Proverbs 3:9 kjv
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Proverbs 3:9 nkjv
Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
Proverbs 3:9 niv
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Proverbs 3:9 esv
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
Proverbs 3:9 nlt
Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
Proverbs 3 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 23:19 | “The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.” | Command to bring firstfruits. |
| Ex 34:26 | “The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God.” | Emphasizes the "best" of the firstfruits. |
| Lev 27:30 | “Every tithe of the land... is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord.” | Principle of tithe being holy to God. |
| Num 18:12 | “All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the firstfruits of what they give to the Lord, I give to you.” | Firstfruits designated for Levitical support. |
| Deut 8:17-18 | "You may say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth." | God as the source of all wealth. |
| Deut 14:22-23 | “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year... that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.” | Tithing for learning reverence and fearing God. |
| Neh 10:37b-38a | “And we would bring the first of our dough, and our contributions... to the priests.” | Commitment to bringing firstfruits. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me... 'Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house.'" | Robbing God by withholding tithes; promise of blessing. |
| Hag 1:4-11 | “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?... You looked for much, and behold, it came to little.” | Putting God's house (priorities) first for prosperity. |
| Ps 50:10-12 | "For every beast of the forest is Mine... if I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all its fullness are Mine." | God's ownership of all things. |
| 1 Chr 29:14 | "For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you." | Acknowledging God's ultimate ownership. |
| Prov 3:10 | "Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine." | Direct promise of blessing linked to 3:9. |
| Matt 6:21 | "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." | Heart's connection to material possessions. |
| Matt 6:33 | "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." | Prioritizing God and His kingdom. |
| Lk 6:38 | “Give, and it will be given to you… For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” | Principle of generous giving and return. |
| Acts 20:35 | "It is more blessed to give than to receive." | The blessing found in giving. |
| Rom 11:16 | "If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump; and if the root is holy, so are the branches." | Principle of firstfruits sanctifying the whole. |
| 2 Cor 9:6-8 | "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully... God loves a cheerful giver." | Bountiful sowing, cheerful giving, and God's provision. |
| Phil 4:18-19 | “I have received full payment, and more... my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” | God supplies the needs of those who give. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | “Instruct those who are rich... to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share, storing up treasure for themselves.” | Right use of wealth; being rich toward God. |
| Heb 13:16 | "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." | Sharing as a pleasing sacrifice to God. |
| Col 3:23-24 | "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." | Serving God in all labors, including how resources are handled. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace." | Stewardship of gifts, including resources. |
Proverbs 3 verses
Proverbs 3 9 Meaning
Proverbs 3:9 teaches the principle of honoring the Lord through the dedication of one's material resources. It emphasizes offering God not merely a portion, but specifically the "firstfruits" and the very best of all acquired wealth and income. This act is a tangible expression of trust in God as the ultimate provider and a declaration of His rightful ownership over all things. It underscores the importance of prioritizing God in one's finances as an act of worship and obedience.
Proverbs 3 9 Context
Proverbs 3:9 is situated within a fatherly instruction given to a son concerning how to live a life pleasing to God and experiencing His blessing. The preceding verses (Proverbs 3:5-8) counsel trust in the Lord with all one's heart, not leaning on one's own understanding, acknowledging Him in all ways, and turning from evil. This creates a broader context where financial honor is a natural outflow of a trusting, obedient heart. The verses immediately following (Proverbs 3:10) promise a direct result: "Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine," connecting this act of honoring with tangible divine provision. Historically, ancient Israel was primarily an agrarian society, and wealth was directly tied to the land's yield and livestock. The concept of "firstfruits" was foundational to the Mosaic Law (e.g., Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 23:10), serving as a perpetual reminder that the land and its productivity belonged to God, and His provision sustained the nation. Offering firstfruits distinguished the worship of YHWH from pagan fertility cults; while other nations might seek to appease deities for harvest, Israel offered first because God had already provided, thereby acknowledging His sovereignty rather than manipulating it. This verse reinforces the deep theological understanding that true wealth comes from God and is ultimately for His glory.
Proverbs 3 9 Word analysis
- Honor (Hebrew: כַּבֵּד, kabbed): The root word kavod means "heavy" or "weighty." To "honor" someone means to give them weight, significance, and importance. It implies highly valuing, recognizing authority, and demonstrating respect in a tangible way. It’s not just a feeling, but an action that shows reverence. This verb is also used for honoring parents (Ex 20:12), highlighting the deep respect and tangible expression required.
- the Lord (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His self-existent, eternal, and personal nature. It distinguishes the one true God from any pagan deities. The command is not to honor a generic god, but YHWH, the faithful God who provides and keeps His promises.
- with your wealth (Hebrew: הוֹן, hon): Refers to substance, riches, possessions, or general assets. This term encompasses all forms of material possessions, whether land, produce, livestock, or other valuable assets. It indicates that the instruction is not limited to a specific type of resource but applies to all that one possesses. It highlights that our material abundance is to be used as a means of honoring God.
- and with the firstfruits (Hebrew: רֵאשִׁית, reshit): Means the "first" or "beginning," implying what comes first in time, order, or quality. It represents the earliest and best part of a harvest, income, or increase. Giving the firstfruits signifies prioritization and a pre-emptive act of faith, recognizing God's ownership and provision before consuming or distributing the rest. It is a sacrifice of trust, showing that God comes before self-consumption.
- of all your produce (Hebrew: תְּבוּאָה, tevu'ah): Literally means "incoming" or "yield," referring to income, revenue, or agricultural produce. This specifies the source of the "wealth" in an agricultural context but extends to any form of earned income or increase. The word "all" emphasizes totality – not just a part, but from the entirety of what one receives.
- Words-group: "Honor the Lord with your wealth": This phrase means that a significant aspect of true worship and reverence for God involves our financial stewardship. It declares that our material possessions are not merely ours but belong to the Lord, and how we handle them reflects our true allegiance and love for Him. It stands against materialism as an idol.
- Words-group: "and with the firstfruits of all your produce": This expands on how to honor the Lord with wealth. It demands giving God the initial and superior portion, not the leftovers. It's an act of faith, trusting God for the remaining abundance, and demonstrates recognition of Him as the ultimate source of provision for all increase and income. It emphasizes sacrificial giving, putting God first in time and value.
Proverbs 3 9 Bonus section
This verse carries a profound anti-pagan polemic. In the ancient world, many cultures performed rituals to gods in the hope of a harvest or increase. Proverbs 3:9 reverses this; Israel offered firstfruits to YHWH because He had already promised and demonstrated His provision. It’s an act of grateful acknowledgement, not propitiation. Furthermore, the principle transcends mere agriculture; "wealth" and "produce" represent all forms of material gain or success in any vocation. This timeless truth applies to income from salaries, businesses, or any endeavor where God provides the "power to get wealth" (Deut 8:18). This principle extends beyond just finances to stewardship of our time, talents, and gifts, implying that the "first and best" of all areas of our life should be devoted to God.
Proverbs 3 9 Commentary
Proverbs 3:9 distills a fundamental principle of biblical wisdom: recognizing God's sovereignty over all aspects of life, including one's finances. To "honor the Lord" with wealth means more than mere respect; it demands a tangible demonstration of His supreme value and rightful place as the owner and provider. The instruction to offer the "firstfruits" is crucial: it signifies a deliberate, priority-driven act of faith. This isn't giving from surplus or what is left, but from the initial, often uncertain, income, which cultivates a deeper dependence on God rather than self-reliance. It is an outward expression of an inward commitment to put God first. This practice also served as a means of financially supporting the Levites and the Temple, enabling the continuation of corporate worship and the spreading of God's law. Ultimately, this verse underscores that all our resources come from God's hand (1 Chron 29:14), and our faithful return of a portion is an act of worship, trust, and acknowledgment of His benevolent care. When God is honored first with our material blessings, the heart is rightly oriented, and divine blessings often follow, as affirmed in Proverbs 3:10.
Practical Usage:
- Regularly tithing or giving a primary portion of your income to the work of God’s kingdom.
- Prioritizing financial stewardship in budgeting, setting aside God’s portion first.
- Giving charitably and generously to those in need, as an extension of honoring God with wealth.