The practice of offering to God a tenth of the harvest of the land and of livestock, as holy to the LORD. The idea is also used in a more general sense, meaning offering one-tenth of one's income to the Lord.
Tithing was practised before the giving of the OT law
Genesis 14:18–20 Abraham offered a tenth of the goods taken in battle, apparently in thankfulness to God for victory. See also Genesis 28:22; Hebrews 7:1–3
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine — since he was priest of God Most High — and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.
Tithing under the law
Tithing extends to all kinds of produce and livestock
Leviticus 27:30–32 Cereal and fruit offerings could be commuted to money. See also 2 Chronicles 31:5–6; Nehemiah 10:35–38, Nehemiah 13:12
Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. If a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value. Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD.
All tithes were paid to the Levites
Numbers 18:21–24; Nehemiah 10:37–38; Hebrews 7:5
Tithes were to be paid in a designated place
Deuteronomy 12:5–6, Deuteronomy 14:22–29, Deuteronomy 26:2 Tithes were paid in Jerusalem, or every three years in towns where the tithe feast was eaten.
Levites offered a tenth to the LORD
Numbers 18:25–29; Nehemiah 10:39
Uses of the tithe
Support of the Levites
Numbers 18:21 See also 2 Chronicles 31:4
Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.
The tithe meal
And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
A three-yearly gift to the poor
At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and lay it up within your gates. Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands.
Tithing of minor items must not lead to neglect of major matters
Matthew 23:23 See also Luke 11:42, Luke 18:9–14
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Freewill offerings were made in addition to the tithe
They were given freely
Exodus 36:3 See also Leviticus 7:12–18; Numbers 15:3; Ezra 1:4; Psalm 54:6; Ezekiel 46:12
They received from Moses all the contributions that the Israelites had brought to carry out the service of constructing the sanctuary. Meanwhile, the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning,
They were given according to ability
Deuteronomy 16:10 See also Deuteronomy 16:17; Acts 11:29; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 8:12 There is no specific command in the NT for the church to tithe, but many commands to give generously and to support the Lord's work.
And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how the LORD your God has blessed you,
Blessing promised to those who tithe
Malachi 3:10 See also Proverbs 3:9–10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.
Failure to tithe and abuses of the tithe
Malachi 3:8–10 See also Leviticus 27:33; 1 Samuel 8:15, 1 Samuel 8:17; Nehemiah 13:10
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, yet you— the whole nation— are still robbing Me. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.