2 Corinthians 9:6

2 Corinthians 9:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
• New International Version (NIV)Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Context of 2 Corinthians 9:6

4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. 5Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:6 word by word

τοῦτο δέ, ὁ σπείρων φειδομένως φειδομένως καὶ θερίσει, καὶ ὁ σπείρων ἐπ᾽ εὐλογίαις ἐπ᾽ εὐλογίαις καὶ θερίσει.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• Heὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• which sowethσπείρωspeirō · to sowG4687
• sparinglyφειδομένωςpheidomenōs · sparinglyG5340
• shall reapθερίζωtheridō · to reapG2325
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• ·ἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• bountifullyεὐλογίαeulogia · praiseG2129

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 9:6

• 1 Corinthians 1:12What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:29This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,
• 1 Corinthians 15:20But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
• Galatians 3:17My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise.
• Galatians 5:16I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
• Ephesians 4:17Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.
• Colossians 2:4I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable.
• 2 Corinthians 9:10Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
• Psalms 41:1Happy is one who is considerate of the poor; the Lord will save him in a day of adversity.
• Proverbs 11:18The wicked person earns an empty wage, but the one who sows righteousness, a true reward.
• Proverbs 19:17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender.
• Proverbs 22:9A generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
• Ecclesiastes 11:1Send your bread on the surface of the water, for after many days you may find it.
• Luke 6:38Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over — will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
• Luke 19:16The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten more minas.’
• Galatians 6:7Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap,

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 9:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6He which soweth sparingly - This is a plain maxim: no man can expect to reap but in proportion as he has sowed. And here almsgiving is represented as a seed sown, which shall bring forth a crop. If the sowing be liberal, and the seed good, the crop shall be so too. Sowing is used among the Jews to express almsgiving: so they understand Isaiah 32:20; : Blessed are ye who sow beside all waters; i.e. who are ready to help every one that is in need. And Hosea…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6But this I say - This I say in order to induce you to give liberally. This I say to prevent your supposing that because it is to be a voluntary offering you may give only from your superfluity, and may give sparingly. He which soweth sparingly - This expression has all the appearance of a proverb, and doubtless is such. It does not occur indeed elsewhere in the Scriptures, though substantially the same sentiment exciting to liberality often occurs; see…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. 6Paul uses farming to show how generosity pays off. A farmer who wants a big harvest must plant many seeds.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. I say--Ellicott and others supply the ellipsis thus: "But remember this." bountifully--literally, "with," or "in blessings." The word itself implies a beneficent spirit in the giver (compare 2Co 9:7, end), and the plural implies the abundance and liberality of the gifts. "The reaping shall correspond to the proportions and spirit of the sowing" [Bengel]. Compare Eze 34:26, "Showers of blessing."Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 9:6

• Agriculture
• Alms
• Beneficence
• Botany
• Giving
• Liberality
• Poor
• Seed

In the dictionaries

• Administration
• Boast
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Thanks
• Bountifulness; Bounty
• Church
• Church Government
• Collection
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Grace

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