Gifts
There are lots of gifts mentioned in the Bible. Are they good or bad and should we always take a gift?
Proverbs 15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts <04979> shall live.
Here we are told that if we hate gift we should live. The word is a Hebrew word mattanah[1]which is almost always translated "gift".
The first time it is used is in Genesis 25:6 "But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts <mattanah>, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country."
These gifts are like benefits that are given to someone to help and support them rather than just please them. The word mattanah with a letter Hey on the end is from the word mattan[2] which only appears 5 times[3] in the Bible. These gifts seem to be something extra often to earn the favor or appreciation of someone.
The word mattanah in Exodus 28:38[4] includes "holy gifts" or consecrated items given to Aaron that are always on his mind. Aaron performed a certain role of judgement in society and was said to bear the "iniquity" of these gifts. That word for "iniquity"<Rf> 05771 ^ןוע^ ‘avon \@aw-vone’\@ or
^ןווע^ ‘avown (#2Ki 7:9; Ps 51:5) \@aw-vone’\@ from 05753; n m; AV-iniquity 220, punishment 5, fault 2, Iniquities + 01697 1,
mischief 1, sin 1; 230
- 1) perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity
- 1a) iniquity
- 1b) guilt of iniquity, guilt (as great), guilt (of condition)
- 1c) consequence of or punishment for iniquity
</Ref> may also refer to the " consequence of" or burden that comes with the responsibility for something.
We see the word mattanah listed with freewill offerings and vows and offerings at festivals as an additional gift in Leviticus 23:38<Rf>Leviticus 23:38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts <04979>, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.</Ref>
In Numbers 18:6[5] the Levites are identified as a gift from God in order to provide the "service of the tabernacle of the congregation".[6]
Offerings were like gifts to support these priests that provided that "service... of the congregation"[7]
These heave offerings which in Hebrew is tᵉruwmah TavReshVavMemHey[8] from the word ruwm ReshVavMem[9]were nothing more than your contribution in support of a voluntary government.
Deuteronomy 16:17 Every man shall give as he is able <04979>, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
2 Chronicles 21:3 And their father gave them great gifts <04979> of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
Esther 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts <04979> to the poor.
Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts <04979> for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
Ecclesiastes 7:7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift <04979> destroyeth the heart. Ezekiel 20:26 And I polluted them in their own gifts <04979>, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 20:31 For when ye offer your gifts <04979>, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you. Ezekiel 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts <04979>, and with your idols. Ezekiel 46:16 Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift <04979> unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance. Ezekiel 46:17 But if he give a gift <04979> of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons’ for them.
Footnotes
- ↑ 04979 ^הנתמ^ mattanah \@mat-taw-naw’\@ from 04976; n f; AV-gifts 16, as he is able 1; 17 1) gift
- ↑ 04976 ^ןתמ^ mattan \@mat-tawn’\@ from 05414; n m; AV-gift 5; 5 1) gifts, offerings, presents
- ↑ : Genesis 34:12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift <04976>, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
- Numbers 18:11 And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift <04976>, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.
- Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift <04976> maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
- Proverbs 19:6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts <04976>.
- Proverbs 21:14 A gift <04976> in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
- ↑ Exodus 28:38 And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts <04979>; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
- ↑ Numbers 18:6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift <04979> for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
- ↑ Exodus 30:16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.
- Numbers 7:5 Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.
- Numbers 8:24 This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
- Numbers 18:6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
- Numbers 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
- Numbers 18:23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
- ↑ Numbers 18:7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift <04979>: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. Numbers 18:29 Out of all your gifts <04979> ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
- ↑ 08641 ^המורת^ tᵉruwmah \@ter-oo-maw’\@ or ^המרת^ tᵉrumah (#De 12:11) \@ter-oo-maw’\@ from 07311; n f; AV-offering 51, oblation 19, heave 4, gifts 1, offered 1; 76
- 1) contribution, offering
- 1a) a heave offering
- 1b) any offering
- 1c) an offering to God
- 1d) an offering (of grain, money, etc)
- 1e) contribution
- 1) contribution, offering
- ↑ 07311 ^םור^ ruwm \@room\@ a primitive root; v; AV-(lift, hold, etc … ) up 63, exalt 47, high 25, offer 13, give 5, heave 3, extol 3, lofty 3, take 3, tall 3, higher 2, misc 24; 194
- 1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted
- 1a) (Qal)
- 1a1) to be high, be set on high
- 1a2) to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted
- 1a3) to be lifted, rise
- 1b) (Polel)
- 1b1) to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up
- 1b2) to lift up, raise, exalt
- 1b3) to exalt, extol
- 1c) (Polal) to be lifted up
- 1d) (Hiphil)
- 1d1) to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high
- 1d2) to lift up (and take away), remove
- 1d3) to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute
- 1e) (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished
- 1f) (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself
- 1a) (Qal)
- 2) (Qal) to be rotten, be wormy
- 1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted