The custom of tithing—giving God a portion of one’s earnings—has its roots in Scripture. It shows a person’s dedication to giving God their best and admitting that He is in charge of everything in life. The Bible verses about tithing offers unambiguous instructions on the significance of tithing, highlighting its connection to stewardship and obedience. We learn how tithing promotes charity, strengthens the work of God’s kingdom, and builds faith in Him as we study the scriptures around it.
Tithing was an essential part of Israelite worship and communal life in the Old Testament. God gave them this instruction with the intention of helping people in need and supporting the Levites, who worked in the temple. These bible verses about tithing emphasize the tithing’s spiritual and historical significance, showing how it was entwined with God’s covenant relationship with His people. Comprehending these passages offers a framework for the development of tithing and its ongoing significance in our contemporary spiritual rituals.
Tithing was an essential part of Israelite worship and communal life in the Old Testament. God gave them this instruction with the intention of helping people in need and supporting the Levites, who worked in the temple. These texts emphasize the tithing’s spiritual and historical significance, showing how it was entwined with God’s covenant relationship with His people. Comprehending these passages offers a framework for the development of tithing and its ongoing significance in our contemporary spiritual rituals.
Tithing is a symbol of one’s faith and submission to God, not just a financial habit. We show our confidence in His provision and acknowledge that He is ultimately the owner of everything we own when we set aside a portion of our income for Him. The tithing scriptures in the Bible explain how this giving practice is consistent with God’s instructions and promises, and how it is an outward sign of our adoration and dependence on Him.
30 Powerful Bible Verses About Tithing
1. Genesis 14:19-20
“And he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
Abram (later named Abraham) gave a tithe to Melchizedek, a priest of God. This act of giving a tenth was a recognition of God’s provision and a way to honor Him.
2. Genesis 28:22
“And this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
Jacob vowed to give a tenth of all he received from God as a form of worship and gratitude, establishing the practice of tithing as a part of his faith commitment.
3. Leviticus 27:30
“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord. It is holy to the Lord.”
This verse establishes that a tenth of the produce of the land is dedicated to God, highlighting the principle of setting aside a portion of our resources for Him.
4. Leviticus 27:32
“The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord.”
This emphasizes that the tithe includes animals and reinforces that it is a consistent and specific portion of one’s possessions dedicated to God.
5. Numbers 18:21
“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.”
The tithes were given to the Levites as compensation for their service in the temple. This underscores the role of tithing in supporting those who serve in ministry.
6. Deuteronomy 12:6
“There bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.”
This verse highlights the practice of bringing tithes as part of the broader act of worship and devotion.
7. Deuteronomy 14:22
“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.”
It reinforces the commitment to regularly set aside a tenth of one’s produce, illustrating the ongoing nature of the tithe.
8. Deuteronomy 14:28-29
“At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own, and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns, may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”
This verse addresses the distribution of tithes every three years to support not only the Levites but also the needy, emphasizing the social responsibility that comes with tithing.
9. 2 Chronicles 31:5
“As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil, and honey, and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.”
The Israelites responded generously to a call for tithes, demonstrating the joy and willingness that should accompany giving to God.
10. 2 Chronicles 31:12
“They faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts.”
This verse highlights the faithfulness in bringing tithes and contributions, reflecting a committed and disciplined approach to worship.
11. Nehemiah 10:37
“Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the tithes of our ground and of all the crops of our soil.”
Nehemiah addresses the practice of bringing tithes to support the temple and its priests, showing continuity in the tradition of tithing.
12. Malachi 3:8
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ ‘In tithes and offerings.’”
Malachi condemns the withholding of tithes and offerings as robbing God, stressing the importance of giving what is due to God.
13. Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
God challenges His people to bring their full tithes, promising abundant blessings in return. This verse emphasizes the connection between faithful giving and divine blessings.
14. Matthew 23:23
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their legalistic approach to tithing while neglecting justice and mercy. He affirms the importance of tithing but stresses that it should not overshadow other critical aspects of faith.
15. Luke 11:42
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue, and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”
Similar to Matthew 23:23, this verse highlights the need to balance tithing with other virtues like justice and love for God.
16. Hebrews 7:2
“And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace.’”
This verse refers to Melchizedek and emphasizes the significance of Abraham’s act of giving a tithe as an acknowledgment of Melchizedek’s role and authority.
17. Hebrews 7:4
“Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!”
It highlights the importance of the tithe Abraham gave to Melchizedek, illustrating that even the greatest patriarchs honored the principle of tithing.
18. Hebrews 7:8
“In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.”
This verse contrasts the temporary nature of the Levitical priesthood, which collects tithes, with the eternal priesthood of Christ, to whom tithes are ultimately directed.
19. Proverbs 3:9-10
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
This verse encourages honoring God with the first part of one’s resources, promising blessings and prosperity in return.
20. Proverbs 11:24
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.”
This verse underscores the principle of generosity and its rewards, aligning with the concept of tithing as an expression of trust and faith in God.
21. 1 Corinthians 16:2
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
Paul instructs the Corinthians to set aside money regularly, reflecting the practice of systematic giving, akin to tithing.
22. 2 Corinthians 9:6
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
This verse relates to the principle of generosity in giving, which includes tithing, and the promise of corresponding blessings.
23. 2 Corinthians 9:7
“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.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of giving willingly and joyfully, which applies to the practice of tithing as well.
24. Philippians 4:15-16
“Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.”
Paul praises the Philippians for their generous support, showing the importance of giving to support ministry and mission work.
25. Exodus 22:29
“Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.”
This command highlights the importance of offering the first and best of what one has, a principle that aligns with tithing.
26. Exodus 34:26
“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
This verse reinforces the principle of bringing the best and first of one’s produce to God, which is integral to the practice of tithing.
27. Deuteronomy 26:12
“When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.”
It reiterates the practice of setting aside a tithe every third year for the benefit of the needy, emphasizing the social aspect of tithing.
28. Deuteronomy 26:13
“Then you shall say before the Lord your God: ‘I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.’”
This verse illustrates the acknowledgment of the proper handling of tithes and offerings, affirming obedience to God’s commands.
29. Ezra 6:9
“Whatever is needed, young bulls, rams, and male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem, must be given to them daily without fail,”
This verse describes the provision required for temple offerings, illustrating the ongoing commitment to supporting temple worship through tithes and offerings.
30. Nehemiah 13:10
“I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.”
Nehemiah addresses the neglect in giving the tithes to the Levites, showing the practical impact of failing to honor the tithing system.
Conclusion
As these texts demonstrate, tithing is an essential component of worship and obedience according to the Bible. It entails accepting God’s authority and providence by offering Him a tenth of one’s riches. The practice upholds the ministry’s operations, helps individuals in need, and supports religious leaders. The fundamental idea is always the same, regardless of the particulars: giving God our all, believing in His supply, and engaging in the larger mission of His kingdom.
