What Does 2 Corinthians 9:9 Mean?
As it is written, he scatters abroad; he gives to the poor; his alignment remains for the ages.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.THE KEY
The verse makes generosity the outward motion of a righteousness that itself remains.
THE MEANING
The verse holds what reaches the poor in motion while naming righteousness as what remains. Alignment with what is right is not kept hidden; it takes visible form in good shared with people in need.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that righteousness is a private status secured by what you retain: here, it appears alongside what moves toward the poor.
THE ROOT
δικαιοσύνη
dikaiosynē
GROWS FROM
δικ-
The Greek δικ- (dik-) family carries the sense of what is right or just; here, it names alignment with what is right.
The word belongs to the same family as δίκαιος (dikaios, just or right) and δικαιόω (dikaioō, set right or justify). What remains is not merely a reputation for goodness: alignment with what is right is visible in what reaches the poor.
ALSO GROWS
dikaios: Just; right.
δίκαιος
This related adjective shows the family’s sense of rightness, which the verse connects with giving.
dikaioō: To justify; to set right.
δικαιόω
This related verb makes the family’s sense of rightness active: it can describe being set right.
ἔδωκεν
edōken
GROWS FROM
δω-
The Greek δω- (dō-) family means to give or grant.
“given” in this verse is edōken. ἔδωκεν (edōken, “he gave”) is a form of δίδωμι (didōmi, “to give”). Its word family includes δόσις (dosis, “giving”) and δῶρον (dōron, “gift”); the verse describes good actually reaching the poor, not remaining only an intention.
ALSO GROWS
dosis: Giving; an act of giving.
δόσις
This noun names the giving itself, echoing the verse’s concrete movement toward the poor.
dōron: Gift.
δῶρον
This related word names what is given, placing the focus on the good that changes hands.
μένει
menei
GROWS FROM
μέν-
The Greek μέν- (men-) family means to stay, remain, or continue.
“remaineth” in this verse is menei. The verse names righteousness as what stays while material good moves outward. A related word, μονή (monē, “dwelling place”), gives remaining the sense of something with a lasting place, rather than a passing response.
ALSO GROWS
monē: Dwelling place; abode.
μονή
This related noun gives “remain” the shape of a place to stay.
emmenō: To remain in; to continue in.
ἐμμένω
This compound preserves the root’s sense of continuing or staying with something.
THE PATTERN
A life aligned with what is right lets material good move outward while that alignment endures.
One scatters and yet increases, and another keeps back beyond the straight, but only toward lack.Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and spilling over, they will give into your lap. For with the same measure you measure out, it will be measured back to you.That they work the good, and be rich in good works, ready to give a share, and willing to share in common.THE THREAD
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and spilling over, they will give into your lap. For with the same measure you measure out, it will be measured back to you.The Greek verb δίδωμι (didōmi, “to give”) is the family behind “he hath given” here and Luke’s repeated forms of “give.” The shared root makes giving a movement between hands; this verse sets that movement beside the righteousness that remains.
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