Word study
Gift
14 Hebrew and 7 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with one of these: gift, gifts, gifted. English often uses one word where Hebrew or Greek has several, each with its own shade of meaning. Under each word are verses where it is translated this way; choose the word itself for its full study: every verse, how else it is translated, the forms it takes and what the dictionaries say.
At a glance
How often each original word is translated “gift” or one of its forms.
Compare the Hebrew words side by side Compare the Greek words side by side
Hebrew and Aramaic words (Old Testament)
- מִנְחָה minchâhgift, tribute, offeringtranslated this way 17 times of its 201 uses · Strong’s H4503Noun · Translated: grain offering 86, offering 21, grain offerings 21, tribute 16Full study and all 190 verses →
Genesis 32:13 Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:
Genesis 32:18 then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift, sent to my lord Esau. And behold, Jacob is behind us.’”
- מַתָּנָה mattânâhgifttranslated this way 14 times of its 16 uses · Strong’s H4979Noun · Translated: gifts 8, gift 5, appear with a gift 1, bribes 1Full study and all 16 verses →
Genesis 25:6 But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.
Exodus 28:38 And it will be worn on Aaron’s forehead, so that he may bear the iniquity of the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate with regard to all their holy gifts. It shall always be on his forehead, so that they may be acceptable before the LORD.
- קֹדֶשׁ qôdeshsacred, sanctitytranslated this way 4 times of its 437 uses · Strong’s H6944Noun · Translated: holy 192, sanctuary 42, sacred 31, according to the sanctuary 24Full study and all 379 verses →
Numbers 5:10 Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but whatever he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.”
- מַתָּן mattângift(s)translated this way 4 times of its 5 uses · Strong’s H4976Noun · Translated: gift 2, and 1, gifts 1, gift giver 1Full study and all 5 verses →
Numbers 18:11 And this is yours as well: the offering of their gifts, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given this to you and your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat it.
Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
- מַשְׂאֵת masêthuprising, utterance, burden, portiontranslated this way 4 times of its 13 uses · Strong’s H4864Noun · Translated: gift 2, tax 2, gifts 2Full study and all 12 verses →
2 Samuel 11:8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.
Esther 2:18 Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.
- נָתַן nâthangive, put, settranslated this way 4 times of its 1,957 uses · Strong’s H5414Verb · Translated: give 326, gave 206, given 187, put 135Full study and all 1,785 verses →
Exodus 36:2 Then Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person whom the LORD had gifted — everyone whose heart stirred him to come and do the work.
- בְּרָכָה Berâkâhblessingtranslated this way 4 times of its 69 uses · Strong’s H1293Noun · Translated: blessing 44, blessings 12, gift 4, according to the blessing 2Full study and all 64 verses →
Genesis 33:11 Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” So Jacob pressed him until he accepted.
1 Samuel 25:27 Now let this gift your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow you.
- שַׁחַד shachadpresenttranslated this way 3 times of its 22 uses · Strong’s H7810Noun · Translated: bribe 13, bribes 4, gift 2, bribery 1Full study and all 20 verses →
1 Kings 15:19 “Let there be a treaty between me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”
2 Kings 16:8 Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s palace, and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria.
- מַתָּת mattâthid.translated this way 3 times of its 6 uses · Strong’s H4991Noun · Translated: gift 2, reward 1, gifts 1, shall be 1Full study and all 6 verses →
Proverbs 25:14 Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.
Ecclesiastes 3:13 and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor — this is the gift of God.
- מַתְּנָא mattenâgifttranslated this way 3 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s H4978Noun · Translated: gifts 3Full study and all 3 verses →
Daniel 2:6 But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
Daniel 2:48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
- מִגְדָּנָה migdânâhchoice of excellent thingtranslated this way 2 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s H4030Noun · Translated: precious gifts 1, precious things 1, valuable gifts 1, valuables 1Full study and all 4 verses →
Genesis 24:53 Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.
2 Chronicles 32:23 Many brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD and valuable gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah, and from then on he was exalted in the eyes of all nations.
- תְּרוּמָה terûmâhcontribution, offeringtranslated this way 2 times of its 73 uses · Strong’s H8641Noun · Translated: offering 24, contribution 13, portion 8, contributions 7Full study and all 63 verses →
Deuteronomy 12:11 then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice offerings you vow to the LORD.
Deuteronomy 12:17 Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts.
- מָנָה mânâhpart, portiontranslated this way 2 times of its 13 uses · Strong’s H4490Noun · Translated: portion 6, portions 3, gifts 2, special diet 1Full study and all 13 verses →
Esther 9:19 This is why the rural Jews, who live in the villages, observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting. It is a holiday for sending gifts to one another.
Esther 9:22 as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.
- שַׁי shaygifttranslated this way 2 times of its 3 uses · Strong’s H7862Noun · Translated: gifts 2, tribute 1Full study and all 3 verses →
Psalm 68:29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.
Isaiah 18:7 At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD of Hosts— from a people tall and smooth-skinned, from a people widely feared, from a powerful nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers— to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD of Hosts.
Greek words (New Testament)
- δῶρον dōrona gift, presenttranslated this way 17 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s G1435Noun · Translated: gifts 8, gift 7, gift devoted 2Full study and all 16 verses →
Matthew 2:11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Mark 7:11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),
- χάρισμα chárismaan undeserved favortranslated this way 16 times of its 17 uses · Strong’s G5486Noun · Translated: gift 8, gifts 7, spiritual gift 1, favor shown 1Full study and all 17 verses →
Romans 1:11 For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,
1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- δωρεά dōreáa free gifttranslated this way 11 times of its 11 uses · Strong’s G1431Noun · Translated: gift 11Full study and all 11 verses →
John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- δόμα dómaa gifttranslated this way 4 times of its 4 uses · Strong’s G1390Noun · Translated: gifts 3, gift 1Full study and all 4 verses →
Matthew 7:11 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Luke 11:13 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
- ἐλεημοσύνη eleēmosýnēalms-giving, charitytranslated this way 2 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s G1654Noun · Translated: alms 2, gifts to the poor 2, giving 1, poor 1Full study and all 8 verses →
Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
Acts 10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
- χάρις chárisgrace, favor, kindnesstranslated this way 2 times of its 153 uses · Strong’s G5485Noun · Translated: grace 120, thanks 6, favor 5, credit 3Full study and all 145 verses →
Romans 4:4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
1 Corinthians 16:3 Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
- δώρημα dṓrēmaa gift, bountytranslated this way 2 times of its 2 uses · Strong’s G1434Noun · Translated: gift 2Full study and all 2 verses →
Romans 5:16 Again, the gift is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin brought condemnation, but the gift that followed many trespasses brought justification.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
How to study a word well
- Start from the verse, not the dictionary. Find which Hebrew or Greek word stands in the verse you are studying. One English word often translates several different original words.
- Read every place the word is used. A word means what its writers used it to mean. The list of verses and the count by book show its range, and who uses it most.
- Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
- Notice the form. A command is not a statement, and a passive verb is something done to the subject. The form in your verse is part of the meaning.
- See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
- Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
- Come back to the verse. Context decides. A word does not carry every one of its meanings into every verse, and where a word came from does not settle what it means in a sentence written centuries later.
Scripture text and translation counts: Berean Standard Bible. Full entry: Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906, public domain), in the digital edition Brown-Driver-Briggs Enhanced by unfoldingWord (Joel Ruark, J. de Joode), based on data by Eliran Wong and Stephen Ku; its additions are used under CC BY 4.0. Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary: Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project, CC BY 4.0. Hebrew-to-English verse numbering: original work of the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible available at https://github.com/openscriptures/morphhb, CC BY 4.0. We reformatted the data, linked the references to this site’s Bible text and left out words in other scripts that the source holds only as images. These are historical reference works; an entry gives its authors’ view, and a word’s meaning in any verse depends on how it is used there.