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 Living Translation (NLT)Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

Context of 2 Corinthians 9:6

4lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for 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 1:12Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:29But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,
• 1 Corinthians 15:20But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
• Galatians 3:17And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
• Galatians 5:16I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
• Ephesians 4:17This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
• Colossians 2:4Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
• 2 Corinthians 9:10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
• Psalms 41:1Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
• Proverbs 11:18The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
• Proverbs 19:17He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
• Proverbs 22:9He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.
• Ecclesiastes 11:1Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.
• Luke 6:38Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
• Luke 19:16Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’
• Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that 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