# Is “The last shall be first” in the Bible?

> Yes. “The last shall be first” is in the Bible, at Matthew 20:16.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-last-shall-be-first
By Andrew Kittridge · November 9, 2026

Jesus says it at the end of his story about vineyard workers who are all paid the same.

## The verse

> So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
>
> — [Matthew 20:16](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/20#16) (Lumin Translation)

These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently.

## What it means there

God’s kingdom does not rank people the way the world does. Those who expect to be at the front may find themselves behind people they overlooked.

## Also in the Bible

> But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
>
> — [Matthew 19:30](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/19#30) (Lumin Translation)

> Many who are first, though, will be last, and those who are last will be first.”
>
> — [Mark 10:31](https://www.lumin.faith/read/mark/10#31) (Lumin Translation)

> And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”
>
> — [Luke 13:30](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/13#30) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “The last shall be first” in the Bible?

Yes. “The last shall be first” is in the Bible, at Matthew 20:16. These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently. Jesus says it at the end of his story about vineyard workers who are all paid the same.

### Where in the Bible is “The last shall be first”?

In Matthew 20:16, and also Matthew 19:30, Mark 10:31 and Luke 13:30. In the Lumin Translation, Matthew 20:16 reads: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.””

### Who said “The last shall be first”?

Jesus says it at the end of his story about vineyard workers who are all paid the same.

### What does “The last shall be first” mean in the Bible?

God’s kingdom does not rank people the way the world does. Those who expect to be at the front may find themselves behind people they overlooked.

## More

- [Is “Love covers a multitude of sins” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/love-covers-a-multitude-of-sins.md)
- [Is “The meek shall inherit the earth” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-meek-shall-inherit-the-earth.md)
- [Is “Physician, heal thyself” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/physician-heal-thyself.md)
- [Is “Seek and you shall find” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/seek-and-you-shall-find.md)
- [Is “There is nothing new under the sun” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/there-is-nothing-new-under-the-sun.md)
- [Is “Turn the other cheek” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/turn-the-other-cheek.md)
- [Is “The writing on the wall” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-writing-on-the-wall.md)
- [Where is “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/they-that-wait-upon-the-lord-shall-renew-their-strength.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)