2 Corinthians 9:7

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

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. 6The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each 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. 9As it is written: He distributed freely; he gave to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.

2 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Every manἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
• according asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• he purposethπροαιρέωproaireomai · to predetermineG4255
• in his heartὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• in his heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• notμήmē · notG3361
• ·ἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• grudginglyλύπηlupē · griefG3077
• orἤē · orG2228
• necessityἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• lovethἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• a cheerfulἱλαρόςhilaros · cheerfulG2431
• giverδότηςdotēs · giverG1395

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 9:7

• Deuteronomy 15:7“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.
• Proverbs 23:6Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread, and don’t desire his choice food,
• Isaiah 32:5A fool will no longer be called a noble, nor a scoundrel said to be important.
• James 5:9Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!
• 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
• 2 Corinthians 8:12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
• Exodus 25:2“Tell the Israelites to take an offering for me. You are to take my offering from everyone who is willing to give.
• Exodus 35:5Take up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze;
• 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you.
• Proverbs 11:25A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.
• Proverbs 22:9A generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
• Acts 20:35In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• Romans 12:8if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing 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

• Alms
• Beneficence
• Giving
• God Continued...
• Liberality
• Poor

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Administration
• Boast
• Philippians, Epistle to
• Thanks
• Alms; Almsgiving
• Cheer; Cheerfulness
• Church
• Church Government

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