2 Corinthians 9:10

2 Corinthians 9:10

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

a. NLT: For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

b. NIV: Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

c. YLT: and may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].

e. Worrell Translation: And He that supplieth seed to the sower, and bread for food, will supply and multiplyyour seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

f. Wuest Translation: Now, He, who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, shall also supply and multiply your seed [your means of giving] and increase the fruits of your righteousness.

1. “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food…”

a. Now [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. he [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. that ministereth [2023 * epichoregeo; epi-upon; choregeo-to furnish, to give][Strong:  to furnish besides, i.e. fully supply, (figuratively) aid or contribute:--add, minister (nourishment, unto).]

1). Adam Clark’s Commentary: The sower, as we have already seen, is he that gives alms of what he hath; and God, who requires him to give these alms, is here represented as providing him with the means.

d. seed [Strong: 4690 sperma sper'-mah from 4687; something sown, i.e. seed (including the male "sperm"); by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant (figuratively, as if kept over for planting):--issue, seed.]

e. to the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

f. sower [Strong: 4687 speiro spi'-ro probably strengthened from 4685 (through the idea of extending); to scatter, i.e. sow (literally or figuratively):--sow(- er), receive seed.]

g. both [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

h. minister [Strong: 5524 choregeo khor-ayg-eh'-o from a compound of 5525 and 71; to be a dance-leader, i.e. (generally) to furnish:--give, minister.] [Zodhiates: the leader of an ancient chorus who supplied the chorus at his own expense. In the NT in general it means to supply or furnish generously, lavishly.]

i. bread [Strong: 740 artos ar'-tos from 142; bread (as raised) or a loaf:--(shew-)bread, loaf.]

j. for [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

k. [your] food [Strong: brosis bro'-sis from the base of 977; (abstractly) eating (literally or figuratively); by extension (concretely) food (literally or figuratively):--eating, food, meat.]

1). This is a quote from the end of Isaiah 55:10. In order to get the full thought of this verse, the whole initial passage must be included. It is a continuation of “As it is written”, meaning that what was written in 2 Corinthians 9:8 is a fulfillment of what is written in Psalm 112:9 but also what is written at the end of in Isaiah 55:10, “that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:”

a). Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

2). God’s thoughts, ways and words provide for His promises to be fulfilled, including our physical needs. In the overarching care and faithfulness of God, a component of God’s word accomplishing what He pleases and His word prospering where He sends it, is giving us seed to sow and bread to eat. In light Paul’s use of words quoting it, it is seen that God supplies the seed and bread lavishly, He pours it on. Hallelujah.

2. “…and multiply your seed sown…”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. multiply [Strong: 4129 plethuno play-thoo'-no from another form of 4128; to increase (transitively or intransitively):--abound, multiply.] [Zodhiates: to make full, hence to multiply, increase.]

c. your [Strong: 5216 humon hoo-mone' genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

d. seed sown [Strong: 4703 sporos spro'-os from 4687; a scattering (of seed), i.e. (concretely) seed (as sown):--seed (X sown).]

1). Albert Barnes NT Commentary: Greatly increase your means of doing good; make the results of all your benefactions so to abound that you may have the means of doing good again, and on a larger scale, as the seed sown in the earth is so increased that the farmer may have the means of sowing more abundantly again.

2). The seed that the Lord as supplied to us He is going to multiply.

3. “…and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)”

a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. increase [Strong: 837  auzano owx-an'-o a prolonged form of a primary verb; to grow ("wax"), i.e. enlarge (literal or figurative, active or passive):--grow (up), (give the) increase.] [Thayer: to cause to grow, augment, to increase, become greater, to grow, increase, of plants, of infants, of a multitude of people, of inward Christian growth.]

c. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. fruits [Strong: 1081 gennema ghen'-nay-mah from 1080; offspring; by analogy, produce (literally or figuratively):--fruit, generation.]

e. of your [Strong: 5216 humon hoo-mone' genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

f. righteousness [Strong: 1343 dikaiosune dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:--righteousness.

1). Albert Barnes NT Commentary: This evidently means, the results and effects of their benevolence. The word "righteousness" here refers to their liberality; and the wish of the apostle is, that the results of their beneficence might greatly abound, that they might have the means of doing extensive good, and that they might be the means of diffusing happiness from afar.

2). A perfect example of the above would be Paul’s reference in Galatians regarding sowing and reaping.

a). Galatians 6:7-10 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

3). Fruit metaphorically means the result of something, the result of an action. Notice what John exhorted those who came to hear him preach, and Paul’s exhortation on the believers in Philippi.

a). Matthew 3:7-10 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

b). Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

4). Both of the above instances refer to results from previous actions in the same thought of sowing and reaping. This line of thought is all through the Scriptures, in the Old and New Testaments, in a good and bad sense.

a). Hosea 10:12, 13 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.