American Standard Version
2 Corinthians 9:7
7Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
- New International Version (NIV)Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Context of 2 Corinthians 9:7
5I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion. 6But thisI say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work: 9as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 92 Corinthians 9:7 word by word
ἕκαστος καθὼς προῄρηται τῇ καρδίᾳ, μὴ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· ἱλαρὸν γὰρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ θεός.¶Read the interlinear
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 9:7
- Deuteronomy 15:7If there be with thee a poor man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother;
- Proverbs 23:6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties:
- Isaiah 32:5The fool shall be no more called noble, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
- James 5:9Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors.
- 1 Peter 4:9using hospitality one to another without murmuring:
- 2 Corinthians 8:12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.
- Exodus 25:2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for me an offering: of every man whose heart maketh him willing ye shall take my offering.
- Exodus 35:5Take ye from among you an offering unto Jehovah; whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Jehovah’s offering: gold, and silver, and brass,
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, that are present here, offer willingly unto thee.
- Proverbs 11:25The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
- Proverbs 22:9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
- Acts 20:35In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
- Romans 12:8or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 9:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Not grudgingly, or of necessity - The Jews had in the temple two chests for alms; the one was תובה של of what was necessary, i.e. what the law required, the other was נרבה של of the free-will offerings. To escape perdition some would grudgingly give what necessity obliged them; others would give cheerfully, for the love of God, and through pity to the poor. Of the first, nothing is said; they simply did what the law required. Of the second, much is said…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart - The main idea in this verse is, that the act of giving should be voluntary and cheerful. It should not seem to be extorted by the importunity of others 2 Corinthians 9:6; nor should it be given from urgent necessity, but it should be given as an offering of the heart. On this part of the verse we may remark: (1) That the heart is usually more concerned in the business of giving than the head. If…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-15Verses 6-15 Money bestowed in charity, may to the carnal mind seem thrown away, but when given from proper principles, it is seed sown, from which a valuable increase may be expected. It should be given carefully. Works of charity, like other good works, should be done with thought and design. Due thought, as to our circumstances, and those we are about to relieve, will direct our gifts for charitable uses. Help should be given freely, be it more or less…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7God loves a cheerful giver: The spirit of giving is what matters. Giving cheerfully is different from giving reluctantly (literally out of sorrow) or due to pressure.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. according as he purposeth in his heart--Let the full consent of the free will go with the gift [Alford]. Opposed to "of necessity," as "grudgingly" is opposed to "a cheerful giver" (Pr 22:9; 11:25; Is 32:8).Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 9:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries