2 Corinthians 9:7

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.

a. NLT: You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.

b. 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.

c. YLT: Each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for 

a cheerful giver doth God love,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].

e. Worrell Translation: Let each one do as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

f. Wuest Translation: Let each one give according as he has purposed in his heart, not out of an annoyed and troubled heart, nor because of necessity, for God loves a cheerful, ready giver.

1. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart…”

a. Every [man] [Strong: 1538 hekastos hek'-as-tos as if a superlative of hekas (afar); each or every:--any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly.]

b. according as [Strong: 2531 kathos kath-oce' from 2596 and 5613; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.]

c. [he] purposed [Strong: 4255 proaireomai pro-ahee-reh'-om-ahee from 4253 and 138; to choose for oneself before another thing (prefer), i.e. (by implication) to propose (intend):--purpose.]  [Thayer: to bring forward, bring forth from one's stores, to bring forth for one's self, to choose for one's self before another, to prefer, to purpose.]

d. his [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. heart [Strong: 2588 kardia kar-dee'-ah prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).

2. “…so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity…”

a. so let him give [The phrase “so let him give” are not in the text, but were added by the translators.]

b. not [Strong 3361 me may a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

c. grudgingly: This word is made up of two Greek words.

1). grudgingly [Strong: 1537 ek ek or ex ex a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.]

2). grudgingly [Strong: 3077 lupe loo'-pay apparently a primary word; sadness:--grief, grievous, + grudgingly, heaviness, sorrow.]

d. or [Strong: 2228 e ay a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles.]

e. grudgingly [This word is made up of two Greek words.]

1). [1537 * ek][Thayer: out of, from, by, away from.]

2). [3077 * lupe][Strong: sadness:--grief, grievous, + grudgingly, heaviness, sorrow.]

f. necessity [318 * anagke][Thayer: necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by law of duty regarding to one's advantage, custom, argument, calamity, distress, straits.]

3. “…for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

a. for [Strong: 1063 gar gar a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

c. loveth [Strong: 25 agapao ag-ap-ah'-o perhaps from agan (much) (or compare 5689); to love (in a social or moral sense):--(be-)love(-ed).]

d. a cheerful [Strong: 2431 hilaros hil-ar-os' from the same as 2436; propitious or merry ("hilarious"), i.e. prompt or willing:--cheerful.] [This is where we get the English word hilarious.]

e. giver [Strong: 1395 dotes dot'-ace from the base of 1325; a giver:--giver.]

1). The only verse that comes close to this phrase is Proverbs 22:8 but only in the Septuagint, and not in the Masoretic Text.

a). Proverbs 22:8 [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.