Tree of Life Version
2 Corinthians 9:7
7Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion—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 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 thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on to you and arrange ahead of time your generous gift that had been promised beforehand, so that it would be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. 6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion—for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that by always having enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work. 9As it is written, “He scattered widely, He gave 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 a poor man among you—any of your brothers within any of your gates in your land that Adonai your God is giving you—you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.
- Proverbs 23:6Do not eat the food of a stingy person, or desire his delicacies.
- Isaiah 32:5No longer will a fool be called noble, or a scoundrel said to be a gentleman.
- James 5:9Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge is standing at the doors.
- 1 Peter 4:9Be hospitable one to another without grumbling.
- 2 Corinthians 8:12For if the eagerness is present, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he doesn’t have.
- Exodus 25:2“Tell Bnei-Yisrael to take up an offering for Me. From anyone whose heart compels him you are to take My offering.
- Exodus 35:5Take from among you an offering for Adonai. Whoever has a willing heart, let him bring Adonai’s offering: gold, silver and bronze;
- 1 Chronicles 29:17I know, my God, that You search the heart and take pleasure in uprightness. With integrity of heart I have willingly offered all these things. And now I have seen with joy Your people who are present here willingly contribute to You.
- Proverbs 11:25A soul who blesses will prosper, and one who gives water will himself be satisfied.
- Proverbs 22:9One with a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
- Acts 20:35In all things I have shown you an object lesson—that by hard work one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Yeshua, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- Romans 12:8or the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who gives, in generosity; the one who leads, 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
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
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