Bible Dictionary: Tithe or Tenth

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Tithe or Tenth

the proportion of property devoted to religious uses from very early times. Instances of the use of tithes are found prior to the appointment of the Levitical tithes under the law. In biblical history the two prominent instances are--

Abram presenting the tenth of all his property, or rather of the spoils of his victory, to Melchizedek. (Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:2,6)
Jacob, after his vision at Luz, devoting a tenth of all his property to God in case he should return home in safety (Genesis 28:22) The first enactment of the law in respect of tithe is the declaration that the tenth of all produce, as well as of flocks and cattle belongs to Jehovah and must be offered to him that the tithe was to be paid in kind, or, if redeemed, with an addition of one fifth to its value. (Leviticus 27:30-33) This tenth is ordered to be assigned to the Levites as the reward of their service, and it is ordered further that they are themselves to dedicate to the Lord a tenth of these receipts, which is to be devoted to the maintenance of the high priest. (Numbers 18:21-28) This legislation is modified or extended in the book of Deuteronomy, i.e. from thirty-eight to forty years later. Commands are given to the people--
To bring their tithes, together with their votive and other offerings and first-fruits, to the chosen centre of worship, the metropolis, there to be eaten in festive celebration in company with their children their servants and the Levites. (12:5-18)
All the produce of the soil was to be tithed every and these tithes with the firstlings of the flock and herd, were to be eaten in the metropolis.
But in case of distance, permission is given to convert the produce into money, which is to be taken to the appointed place, and there laid out in the purchase of food for a festal celebration, in which the Levite is, by special command, to be included. (14:22-27)
Then follows the direction that at the end of three years all the tithe of that year is to be gathered and laid up "within the gates" and that a festival is to be held of which the stranger, the fatherless and the widow together with the Levite, are to partake. Ibid. (5:28,29)
Lastly it is ordered that after taking the tithe in each third year, "which is the year of tithing," an exculpatory declaration is to be made by every Israelite that he has done his best to fulfill the divine command, (26:12-14) From all this we gather-- (1) That one tenth of the whole produce of the soil was to be assigned for the maintenance of the Levites. (2) That out of this the Levites were to dedicate a tenth to God for the use of the high priest. (3) That a tithe, in all probability a second tithe, was to be applied to festival purposes. (4) That in every third year, either this festival tithe or a third tenth was to be eaten in company with the poor and the Levites. (These tithes in early times took the place of our modern taxes, us well as of gifts for the support of religious institutions. --ED.)

Greek

1181. dekate -- a tenth part, a tithe
... tenth, tithe. Feminine of dekatos; a tenth, ie As a percentage or (technically)
tithe -- tenth (part), tithe. see GREEK dekatos. (dekatas) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1181.htm - 6k

586b. apodekatoo -- to pay a tenth of, tithe
... 586a, 586b. apodekatoo. 587 . to pay a tenth of, tithe. Transliteration:
apodekatoo Short Definition: tenth. Word Origin from apo ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/586b.htm - 5k

586. apodekatoo -- to pay a tenth of
... of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apodekatoo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od-ek-at-o'-o) Short Definition: I take off a tenth part, pay tithe Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/586.htm - 6k

1183. dekatoo -- to collect tithes
... pay or receive tithes. From dekate; to tithe, ie To give or take a tenth -- pay
(receive) tithes. see GREEK dekate. (dedekatoken) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1183.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4643. maaser -- tenth part, tithe
... Or maasar {mah-as-ar'}; and (in plural) feminine maasrah {mah-as-raw'}; from asar;
a tenth; especially a tithe -- tenth (part), tithe(-ing). see HEBREW asar. ...
/hebrew/4643.htm - 6k

6237. asar -- to take the tenth of, tithe
... 6236, 6237. asar. 6238 . to take the tenth of, tithe. Transliteration:
asar Phonetic Spelling: (aw-sar') Short Definition: tenth. ...
/hebrew/6237.htm - 6k

Library

In Process of Tithe, that is to Say, in the Tenth Generation after ...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 24 In process of tithe,
that is to say, in the tenth generation after the Flood� ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 24 in process of.htm

Of the Nature of Tithes.
... As a general rule, it may he observed, that tithe ought to be paid as soon as the
tenth part can be severed from the whole, if there be no custom to the ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/1 of the nature of.htm

Of Removing Tithes.
... A single Calf is titheable, and the tithe is the tenth part of the value, when
taken from the Cow to be sold or killed.2 Gwill.541. Cattle. ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/8 of removing tithes.htm

part 1
... which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an
heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe" (Num.18:25 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/tithing/part 1.htm

Whether Men are Bound to Pay Tithes under a Necessity of Precept?
... kind of tithe which they had to eat with the poor, is increased in the New Law,
for our Lord commanded us to give to the poor not merely the tenth part, but ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether men are bound to 2.htm

Li. Dining with a Pharisee, Jesus Denounces that Sect.
... [The Pharisees in paying the tenth part, or tithe, to God, were so exact that they
offered the tenth part of the seed even of the spearmint, rue and other ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/li dining with a pharisee.htm

part 2
... revelation from the Lord on his way out to Padan-aram, promised to give a tenth
unto God. Second, we saw that when the law was given the tithe was definitely ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/tithing/part 2.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xi. 39, "Now do Ye Pharisees ...
... to God's precept, they tithed all; put aside, that is, a tenth part, and ... immediately
subjoined, "But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, who tithe mint, and ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lvi on the words.htm

Whether Christ Paid Tithes in Abraham's Loins?
... For since he who pays a tithe keeps nine parts to himself, and surrenders the tenth
to another, inasmuch as the number ten is the sign of perfection, as being ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ paid tithes in.htm

Whether the Times for the Church Fast are Fittingly Ascribed?
... fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth shall
be ... that tithes should be paid of things, so we strive to pay God a tithe of days ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the times for the.htm

Subtopics

Tithe

Tithe in the New Testament

Tithe or Tenth

Tithe: A Second: Or Its Value Yearly Brought to the Tabernacle and Eaten

Tithe: A Second: To be Consumed at Home Every Third Year to Promote

Tithe: Antiquity of the Custom of Giving to God's Ministers

Tithe: Considered a Just Return to God for his Blessings

Tithe: Consisted of a Tenth of all Cattle

Tithe: Consisted of a Tenth of all the Produce of the Land

Tithe: Consisted of a Tenth of Holy Things Dedicated

Tithe: Given by God to the Levites for Their Services