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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Context of 2 Corinthians 9:7

5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 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. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their 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 15:7If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.
• Proverbs 23:6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies;
• Isaiah 32:5No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
• James 5:9Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
• 1 Peter 4:9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
• 2 Corinthians 8:12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
• Exodus 25:2“Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.
• Exodus 35:5From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze;
• 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.
• Proverbs 11:25A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
• Proverbs 22:9The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
• Acts 20:35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
• Romans 12:8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

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