Deuteronomy 14:22
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
Original Language Analysis
תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר
Thou shalt truly
H6237
תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר
Thou shalt truly
Strong's:
H6237
Word #:
1 of 10
to tithe, i.e., to take or give a tenth
תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר
Thou shalt truly
H6237
תְּעַשֵּׂ֔ר
Thou shalt truly
Strong's:
H6237
Word #:
2 of 10
to tithe, i.e., to take or give a tenth
אֵ֖ת
H853
אֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 10
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
תְּבוּאַ֣ת
all the increase
H8393
תְּבוּאַ֣ת
all the increase
Strong's:
H8393
Word #:
5 of 10
income, i.e., produce (literally or figuratively)
זַרְעֶ֑ךָ
of thy seed
H2233
זַרְעֶ֑ךָ
of thy seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
6 of 10
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
הַיֹּצֵ֥א
bringeth forth
H3318
הַיֹּצֵ֥א
bringeth forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
7 of 10
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
Cross References
Nehemiah 10:37And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.Deuteronomy 12:6And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:Deuteronomy 12:17Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:Numbers 18:21And, 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.
Historical Context
Agricultural societies measured wealth in harvest yields. Annual tithing forced Israel to trust God for next year's provision—an act of faith that God owned and would replenish the fields. Failure to tithe declared practical atheism: 'I alone make this grow.'
Questions for Reflection
- Does your giving reflect mere obligation (minimum percentage) or grateful acknowledgment that everything belongs to God?
- How does systematic, 'certain' tithing (not sporadic generosity) demonstrate trust in God's continued provision?
- What areas of your 'increase' (time, talents, relationships) need to be 'tithed' beyond financial giving?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed (עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר, aser te'aser, intensive construction: 'you shall certainly tithe')—The tithe (מַעֲשֵׂר, ma'aser, literally 'tenth') acknowledges God's ownership of all. The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof (Psalm 24:1). Tithing isn't paying God what's His; it's acknowledging everything is His.
Moses describes three tithes:
Together they approach 23% annually—far exceeding modern 'prosperity gospel' minimums. Malachi confronts: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me (Malachi 3:8). New Testament giving isn't less generous but more: freely ye have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8).