The number 10 symbolizes completeness. Even though a tithe of ancient Israel’s crops and livestock was 10%, it represented the whole agricultural produce. The Lord required the 11 tribes of ancient Israel to pay tithes to the tribe of Levi (Numbers 18:24). Let’s dive deeper into the meaning of tithe in the Bible.
Table of Contents
- Why Do We Tithe 10 Percent?
- Where Did 10 Tithe Come From?
- Watch the Video
- The Hebrew Meaning of Tithe
- Biblical Numbers Have Meaning
- The Meaning of the Number 10
- The Whole of the Tithe
- Frequently Asked Questions About Tithes
- Are Christians required to tithe?
- Recap
- Outsmart the False Teachers
Why Do We Tithe 10 Percent?
Many of us have heard preachers telling their followers to tithe from their gross or net income. They point to a 10 percent tithe bible verse here and there. For instance, when believers question whether they should pay tithes or fail to pay tithes, some pro-tithing preachers remind them, “Will a man rob God?” from Malachi 3:8. These preachers use this verse (and others) to get guilt or shame their churchgoers to pay 10 percent of their income to the local church.
The Apostle Paul explains that God loves a “cheerful giver,” but the New Testament scriptures don’t command Christians to give 10 percent. So, what’s the origin of the tithe, and why is 10 percent emphasized in Old Testament law? Let’s take a closer look at the ten percent tithe in the bible to answer those questions.
Where Did 10 Tithe Come From?
What does tithe mean in the Bible? Well, it’s obvious the tithe of 10 percent is rooted in the Scriptures. The first ten percent tithe bible verse is Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV):
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
Years after Abram’s (later Abraham) tithe, numerous passages instructed ancient Israel to give a tenth of their crops and animals to the tribe of Levi. The bottom line is the tithe is an Old Testament concept.
In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, God commands that “one-tenth of all your produce” be set apart and given back to him (Leviticus 27:30). This teaching is repeated in other books of the Bible, such as Deuteronomy (14:22), Malachi (3:10) and Matthew (23:23).
Watch the Video
The Hebrew Meaning of Tithe
What does tithe mean? The Bible uses the word tithe as a verb and a noun. We can define tithing by referring to the Hebrew language. So, what’s the meaning of tithing in Hebrew? As a noun, the Hebrew word for tithe is ma’aser. It also means a tenth or a tenth part. The verb form of the tithe in Hebrew is ‘asar. It means to give tithes or to give a tenth. The Bible refers to the tithe (ma’aser) 32 times in the King James Version of the Bible.
Biblical Numbers Have Meaning
Numbers are significant throughout the Bible. In Hebrew tradition, numbers have symbolic meaning. For example, the number seven represents perfection or completion. It’s used often in the Bible.
- The Sabbath day (Genesis 2:1-3)
- The Lord’s instructions regarding cattle and sheep (Exodus 22:30)
- The March around Jericho (Joshua 6:3-4)
The number 40 is another example. It’s the number of transformation, trials, probation, or testing period. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18). The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years (Joshua 5:6). The Lord Jesus Christ fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2).
There’s a pattern with numbers. Because of this, the biblical tithe of 10% also has a symbolic meaning.
The Meaning of the Number 10
The number 10 has multiple meanings. It represents the completion of a cycle. It can refer to divine order. Additionally, it may represent the whole of something.
Let’s look at the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 1-21). They represent all the 613 commandments of the Mosaic Law. If you notice, when you add 6+1+3, you get 10. This may or may not be a coincidence. At any rate, the Ten Commandments are like a summary of the 613 commandments ancient Israel had to follow.
We see how the 10 commandments are representative of the whole Law.
How does this relate to the tithe?
The Whole of the Tithe
The Lord told the 11 tribes of ancient Israel to pay tithes to the Levites (Numbers 18:24). Specifically, farmers and herdsmen paid tithes. The tithe constituted 10% of ancient Israel’s crops and livestock.
Why a tenth or 10%?
We know all land belongs to the Lord. However, the 10th represents the whole. In other words, paying a tenth of the crops and livestock was equivalent to all the tithes from ancient Israel’s agricultural produce and animals. This may best explain why the tithe is 10%.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tithes
Who Wrote Numbers?
The book of Numbers in the Bible is traditionally attributed to Moses, who is believed to have written the first five books of the Old Testament, also known as the Pentateuch or Torah. Jewish and Christian traditions and beliefs support this.
While there is no direct evidence that Moses wrote the Book of Numbers, the text suggests that Moses played a central role in the events it describes. Additionally, the rest of the Pentateuch is traditionally attributed to Moses, and the book of Numbers is considered a continuation of the story begun in Exodus.
Scholars have debated the authorship of the Pentateuch for centuries, with some arguing that multiple authors wrote it over a long period. However, the traditional view that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, including the book of Numbers, remains widely accepted among Jewish and Christian communities.
Are Christians required to tithe?
Christians are not required to tithe because Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, according to passages like “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (Galatians 3:23-25, KJV),” Romans 10:4, and Colossians 2:16-17. Christians are called to live by faith in Jesus and to give generously from the heart to support God’s work in the world (2 Corinthians 8:9, 9:6-8).
When deciding how much to give to God’s house, seeking God’s wisdom and guidance is important.
Recap
Why are tithes 10%? The Hebrew word for tithe is ma’aser, which means a tenth or tenth part. The Lord required the 11 tribes of ancient Israel to pay tithes to the tribe of Levi (Numbers 18:24). The tithe consisted of crops and livestock from the holy land of ancient Israel.
The number 10 has several meanings in the Hebrew tradition. It represents the completion of a cycle, divine order, or a representation of the whole. Regarding the biblical tithe of crops and livestock, it appears that the tenth represents the whole of ancient Israel’s agricultural produce and herds.
Outsmart the False Teachers
If you want to discover more tithe facts, I encourage you to get a copy of The Tithing Hoax. This book provides in-depth information on how to give the RIGHT way. It also offers helpful tips based on Scripture.
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Thanks for reading, and be blessed!
