New King James Version
2 Corinthians 9:7
7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
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 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
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. 6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So 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. 9As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
Read all of 2 Corinthians 92 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 among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
- Proverbs 23:6Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies;
- Isaiah 32:5The foolish person will no longer be called generous, Nor the miser said to be bountiful;
- James 5:9Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
- 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
- 2 Corinthians 8:12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
- Exodus 25:2“Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.
- Exodus 35:5‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze;
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.
- Proverbs 11:25The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
- Proverbs 22:9He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.
- Acts 20:35I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
- Romans 12:8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries