2 Corinthians 9:6

2 Corinthians 9:6

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

a. NLT: Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

b. NIV: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

c. YLT: And this: He who is sowing sparingly, sparingly also shall reap; and he who is sowing in blessings, in blessings also shall reap;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [[a]that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.

e. Worrell Translation: But I say this: He that sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; he that sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.

f. Wuest Translation: But [although I am not pressing you to give] this [is true]—he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he sows in a beneficent, generous spirit, with a view of the blessings of the recipient, shall also reap blessings given in a beneficent, generous manner.   

1. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly…”

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

b. this [Strong: 5124 touto too'-to neuter singular nominative or accusative case of 3778; that thing:--here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore).]

c. I say [No text]

d. 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.]

e. [which] soweth [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.] [Thayer: to sow, scatter, seed, metaph. of proverbial sayings.]

f. sparingly [5340  pheidomenos fi-dom-en'-oce adverb from participle of 5339; abstemiously, i.e. stingily:--sparingly.] [Thayer: sparingly.]

g. [shall] reap [Strong: 2325 therizo ther-id'-zo from 2330 (in the sense of the crop); to harvest:--reap.] [Thayer: to reap, harvest, proverbial expression for sowing and reaping, cut off, destroy, as crops are cut down with a sickle.]

h. sparingly [5340  pheidomenos fi-dom-en'-oce adverb from participle of 5339; abstemiously, i.e. stingily:--sparingly.] [Thayer: sparingly.]

2. “…and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

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. 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. [which] soweth [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.]  [Thayer: to sow, scatter, seed, metaph. of proverbial sayings.][Strong: to scatter, i.e. sow (literally or figuratively):--sow(- er), receive seed.]

d. bountifully [Strong 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).] [Thayer: upon, on, at, by, before, of position, on, at, by, over, against, to, over, on, at, across, against.]

e. [shall] reap [Strong: 2325 therizo ther-id'-zo from 2330 (in the sense of the crop); to harvest:--reap.] [Thayer: to reap, harvest, proverbial expression for sowing and reaping, cut off, destroy, as crops are cut down with a sickle.]

f. [Strong: 2129 eulogia yoo-log-ee'-ah from the same as 2127; fine speaking, i.e. elegance of language; commendation ("eulogy"), i.e. (reverentially) adoration; religiously, benediction; by implication, consecration; by extension, benefit or largess:--blessing (a matter of) bounty (X -tifully), fair speech.] [Thayer: praise, laudation, panegyric: of Christ or God, fine discourse, polished language, in a bad sense, language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer: fair speaking, fine speeches, an invocation of blessing, benediction.]

g. bountifully [Strong 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).] [Thayer: upon, on, at, by, before, of position, on, at, by, over, against, to, over, on, at, across, against.]

1). Some scholars believe that Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7 was loosely referring to the Septuagint translation of Proverbs 22:8, 9. Incidentally, the Septuagint translation is the only place where we find wording that resembles Paul’s phrase in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “God loveth a cheerful giver.”

a). Proverbs 22:8, 9 [Septuagint] He that sows wickedness shall reap troubles; and shall fully receive the punishment of his deeds. God loves a cheerful and liberal man; but a man shall fully prove the folly of his works.

22:9 He that has pity on the poor shall himself be maintained; for he has given of his own bread to the poor. He that gives liberally secures victory and honour; but he takes away the life of them that possess them.  

2). Paul addressed sowing and reaping only three times in his letters to the churches, but within those three times, everything in the principle of sowing and reaping, seedtime and harvest is covered in references, such as in Galatians.

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). One must not forget that the sower, the giver must have a mindset of a harvest as he sows, gives.

a). 1 Corinthians 9:7-10 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

4). This truth is not limited to giving financially, every thought word and deed we engage in is also included in sowing and reaping.