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Bible Encyclopedias
Gift

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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gift ( מתּנה , mattānāh , מנחה , minḥāh , שׁחד , shōḥadh ; δῶρον , dō̇ron , δωρεά , dōreá , χάρισμα , chárisma ): In Genesis 25:6; Exodus 28:38; Numbers 18:6 , Numbers 18:7 , Numbers 18:29; Ezekiel 20:26 , etc., mattānāh , "a gift," is so rendered; minḥāh , an offering or present, used especially of the "meat offerings," is translated "gift" (2 Samuel 8:2 , 2 Samuel 8:6 the King James Version; 2 Chronicles 26:8 ), in which passages "tribute" is meant, as the Revised Version (British and American); Ezekiel 32:23; Psalm 45:12 . A few other words occur singly, e.g. 'eshkar , "a reward" (Psalm 72:10 ); mas'ēth , "lifting up" (Esther 2:18 ); nāthūn is translated "gifts" (Numbers 8:19; the Revised Version, margin "Hebrew nethūnı̄m , given"); nēdheh , nādhān , "impure gifts" (Ezekiel 16:33 ); nis -sē'th , "a thing lifted up" (2 Samuel 19:42 ); ה , shōḥadh means "a bribe" (Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Proverbs 6:35; Proverbs 17:8 , Proverbs 17:23; Isaiah 1:23; Ezekiel 22:12 ); in each instance the American Standard Revised Version has "bribe" except Proverbs 6:35 , "gifts"; terūmāh , "a present" (Proverbs 29:4 ), may also mean a bribe, the King James Version "he that receiveth gifts," the Revised Version (British and American) "he that exacteth gifts," margin "imposeth tribute, Hebrew a man of offerings."

In the New Testament dōron , "a present," "gift" (from dı́dōmi , "to give"), is translated "gift" ( Matthew 2:11; Matthew 5:23 , Matthew 5:14 bis; Mark 7:11 the King James Version; Hebrews 5:1; Revelation 11:10 , etc., referring chiefly to gifts or offerings to God); dōrea , "a free gift" (John 4:10; Acts 2:38; Romans 5:15 , Romans 5:17; 2 Corinthians 9:15; Hebrews 6:4 , etc., referring to the gifts of God); dō̇rēma , "a free gift" (Romans 5:16; James 1:17 , the English Revised Version "boon"); dósis , "giving" (James 1:17 , "every good gift," the Revised Version, margin "giving"); charisma , "grace," "favor," a benefit or good conferred, is also used of Divine gifts and favors, especially of the supernatural gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit (charı́smata ) enumerated in Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; the word occurs translated "gift, gifts" (Romans 1:11 ), "some spiritual gift" (Romans 5:15 , Romans 5:16 , "free gift"; Romans 6:23 , "The gift of God is eternal life," the Revised Version (British and American) "free gift"; Romans 11:29; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 7:7; 2 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10 ); cháris , "grace," "favor" (2 Corinthians 8:4 , the Revised Version (British and American) "grace"); merismós , "distribution," "parting" (Hebrews 2:4 , the Revised Version, margin "distributions"); anáthēma , "a thing devoted to God," is once (Luke 21:5 ) used of "the goodly gifts" (the Revised Version (British and American) "offerings") which adorned the Temple at Jerusalem.

In the Revised Version (British and American) "gift" is substituted in the text of Genesis 33:11 for blessing, margin Hebrew "blessing"; "boasteth himself of his gifts falsely" ( Proverbs 25:14 ) for "boasteth himself of a false gift," margin Hebrew "in a gift of falsehood"; "a parting gift" for "presents" (Micah 1:14 ); "Given to God" for "a gift" (Mark 7:11 ).

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Gift'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​isb/​g/gift.html. 1915.
 
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