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

5So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift, that the same would be ready as a generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness. 6Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously. Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9as it is written: “He scattered abroad, 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

• Eachἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
• he has decidedπροαιρέωproaireomai · to predetermineG4255
• in his heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• reluctantlyἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• reluctantlyλύπηlupē · griefG3077
• orἤē · orG2228
• compulsionἀνάγκηanagkē · necessityG318
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• lovesἀγαπάωagapaō · 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, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;
• Proverbs 23:6Do not eat the bread of a selfish person; Or desire his delicacies;
• Isaiah 32:5No longer will the fool be called noble, Or the rogue be spoken of as generous.
• James 5:9Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
• 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
• 2 Corinthians 8:12For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
• Exodus 25:2“Tell the sons of Israel to take a contribution for Me; from everyone whose heart moves him you shall take My contribution.
• Exodus 35:5‘Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart is to bring it as the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze,
• 1 Chronicles 29:17Since I know, my God, that You put the heart to the test and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.
• Proverbs 11:25A generous person will be prosperous, And one who gives others plenty of water will himself be given plenty.
• Proverbs 22:9One who is generous will be blessed, Because he gives some of his food to the poor.
• Acts 20:35In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• Romans 12:8or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows 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