Bible Verses About Generosity

Generosity is a sign of a heart that trusts God. These verses about generosity show how giving frees the giver as much as it blesses the receiver.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” — Luke 6:38 (KJV)

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together. The image is a grain merchant filling a measure past honest level.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)

God loveth a cheerful giver — the verse specifies not grudgingly nor of necessity. Manner is treated as part of the gift.

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35 (KJV)

It is more blessed to give than to receive — Paul quotes a saying of Jesus not recorded in any Gospel. It survives only here.

“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” — Proverbs 11:25 (KJV)

The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. The image is agricultural and reciprocal.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” — Matthew 6:1-4 (KJV)

When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. Secrecy is prescribed as protection against the reward being spent on applause.

“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.” — Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (KJV)

Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor — with an explicit warning against a wicked thought as the release year approaches. The law anticipates the calculation.

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” — 2 Corinthians 9:6 (KJV)

He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly — sowing is the metaphor, so the giving is not a loss but a planting. Paul is raising money for famine relief.

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” — Mark 12:41-44 (KJV)

The widow cast in two mites, which make a farthing, and Jesus says she gave more than all. He was sitting opposite the treasury watching people give.

“He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” — Luke 3:11 (KJV)

He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none — John the Baptist's answer to what shall we do then. The threshold is having one spare.

“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.” — Proverbs 22:9 (KJV)

He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor. A bountiful eye is the opposite of the evil eye elsewhere in the book.

“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.” — Proverbs 28:27 (KJV)

He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack, but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. Hiding the eyes names the usual method of not giving.

“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” — Hebrews 13:16 (KJV)

To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Communicate here means sharing goods, and it is called a sacrifice.

“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” — 1 John 3:17 (KJV)

Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion — how dwelleth the love of God in him? The test is posed as a question.

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” — Matthew 10:8 (KJV)

Freely ye have received, freely give — said to disciples being sent out with no money. The symmetry is the whole instruction.

“He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.” — Psalm 112:9 (KJV)

He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever. Paul quotes this line in his own fundraising letter.

“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” — Proverbs 3:27 (KJV)

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Ability is named as the trigger of obligation.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about generosity?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on generosity: Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:7, Acts 20:35, Proverbs 11:25, Matthew 6:1-4, Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 2 Corinthians 9:6, Mark 12:41-44, Luke 3:11, Proverbs 22:9, Proverbs 28:27, Hebrews 13:16, 1 John 3:17…

What is a good Bible verse about generosity?

Luke 6:38 is the passage most often quoted on generosity, with 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Acts 20:35 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these generosity verses?

You can read all of these verses about generosity — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.