The Meaning of Proverbs 3:9 Explained

Proverbs 3:9

KJV: Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

YLT: Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;

Darby: Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;

ASV: Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Honour  the LORD  with thy substance,  and with the firstfruits  of all thine increase: 

What does Proverbs 3:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Proverbs 3:1-12 - The Results Of Trusting Jehovah
How replete with helpful instruction on the policy of life is this paragraph! The young of both sexes are invited to be merciful in their judgments or dealings, and faithful in the discharge of their responsibilities or duties. These are two prime qualifications for a right attitude toward God and man.
The perplexed are bidden to distrust their own understanding and to trust in God for guidance. If you do not see your way, wait till God reveals it. Notice the repeated word all-all thine heart, all thy ways. A thread reaching from our person to the ground may impair our perfect insularity. The business man is urged to honor God, as Abraham did, when returning laden with booty from his conflict with the freebooting kings, Genesis 14:23. The suffering are urged to look beyond their pain and sorrow to the hand that chastens, Proverbs 3:11-12. These precious words are endorsed by later Scriptures. See Hebrews 12:5-6 and Revelation 3:19. We can never forget the tender assurance of Job 5:18-19. There is no chance in life; accept all as by God's appointment or permission. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 3

1  various exhortations
13  The gain of wisdom
27  Exhortation to goodness
33  the different state of the wicked and upright

What do the individual words in Proverbs 3:9 mean?

Honor - Yahweh with your possessions and with the firstfruits of all your increase
כַּבֵּ֣ד אֶת־ יְ֭הוָה מֵהוֹנֶ֑ךָ וּ֝מֵרֵאשִׁ֗ית כָּל־ תְּבוּאָתֶֽךָ

כַּבֵּ֣ד  Honor 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְ֭הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֵהוֹנֶ֑ךָ  with  your  possessions 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: הֹון  
Sense: wealth, riches, substance.
וּ֝מֵרֵאשִׁ֗ית  and  with  the  firstfruits 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
תְּבוּאָתֶֽךָ  your  increase 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: תְּבוּאָה  
Sense: produce, product, revenue.