In biblical terms, "a tenth" often refers to the practice of tithing, which is the act of giving one-tenth of one's income or produce as an offering to God. This practice is deeply rooted in the religious and cultural traditions of the Israelites and is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible.

Old Testament References

The concept of tithing is first introduced in the Book of Genesis. Abraham, after rescuing Lot and defeating the kings, gives a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High. Genesis 14:20 states, "Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything."

The practice is further established in the Mosaic Law. Leviticus 27:30 commands, "Thus any tithe of the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." This indicates that the tithe was considered sacred and set apart for God.

In Numbers 18:21 , the Levites are designated as the recipients of the tithe: "Behold, I have given the Levites every tithe in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do—the work of the Tent of Meeting." The Levites, who served in the temple and had no inheritance of land, relied on the tithes for their sustenance.

Deuteronomy 14:22-23 further elaborates on the purpose of tithing: "You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields. And you are to eat the tithe of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always."

Prophetic Literature

The prophets also address the issue of tithing, often in the context of calling the people back to faithful observance of the law. Malachi 3:10 is a well-known passage that challenges the Israelites to bring the full tithe into the storehouse: "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the LORD of Hosts. "See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus acknowledges the practice of tithing but emphasizes the importance of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. In Matthew 23:23 , He criticizes the Pharisees: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

The Apostle Paul, while not explicitly mentioning tithing, speaks to the principle of generous giving. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 , he writes, "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver."

Cultural and Theological Significance

The practice of giving a tenth has been a significant aspect of worship and community life in biblical times. It served as a means of supporting religious leaders, aiding the poor, and fostering a sense of dependence on and gratitude to God. The tithe was not merely a financial transaction but a spiritual discipline that reflected one's relationship with God and commitment to His commandments.Malachi 3:10
Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Topicalbible.org

Hebrews 7:1-28
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Topicalbible.org

Genesis 14:20
And blessed be the most high God, which has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Topicalbible.org

Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy to the LORD.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 11:42
But woe to you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Topicalbible.org

1181. dekate -- a tenth part, a tithe
... a tenth part, a tithe. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: dekate Phonetic
Spelling: (dek-at'-ay) Short Definition: a tenth part, a tithe Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1181.htm - 6k

1182. dekatos -- tenth
... dekatos. 1183 . tenth. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: dekatos Phonetic
Spelling: (dek'-at-os) Short Definition: tenth Definition: tenth. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1182.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

787. assarion -- an assarion, a farthing (one tenth of a drachma)
... an assarion, a farthing (one tenth of a drachma). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: assarion Phonetic Spelling: (as-sar'-ee-on) Short Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/787.htm - 6k

586. apodekatoo -- to pay a tenth of
... to pay a tenth 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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/586.htm - 6k

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

2503. iota -- iota
... Word Origin of Semitic origin; name of the Gr. letter corresponding to the tenth
Heb. letter, yod Definition iota NASB Word Usage letter (1). jot, iota. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2503.htm - 7k

1183. dekatoo -- to collect tithes
... See 1181 (). Word Origin from dekate Definition to collect tithes NASB Word Usage
collected a tenth (1), paid tithes (1). pay or receive tithes. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1183.htm - 6k

1835. hexekonta -- sixty
... sixty, threescore. The tenth multiple of hex; sixty -- sixty(-fold), threescore.
see GREEK hex. (exekonta) -- 9 Occurrences. 1834, 1835. hexekonta. 1836 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1835.htm - 6k

1768. ennenekontaennea -- ninety-nine.
... Word Origin variant reading for enenekonta, qv. ninety-nine. From a (tenth) multiple
of ennea and ennea itself; ninety-nine -- ninety and nine. see GREEK ennea. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1768.htm - 6k

6224. asiri -- tenth
... asiri or asiriyyah or asirith. 6225 . tenth. Transliteration: asiri or asiriyyah
or asirith Phonetic Spelling: (as-ee-ree') Short Definition: tenth. ...
/hebrew/6224.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

