Proverbs 3:9-10
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This verse isn't just about giving money away; it's about intentionally setting aside the first and best of what you have as a direct acknowledgment that it all belongs to God. It’s a powerful reminder that honoring God isn't just a spiritual activity separate from our finances, but an act that deeply integrates our material blessings into our worship.
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb appears within a larger section of wisdom literature that contrasts the paths of the wise and the foolish. Following advice on trusting God and not leaning on one's own understanding, it then moves to practical instructions about living faithfully. This verse immediately precedes instructions on how God blesses those who honor Him with their wealth, suggesting that faithful stewardship is a demonstration of that trust.
What does it mean to 'honor' God with your money and resources? It's more than just giving; it's a profound act of worship.
The verse calls us to "honor the LORD with your substance." This isn't just about parting with money; it's about acknowledging God as the ultimate source of all our wealth. When we use our resources – our income, our possessions, our 'substance' – for God's purposes, we are actively declaring His worth and our dependence on Him. This honor is expressed through giving to the poor, supporting those who serve God's people, and contributing to the advancement of His kingdom. It’s a tangible way to say, 'You are worthy of my best.'
This concept was central to Israelite worship:
Why does the Bible specifically mention 'firstfruits'? This ancient practice reveals a deeper truth about our relationship with God.
The command to bring the 'firstfruits of all your produce' points to giving God the very best and the very beginning of what we receive. It wasn't just about a portion; it was about the 'chief' or 'best' of the harvest. This represented:
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This principle extends beyond agricultural produce; it applies to the beginning of any income or blessing we receive.
Understand the original words
kabad · Hebrew Verb
To show weight, glory, or esteem. In a theological sense, it involves giving God the prominence, value, and priority He deserves, particularly through tangible acts of worship or stewardship.
hon · Hebrew Noun
Material possessions or resources. Biblically, all wealth is understood to be entrusted by God, and its proper use is a reflection of one's stewardship and heart toward Him.
reshit · Hebrew Noun
The best or earliest portion of the harvest, offered to God as a sign of dedication and trust. It signifies that the entirety of one's resources belongs to the Lord.
This passage directly outlines the law concerning the offering of firstfruits, establishing the practice that Proverbs 3:9 is built upon as a principle of honoring God with the best of the harvest.
Leviticus 23:10This verse reiterates the command for firstfruits, emphasizing that this act of bringing the best of the produce was a sacred offering meant to acknowledge God as the source of provision.
2 Corinthians 9:7This New Testament passage speaks to the spirit of giving, advocating for cheerful and generous offerings, which aligns with the principle of honoring God with our resources, even if the specific Mosaic laws have passed.
Luke 12:48Jesus' teaching about stewardship highlights that much will be required of those to whom much is given, underscoring the responsibility that comes with wealth and the importance of using it to honor God.
Malachi 3:10This prophetic passage directly connects bringing tithes and offerings (which includes firstfruits) to God's blessing and provision, echoing the promise that honoring God with our wealth will lead to abundance.
pulpitProverbs 3:9: "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:"
Verse 9. - Honour the Lord with thy substance, etc. An exhortation to self-sacrificing devotion by the appropriation and use of wealth to the service of Jehovah. With thy substance (mehonehka); Vulgate, de tua substantia; LXX., ἀπὸ σῶν δικαίων πόνων. Hon, properly "lightness," is "opulence," "wealth," as in Proverbs 1:13. The min in composition with hon is not partitive, as Delitzsch and Berthean…
jfbProverbs 3:9: "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:"
9, 10. (Compare Pr 11:25; Ex 23:19; De 18:4; Isa 32:8; 2Co 9:13).
This verse isn't just about giving money away; it's about intentionally setting aside the first and best of what you have as a direct acknowledgment that it all belongs to God. It’s a powerful reminder that honoring God isn't just a spiritual activity separate from our finances, but an act that deeply integrates our material blessings into our worship.
This proverb appears within a larger section of wisdom literature that contrasts the paths of the wise and the foolish. Following advice on trusting God and not leaning on one's own understanding, it then moves to practical instructions about living faithfully. This verse immediately precedes instructions on how God blesses those who honor Him with their wealth, suggesting that faithful stewardship is a demonstration of that trust.
This proverb appears within a larger section of wisdom literature that contrasts the paths of the wise and the foolish. Following advice on trusting God and not leaning on one's own understanding, it then moves to practical instructions about living faithfully. This verse immediately precedes instructions on how God blesses those who honor Him with their wealth, suggesting that faithful stewardship is a demonstration of that trust.
"Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." — This verse isn't just about giving money away; it's about intentionally setting aside the first and best of what you have as a direct acknowledgment that it all belongs to God. It’s a powerful re…
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Last reviewed October 2026
