are devastated, highlighting economic collapse.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, in wisdom and prophetic literature. In Proverbs 11:18, it is used in a moral and proverbial context to describe the guaranteed 'reward' of righteousness. In Isaiah 19:10, it appears in a prophetic oracle of judgment against Egypt, referring concretely to the 'paid workers' or those hired for wages, whose economic foundation is shattered. The usage thus spans from metaphorical spiritual compensation to literal economic payment.

Etymology

The noun שֶׂכֶר (seker) is derived from the root שָׂכַר (śāḵar, H7936), which means 'to hire' or 'to earn wages.' This root conveys the basic idea of a contractual payment for services. Cognate words in related Semitic languages also carry meanings of hiring and renting, confirming this core economic concept.

Semantic Range

Though used only twice, שֶׂכֶר contributes to the biblical theme of divine justice and the principle of sowing and reaping. In Proverbs 11:18, it underscores the doctrine that righteous living yields a sure, positive return from God, while wickedness is ultimately unprofitable. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting the tangible concept of earned wages to the spiritual reality of God's faithful reward for faithfulness, a concept fully realized in the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 5:12, Revelation 22:12). In the ancient Near East, the concept of wages was central to a non-slave, contractual labor economy. A 'seker' represented a binding agreement for payment, often for day-laborers. The use in Isaiah 19:10 reflects the economic vulnerability of such hired workers, whose well-being was directly tied to the stability of the state and its agricultural infrastructure, making their plight a powerful image of national disaster. שָׂכָר (śāḵār, H7939) — A nearly identical form also meaning 'hire' or 'wages,' used more frequently (e.g., Genesis 30:28). The distinction is minimal, often contextual. פְּעֻלָּה (pə‘ullâ, H6468) — 'Wages' or 'reward,' often emphasizing the work done or its fruit (e.g., Isaiah 40:10). מַשְׂכֹּרֶת (maśkōreṯ, H4909) — 'Wages' from the same root, specifically the payment itself (e.g., Genesis 29:15).

Word Details