How many Bible verses actually mention tithing? Most Christians could quote Malachi 3:10 and maybe Genesis 14. The full biblical witness on tithing spans Genesis to Hebrews and includes 25+ key passages. Patriarchal, Mosaic, prophetic. New Testament. This guide collects every major tithing verse with brief context, then offers a practical framework for applying them today.
Apply this study
After studying the verses, run our Tithe Calculator to see weekly, monthly, and annual amounts. Open it now →
Patriarchal tithing — before the law
- Genesis 14:18-20 — Abraham gives Melchizedek a tenth of all the spoils after defeating the kings. The first recorded tithe in Scripture, 400+ years before Sinai.
- Genesis 28:20-22 — Jacob vows: "Of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you." Voluntary, worshipful patriarchal tithing.
Mosaic law — the three tithes
- Leviticus 27:30-32 — "A tithe of everything from the land… belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."
- Numbers 18:21-24 — Levitical tithe to support the priests.
- Deuteronomy 12:5-7 — bring tithes to the place the Lord chooses.
- Deuteronomy 14:22-27 — festival tithe for celebration before the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 14:28-29 — every third year, tithe goes to the Levite, foreigner, fatherless, and widow.
- Deuteronomy 26:12-15 — declaration prayer when bringing the third-year tithe.
- 2 Chronicles 31:5-12 — Hezekiah's reform restores tithing; the people gave abundantly and stored the heaps.
- Nehemiah 10:35-39, 12:44, 13:10-13 — Nehemiah's reforms restore the tithe after the exile.
Prophetic call — Malachi
- Malachi 3:8-10 — "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' In tithes and offerings… Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven."
- Malachi 3:11-12 — the promised blessing: protection from devourers, fruitful land, nations calling them blessed.
Wisdom literature on giving
- Proverbs 3:9-10 — "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing."
- Proverbs 11:24-25 — "One person gives freely, yet gains even more… A generous person will prosper."
Jesus on tithing
- Matthew 23:23 — "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees… You give a tenth of your spices… But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."
- Luke 11:42 — parallel to Matthew 23:23.
- Luke 18:12 — the Pharisee's prideful prayer: "I give a tenth of all I get." Jesus condemns the pride, not the practice.
New Testament principles of giving (beyond tithing)
- Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-37 — early church gave radically, far above 10%.
- 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 — "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income."
- 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 — Macedonians gave "beyond their ability."
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 — "Whoever sows generously will also reap generously… God loves a cheerful giver."
- Hebrews 7:1-10 — Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek as evidence of Christ's superior priesthood.
How to read the tithing verses together
The tithe predates the law (Genesis 14, 28). The Mosaic law codified it as ~23% across three tithes. The prophets called Israel back to it. Jesus affirmed it. The early church exceeded it.
Hebrews uses it to argue Christ's superior priesthood. The full biblical witness is consistent: 10% is the floor of Christian generosity, not the ceiling. See our tithing in the New Testament deep-dive.
Practical framework for tithing today
- Calculate from gross income — firstfruits (Proverbs 3:9).
- Give to the local church first — Malachi 3:10 storehouse.
- Automate the gift — recurring giving raises consistency.
- Tithe through every life stage — including debt payoff and retirement.
- Press toward generosity above the tithe — 2 Corinthians 8:3.
Set the number now
See your weekly, monthly, and annual tithe.
The Tithe Calculator translates 25+ biblical verses into one number you can automate this week.
Open the Tithe Calculator →