2 Corinthians 9:7
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
King James Version (KJV)
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In his appeal for the collection, Paul sets out the spirit in which giving should be done: freely purposed in the heart and offered with gladness, not under compulsion.
What Does 2 Corinthians 9:7 Mean?
God loves a cheerful giver -- and so giving is to flow from the heart, not from pressure. Paul says each person should give as he purposes in his heart, deliberately and willingly, never grudgingly or out of compulsion. The emphasis falls entirely on the inner disposition. What matters to God is not merely the amount but the gladness with which it is given.
Three attitudes are set in contrast. Giving "grudgingly" is giving with reluctance, regretting the loss. Giving "of necessity" is giving because one feels forced, with no freedom of heart. Against both Paul sets the cheerful giver -- the word translated "cheerful" is the root of our word "hilarious," picturing a joyful, glad-hearted generosity. Such giving is purposed, decided thoughtfully in advance rather than squeezed out under pressure. And it is this gladness that God loves. The verse dignifies the giver's freedom: God does not want gifts extracted by guilt or coercion, but offered freely as an overflow of a willing heart. This connects to Christ's own self-giving in the previous chapter; those who have received freely give freely. For the reader, the verse reframes generosity not as a burdensome duty but as a joyful privilege -- a chance to give in a way that delights the very heart of God.
In the Original Language
The word hilaros (ἱλαρός), the root of "hilarious," means cheerful and glad, and prohaireomai (προαιρέω) means to choose or purpose beforehand.
Cross References
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.”
- Proverbs 22:9
“Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.”
- Deuteronomy 15:10
“Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:9
Application
Give from a willing, glad heart rather than from guilt or pressure, knowing that joyful generosity delights the heart of God.