Meaning, commentary and cross references
Proverbs 3:9
“Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
NIV · New International Version
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
WEB · World English Bible
Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
What does Proverbs 3:9 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Proverbs 3:9
Honour the Lord with thy substance,.... Or, "out of thy substance" (n); for as it should be a man's own that he gives, and not another's, and therefore called "thy substance"; or, as the Septuagint version, "out of thy just labours", what is righteously and lawfully gotten, and not by fraud and oppression; so it is only a part of it, and not all, that is required; what in proportion to his substance can be prudently spared, and is sufficient and suitable to the call in Providence. A man's "substance" are his wealth and riches; his "mammon", as the Targum; which, in comparison of heavenly things, indeed have no substance in them: yet these are worldly substance, and of account; and as with…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Proverbs 3:7–12
(3.) With the first-fruits of all, as Abel, Gen 4:4. This was the law (Exo 23:19), and the prophets, Mal 3:10. God, who is the first and best, must have the first and best of every thing; his right is prior to all other, and therefore he must be served first.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Proverbs 3:6–12 (WEB)
6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. 9Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase; 10so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. 11My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction; 12for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
Cross references
- Deuteronomy 26:2–15
that you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you shall bring in from your land that the LORD your God gives you. You shall put it in a basket, and shall go to the place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there.
- 1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week, let each one of you save as he may prosper, that no collections are made when I come.
- Exodus 23:19
You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground into the house of the LORD your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
- Proverbs 14:31
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
- Philippians 4:17–18
Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
- Malachi 3:8–10
Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings.
- Exodus 22:29
“You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2–3
how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.