2 Corinthians 9 10

2 Corinthians 9:10 kjv

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;)

2 Corinthians 9:10 nkjv

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

2 Corinthians 9:10 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.

2 Corinthians 9:10 esv

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

2 Corinthians 9:10 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.

2 Corinthians 9 verses

2 Corinthians 9 10 Meaning

2 Corinthians 9:10 reveals God as the faithful and ultimate provider, not only sustaining basic human needs ("bread for food") but also supplying the "seed" necessary for believers to be generous. He promises to continuously empower and increase the resources of the cheerful giver, leading to an abundant "harvest of righteousness"—meaning fruitful good works, spiritual growth, and the ultimate glorification of God through their benevolent actions. This verse grounds the act of Christian giving in God's nature as the unfailing source and multiplier of all resources.

2 Corinthians 9 10 Context

This verse is situated within Paul's extended instruction and exhortation concerning the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem, spanning 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. Paul is encouraging the Corinthians, who had previously shown zeal but then lagged, to fulfill their promise of generous giving. In chapter 9, he elaborates on the principles of Christian giving, emphasizing that it should be from the heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion (v. 7). He assures them of God's abundant grace to enable all sufficiency in everything, so that they may abound in every good work (v. 8). Verse 10 builds on these promises, moving from the general concept of sufficiency to the specific divine mechanism behind generous giving. It links God's foundational provision in creation (seed and bread) to His specific spiritual provision for giving and the resultant "harvest of righteousness." Historically, the early church, facing poverty and persecution in Jerusalem, depended on support from wealthier Gentile congregations. Paul strategically presented this opportunity for the Corinthians to express their unity, love, and gratitude.

2 Corinthians 9 10 Word analysis

• Now He who supplies (Ὁ χορηγῶν δέ - Ho chorēgōn de): The participle "χορηγῶν" (chorēgōn) indicates an ongoing, continuous act of providing. This word, from which we get "choreograph" or "chorus," implies a generous patron who abundantly funds a production or group, covering all costs. It highlights God's active, liberal, and unfailing nature as the Provider.
• seed (σπόρον - sporon): Refers literally to agricultural seed for planting, but contextually and metaphorically represents resources, means, or opportunities for ministry and good works given by God.
• to the sower (τῷ σπείροντι - tō speironti): Designates the person who is actively engaged in "sowing," i.e., giving generously. It emphasizes the active participant in God's plan of provision and generosity.
• and bread (καὶ ἄρτον - kai arton): Signifies basic sustenance, the necessities for physical life. God provides fundamental needs.
• for food (εἰς βρῶσιν - eis brōsin): Emphasizes the purpose of the bread—for nourishment, survival. God meets daily, vital needs.
• will supply and multiply (χορηγήσει καὶ πληθύνει - chorēgēsei kai plēthunei): These future tense verbs promise God's future, generous, and abundant provision. "χορηγήσει" reaffirms His active patronage, while "πληθύνει" signifies making it more, increasing it, making it abound.
• your seed for sowing (τὸν σπόρον ὑμῶν εἰς σποράν - ton sporon hymōn eis sporan): This is a crucial distinction. God provides seed for the sower (general principle), and specifically multiplies your (Corinthians') seed for sowing (resources meant for future giving). It highlights that God doesn't just meet personal needs but also gives resources for the express purpose of giving more.
• and increase (καὶ αὐξήσει - kai auxēsei): Further emphasizes growth and enlargement. God makes something grow in quality and quantity.
• the harvest (τὰ γεννήματα - ta gennēmata): Refers to the fruit, produce, or yield from what has been sown. It signifies the beneficial outcome and results.
• of your righteousness (τῆς δικαιοσύνης ὑμῶν - tēs dikaiosynēs hymōn): "Righteousness" here refers to good works, acts of justice, and especially righteous conduct manifested in generous giving. The "harvest" is not just personal spiritual growth, but the fruit produced by righteous actions, glorifying God and benefiting others.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food": This foundational phrase establishes God's universal and fundamental role as the Provider for all creation, addressing both productive endeavors (seed for sowing) and basic sustenance (bread for food). It sets the stage for God's more specific, spiritual provision.
• "will supply and multiply your seed for sowing": This is a promise of divine empowerment for generous giving. God actively ensures that those who give will not run out of "seed" (resources for generosity) but will actually see it increase, allowing them to give even more. It counters any fear of scarcity due to giving.
• "and increase the harvest of your righteousness": This climactic promise describes the ultimate spiritual return. The generosity ("sowing seed") cultivated by God leads to a manifold "harvest"—which is described as "righteousness." This implies that the outcome of their giving is an abundance of good works, increased spiritual fruit in their lives, the praise of God, and the furtherance of His kingdom. It links tangible giving to intangible spiritual outcomes and God's glory.

2 Corinthians 9 10 Bonus section

The phrase "increase the harvest of your righteousness" points to more than just financial blessings in return. It emphasizes spiritual enrichment and the amplification of their impact for good. The "harvest" is primarily qualitative, denoting a flourishing of good works that reflect God's character through the believers. This underscores that Christian giving is not merely about moving funds from one person to another but is a spiritual act that results in increased evidence of Christ's character within the giver and among those who benefit. It connects closely with God being glorified through the generosity of believers, as mentioned in 2 Cor 9:13, where the recipients will "glorify God for your obedience... and for your generosity." Thus, the ultimate 'harvest of righteousness' is God's glory through the tangible fruit of their obedient love.

2 Corinthians 9 10 Commentary

2 Corinthians 9:10 is a powerful declaration of God's provident nature, specifically within the context of Christian generosity. It undergirds cheerful giving by anchoring it in divine faithfulness. Paul begins by recalling God's fundamental provision for humanity—He gives seed for planting, allowing agriculture and future sustenance, and He provides daily bread for food, ensuring survival. This establishes God as the sovereign orchestrator of life's provisions.

From this natural truth, Paul elevates to a spiritual promise: this same God "will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness." This isn't just a promise that givers will get back what they give (though that's a part of it, as Lk 6:38 suggests). More profoundly, it assures believers that God will not only replenish their resources for giving ("seed for sowing") but will multiply them. This ensures a perpetual and increasing capacity for generosity, dissolving any fear that giving will deplete them. The purpose of this multiplication is "to increase the harvest of your righteousness." This "harvest" signifies the spiritual fruit that flows from benevolent acts—the relief of suffering, the glory given to God by the recipients, the spread of the gospel, and the moral and spiritual good that springs forth from such self-sacrificial love. "Righteousness" here embodies active justice, kindness, and devotion expressed through generosity. God is the source, the multiplier, and the one who ensures the ultimate, beautiful outcome of generous living.