Matthew 20:3 akjv — And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

American King James Version

"And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, "

— Matthew 20:3, American King James Version

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Matthew 20:3 in Other Translations

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Matthew 20 — Context

1

For the kingdom of heaven is like to a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.

2

And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

3

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,

4

And said to them; Go you also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

5

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6

And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and says to them, Why stand you here all the day idle?

Matthew 20:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 20:3 say?
Matthew 20:3 in the American King James Version reads: “And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ”
Where is Matthew 20:3 in the Bible?
Matthew 20:3 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 20, verse 3.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 20:3.
What translation should I read Matthew 20:3 in?
Matthew 20:3 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 20:3?
Matthew 20:3 reads (AKJV): “And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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