6241. issaron -- tenth part
... 6240, 6241. issaron. 6242 . tenth part. Transliteration: issaron Phonetic
Spelling: (is-saw-rone') Short Definition: two-tenths. ...
/hebrew/6241.htm - 6k

4643. maaser -- tenth part, tithe
... maaser or maasar or maasrah. 4644 . tenth part, tithe. Transliteration: maaser
or maasar or maasrah Phonetic Spelling: (mah-as-ayr') Short Definition: tithe. ...
/hebrew/4643.htm - 6k

2887. Tebeth -- tenth Heb. month
... 2886, 2887. Tebeth. 2888 . tenth Heb. ... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition
tenth Heb. month NASB Word Usage Tebeth (1). Tebeth. ...
/hebrew/2887.htm - 5k

259. echad -- one
... can him who (1), one the other (1), one to another (1), one will to another (1),
one another (4), one thing (2), one thing to another (1), one-tenth (1), one ...
/hebrew/259.htm - 7k

6218. asor -- a ten, decade
asor or asor. 6217, 6218. asor or asor. 6219 . a ten, decade. Transliteration:
asor or asor Phonetic Spelling: (aw-sore') Short Definition: tenth. ...
/hebrew/6218.htm - 6k

6240. asar -- ten
... thirteen* (12), thirteenth* (11), twelfth* (22), twelve* (93). ten, teen,
tenth. For eser; ten (only in combination), ie -teen; also ...
/hebrew/6240.htm - 6k

From the Tenth Chapter.
... from the tenth chapter. 1, 2. "I saw another mighty angel coming down
from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon ...
/.../commentary on the apocolypse of the blessed john/from the tenth chapter.htm

Tenth Letter
... LETTERS TENTH LETTER. Has difficulty, but sacrifices his will, to write as requested. *
The loss of a friend may lead to acquaintance with the Friend. ...
/.../lawrence/the practice of the presence of god/tenth letter.htm

Tenth Chapter
... The History and Life of the Reverend Doctor John Tauler. TENTH CHAPTER. An
excellent sermon which this Doctor delivered in a convent ...
/.../the history and life of the reverend doctor john tauler/tenth chapter.htm

The Tenth Commandment
... 2. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS 2.10 The Tenth Commandment. ... Use. Take heed and beware of
covetousness.' Luke 12:15. It is a direct breach of the tenth commandment. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 1 the tenth commandment.htm

J. The Tenth Commandment
... I. The Ten Commandments: The Simple Way a Father Should Present Them to
His Household J. The Tenth Commandment. You must not desire ...
/.../luther/luthers little instruction book/j the tenth commandment.htm

Tenth Proposition of Arminius.
... TENTH PROPOSITION OF ARMINIUS. First, in general.1. Since ... as having entered.
ANSWER OF JUNIUS TO THE TENTH PROPOSITION. Before I ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/tenth proposition of arminius.htm

January the Tenth the Lust of the Eye
... JANUARY The Tenth THE LUST OF THE EYE. GENESIS xiii.10-18. Look at Lot. He was a
man of the world, sharp as a needle, having an eye to the main chance. ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/january the tenth the lust.htm

February the Tenth Registering a Verdict
... FEBRUARY The Tenth REGISTERING A VERDICT. "The Lord our God will we serve, and His
voice will we obey." "Joshua 24:22-28. Here was a definite decision. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/february the tenth registering a.htm

April the Tenth Resurrection-Light
... APRIL The Tenth RESURRECTION-LIGHT. "If we believe that Jesus died and rose
again...." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. That is the eastern ...
/.../april the tenth resurrection-light.htm

September the Tenth Criticism and Piety
... SEPTEMBER The Tenth CRITICISM AND PIETY. "Thinkest thou, that judgest them
that do such things, that thou shalt escape?" "Romans 2:1-11. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/september the tenth criticism and.htm

A: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus