Proverbs 3:9

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Proverbs 3:9 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;

King James Version KJV

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

American Standard Version ASV

Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:

Bible in Basic English BBE

Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:

Free Bible Version FBV

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all the crops you grow.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Honour the Lord with thy riches, and with the first fruites of all thine increase.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

World English Bible WEB

Honor the LORD with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;

Noah Webster Bible WBS

Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thy increase:

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:

Translation for Translators T4T

Honor Yahweh by what you do with your money; and by giving him the first part of your harvest.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 3:9

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Proverbs 3:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB כַּבֵּ֣ד אֶת יְ֭הוָה מֵ/הוֹנֶ֑/ךָ וּ֝/מֵ/רֵאשִׁ֗ית כָּל תְּבוּאָתֶֽ/ךָ

כַּבֵּ֣ד kâbad H3513 to honor V-Piel-Impv-2ms

אֶת ʼêth H853 Obj. DirObjM

יְ֭הוָה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 The Lord N-proper

מֵ/הוֹנֶ֑/ךָ hôwn H1952 substance Prep | N-ms | Suff

וּ֝/מֵ/רֵאשִׁ֗ית rêʼshîyth H7225 first Conj | Prep | N-fs

כָּל kôl H3605 all N-ms

תְּבוּאָתֶֽ/ךָ tᵉbûwʼâh H8393 produce N-fs | Suff

Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 3:9

כַּבֵּ֣ד kâbad H3513 "to honor" V-Piel-Impv-2ms

This word can mean to honor or make something weighty, like when God is glorified in Psalm 138, or to be heavy with burdens, as the Israelites were in Exodus 18.

Definition: : honour/glory 1) to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be heavy 1a2) to be heavy, be insensible, be dull 1a3) to be honoured 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made heavy, be honoured, enjoy honour, be made abundant 1b2) to get oneself glory or honour, gain glory 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to make heavy, make dull, make insensible 1c2) to make honourable, honour, glorify 1d) (Pual) to be made honourable, be honoured 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to make heavy 1e2) to make heavy, make dull, make unresponsive 1e3) to cause to be honoured 1f) (Hithpael) 1f1) to make oneself heavy, make oneself dense, make oneself numerous 1f2) to honour oneself

Usage: Occurs in 108 OT verses. KJV: abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, [idiom] be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, [idiom] more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop. See also: Genesis 13:2; Job 6:3; Psalms 15:4.

אֶת ʼêth H853 "Obj." DirObjM

In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.

Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.

יְ֭הוָה Yᵉhôvâh H3068 "The Lord" N-proper

Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.

Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.

מֵ/הוֹנֶ֑/ךָ hôwn H1952 "substance" Prep | N-ms | Suff

This word refers to wealth or substance, implying that something is enough or of high value. It can also be translated as riches or sufficiency.

Definition: 1) wealth, riches, substance 1a) wealth 1b) price, high value interj 2) enough!, sufficiency

Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: enough, [phrase] for nought, riches, substance, wealth. See also: Psalms 44:13; Proverbs 19:4; Psalms 112:3.

וּ֝/מֵ/רֵאשִׁ֗ית rêʼshîyth H7225 "first" Conj | Prep | N-fs

This Hebrew word refers to the beginning or first part of something, like the firstfruits of a harvest. It is used in Exodus 23:19 to describe the best of the harvest. The idea is to give God the best.

Definition: : beginning 1) first, beginning, best, chief 1a) beginning 1b) first 1c) chief 1d) choice part Also means: re.shit (רֵאשִׁית ": best" H7225H)

Usage: Occurs in 49 OT verses. KJV: beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing. See also: Genesis 1:1; Job 42:12; Psalms 78:51.

כָּל kôl H3605 "all" N-ms

The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.

Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.

תְּבוּאָתֶֽ/ךָ tᵉbûwʼâh H8393 "produce" N-fs | Suff

This word means produce or income, referring to crops, revenue, or even the product of our lips. It is translated as fruit, gain, or revenue in the KJV Bible.

Definition: 1) produce, product, revenue 1a) product, yield, crops (of the earth usually) 1b) income, revenue 1c) gain (of wisdom) (fig) 1d) product of lips (fig)

Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: fruit, gain, increase, revenue. See also: Genesis 47:24; 2 Kings 8:6; Psalms 107:37.

Study Notes — Proverbs 3:9

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Proverbs 3:9 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 3:9
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 3:9
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 3:9
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 3:9
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 3:9
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 3:9
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 3:9
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 3:9
Sermons on Proverbs 3:9

Context — Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart

7Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. 11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Deuteronomy 26:2–15	you are to take some of the firstfruits of all your produce from the soil of the land that the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name, to the priest who is serving at that time, and say to him, “I declare today to the LORD your God that I have entered the land that the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.” Then the priest shall take the basket from your hands and place it before the altar of the LORD your God, and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous. But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression. Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, signs, and wonders. And He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land that You, O LORD, have given me.” Then you are to place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before Him. So you shall rejoice—you, the Levite, and the foreigner dwelling among you—in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates. Then you shall declare in the presence of 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 the commandments You have given me. I have not transgressed or forgotten Your commandments. I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything You commanded me. Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land You have given us as You swore to our fathers—a land flowing with milk and honey.”
2	1 Corinthians 16:2	On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.
3	Exodus 23:19	Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
4	Philippians 4:17–18	Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account. I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
5	Proverbs 14:31	Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
6	Malachi 3:8–10	Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.
7	Exodus 22:29	You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
8	Haggai 1:4–9	“Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.” This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD. You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little. And what you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the LORD of Hosts. Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.
9	2 Corinthians 8:2–3	In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,
10	Exodus 34:26	Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”

Proverbs 3:9 Summary

[Proverbs 3:9 is telling us to give God the best of what we have, whether it's our money, time, or talents, because He is the One Who provides for us. This means trusting Him with our resources and being willing to use them for His purposes, as seen in Matthew 6:33. By doing so, we show that we value and respect Him above all else. Giving to God is not just about giving Him what's left over, but about giving Him the first and the best, as a way of saying thank you for all that He has given us.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to 'honor the LORD with your wealth' in Proverbs 3:9?

This means to acknowledge God's ownership of all our possessions and to use them in a way that brings glory to Him, as seen in Psalm 24:1, which says 'The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.'

Why are we instructed to give the 'firstfruits of all your harvest' to the Lord?

Giving the firstfruits to God is a way of expressing gratitude and trust in His provision, as seen in Deuteronomy 26:1-11, where the Israelites were commanded to give their firstfruits to God as an offering of thanksgiving.

How does honoring God with our wealth and firstfruits relate to our daily lives?

It means prioritizing God's kingdom and purposes in our financial decisions, and being willing to trust Him with our resources, just as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33, 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.'

What is the significance of the word 'honor' in this verse?

To honor God means to show respect, admiration, and reverence for Who He is and what He has done, and this is reflected in our actions, including how we manage our wealth and resources, as seen in 1 Corinthians 10:31, 'So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.'

Reflection Questions

What are some ways I can honor God with my wealth and resources in my daily life?
How can I prioritize giving to God's kingdom and purposes in my financial decisions?
What are some areas where I may be withholding my 'firstfruits' from God, and how can I surrender them to Him?
How does trusting God with my resources and wealth affect my anxiety and stress levels?
In what ways can I show respect and reverence for God in my handling of money and possessions?

Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 3:9

Honour the Lord with thy substance,.... Or, "out of thy substance" (n); for as it should be a man's own that he gives, and not another's, and therefore called "thy substance"; or, as the Septuagint

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 3:9

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase - by offering freely gifts for

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 3:9

With thy substance; or, with thy riches. Lay out thy estate not only to please and advance thyself or family, but also to glorify God; which is done by the payment of all those offerings and dues which God hath required; by giving according to thy abilities whatsoever is necessary for the support and advancement of God’ s worship and service in the world; by free and liberal contributions to those whom God hath made his deputies, and, as I may say, the receivers of his rents, to wit, faithful ministers and good Christians, and all others who need and require thy help. The performance of these duties is here called an honouring of God, partly because that word is sometimes used for giving of gifts, as , and elsewhere; and partly because it is, a testimony of our respects to God, of our obedience to him as our sovereign Lord, and that in hard and costly duties, of our thankfulness to him as our chief Benefactor and Donor of all that we have, and of our belief of his promises made to the faithful practisers of this duty; which if they were believed, the most covetous persons would be the most charitable. With the first-fruits; or, with the chief, or best, or first, which answers to the first-fruits under the law.

Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 3:9

Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:Ver. 9. Honour the Lord with thy substance.] Freely expending it in pious and charitable uses. See also my "Commonplace of Alms."

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 3:9

Verse 9. Honour the Lord with thy substance] The מנחה MINCHAH or gratitude-offering to God, commanded under the law, is of endless obligation. It would be well to give a portion of the produce of every article by which we get our support to God, or to the poor, the representatives of Christ. This might be done either in kind, or by the worth in money. Whatever God sends us in the way of secular prosperity, there is a portion of it always for the poor, and for God's cause. When that portion is thus disposed of, the rest is sanctified; when it is withheld, God's curse is upon the whole. Give to the poor, and God will give to thee.

Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 3:9

9. substance … increase] Perhaps (as Speaker’s Comm.) capital, and revenue. It is interesting that (as there pointed out) the LXX. qualify both words, by restricting them to “righteous,” well-gotten wealth: ἀπὸσῶνδικαίωνπόνων … ἀπὸσῶνκαρπῶνδικαιοσύνης. Restitution is the true consecration of unrighteous gain, Luke 19:8.

Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 3:9

“Substance” points to capital, “increase” to revenue. The Septuagint as if to guard against ill-gotten gains being offered as an atonement for the ill-getting, inserts the quaifying words, “honor the

Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 3:9

9. Honour — Miller well says, Honour, in a connexion like this, grew to include the idea of giving. We see it in the Greek τιμα. 1 Timothy 5:3; 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 5:2; Proverbs 19:19.

Sermons on Proverbs 3:9

	Sermon	Description
	(1 Peter - Part 24): Venerate All God's Creation by A.W. Tozer	In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the verse from Peter, chapter 2, verse 17: "Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king." The speaker emphasizes the import
	From Babylon to Jerusalem - (Haggai) ch.1 & 2 by Zac Poonen	In this sermon, the speaker discusses the power of speaking the word of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that even a few minutes of speaking the burden of
	(The Spiritual Man) the Law of Blessings by Denny Kenaston	In this sermon, Brother Denny discusses the concept of the law of blessings in the Bible. He emphasizes the importance of putting one's will into following God's laws and commands.
	Let's Be Rich Toward God by John Piper	This sermon emphasizes the importance of being rich toward God rather than treasuring possessions. It discusses the hazards and helpfulness of money, the significance of valuing Go
	Joshua (Part 6): Dealing With the Past by Richard Sipley	In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of dealing thoroughly with the things in our lives that God is leading us to address. He uses the story of the Israelites' di
	Christians Must Perform the Truth - Part 4 by Stephen Olford	In this sermon, the speaker addresses the topic of giving and tithing. One person shares a testimony of how they continued to tithe even after their income decreased, and God faith
	Prove Me Now - Part 4 by Keith Daniel	This sermon emphasizes the importance of honoring God in all aspects of life, including business dealings and financial decisions. It shares a powerful testimony of a couple who ch