2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
man	ἕκαστος hekastos	G1538	each or every · adjective — nominative singular masculine
as	καθὼς kathōs	G2531	just (or inasmuch) as · conjunction
purposeth	προῄρηται proērētai	G4255	to choose for oneself before another thing (prefer) · verb — perfect middle indicative, 3rd person singular
heart	καρδίᾳ, kardia	G2588	the heart · noun — dative singular feminine
not	μὴ mē	G3361	(adverb) not · particle — negative
grudgingly	λύπης lupēs	G3077	sadness · noun — genitive singular feminine
or	ἢ ē	G2228	disjunctive · conjunction
of	ἐκ ek	G1537	literal or figurative · preposition
necessity	ἀνάγκης· anagkēs	G318	constraint (literally or figuratively) · noun — genitive singular feminine
for	γὰρ gar	G1063	properly · conjunction
God	θεός.¶ theos	G2316	figuratively · noun — nominative singular masculine, a title
loveth	ἀγαπᾷ agapa	G25	to love (in a social or moral sense) · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular
cheerful	ἱλαρὸν hilaron	G2431	propitious or merry ("hilarious") · adjective — accusative singular masculine
giver	δότην dotēn	G1395	a giver · noun — accusative singular masculine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said,…
1 Chronicles 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willin…
Exodus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my off…
Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt n…
Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 9:6–end

Here we have, I. Proper directions to be observed about the right and acceptable manner of bestowing charity; and it is of great concernment that we not only do what is required, but do it as is commanded. Now, as to the manner in which the apostle would have the Corinthians give, observe, 1. It should be bountifully; this was intimated, Co2 9:5, that a liberal contribution was expected, a matter of bounty, not what savoured of covetousness; and he offers to their consideration that men who expect a good return at harvest are not wont to pinch and spare in sowing their seed, for the return is usually proportionable to what they sow, Co2 9:6. 2. It should be deliberately Every man, according…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 9:7

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" (Pro 22:9; Pro 11:25; Isa 32:8).

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 9:7

Not grudgingly, or of necessity - The Jews had in the temple two chests for alms; the one was של תובה of what was necessary, i.e. what the law required, the other was של נרבה 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; God loves them. The benefit of almsgiving is lost to the giver when he does it with a grumbling heart. And, as he does not do the duty in the spirit of the duty, even the performance of the letter of the law is an abomination in the sight of…

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John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,.... Which is not to be understood of the quantity, or any set sum he has fixed upon in his mind to give; but of the quality or nature of giving; or of the manner in which he is to give: so let him give; of his own will and free choice, from his very heart; not as directed and forced by others, but according to his own counsel and determination: not grudgingly; or not of grief; with pain and uneasiness of mind, grieving at parting with what is given, reflecting on the persons that move him to it, or on the objects moved for. The Jews (g) reckon this the lowest degree of all in giving alms; "when a man gives to anyone" "with grief", to which…

The Church Fathers

People who give reluctantly or under compulsion present a blemished sacrifice which should not be accepted.
— Basil of Caesarea, THE LONG RULES 29

Paul is teaching them that if they give with a cheerful heart they will be storing up treasure for future use in heaven.
— Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES

One of the fathers said, 'If anyone asks you for something, and you give it to him, even if you are forced to give it, let your heart go with the gift, as it is written, "If a man forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two" (Matt. 5:41). This means that if you are asked for anything, give it with a willing heart.'
— Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Proverbs, Book of — A collection of moral and philosophical maxims of a wide range of subjects presented in a poetic form. This book sets forth the “philosophy of practical life. It is the sign to us that the Bible does…
Alms · 14:28,29;15:7-11; — 14:28,29;15:7-11;
Beneficence · 18:5,7-9; — 18:5,7-9;
Giving · RULES FOR — RULES FOR
Liberality · 3:10-12; — 3:10-12;
Love Of God, The · Manifested towards: The cheerful giver — Manifested towards: The cheerful giver
Poor · 7:10; — 7:10;
Poor, The · Give to: Not grudgingly — Give to: Not grudgingly

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

2 Corinthians 9:7

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 9:6–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 9:7

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 9:7

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

2 Corinthians 9:7

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 9:6–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Corinthians 9:7

Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 9:7

John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on 2 Corinthians 9:6-9

Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Corinthians 9:7