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What the Bible Says About Presents

Overview

The Bible addresses presents across 65 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, 1 Samuel and 2 Kings. Closely related themes include Prudence, Travellers, Solomon and Servants. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph.

Key Bible verses about presents

Old Testament

Genesis

Genesis 20:14

And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.

Genesis 21:28

And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

Genesis 21:29

And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

Genesis 21:30

And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

Genesis 24:22

And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold; earring: or, jewel for the forehead

Genesis 24:47

And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

Genesis 24:53

And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. jewels: Heb. vessels

Genesis 29:24

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

Genesis 29:29

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

Genesis 32:13

And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

Genesis 32:14

Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,

Genesis 32:15

Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.

Genesis 32:18

Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

Genesis 32:20

And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. of me: Heb. my face

Genesis 32:21

So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.

Genesis 33:10

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.

Genesis 33:11

Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it. enough: Heb. all things

Genesis 43:11

And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

Genesis 43:15

And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

Genesis 43:25

And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

Genesis 43:26

And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

Genesis 45:22

To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 9:7

Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? is spent: Heb. is gone out of, etc have we: Heb. is with us?

1 Samuel 9:8

And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. I have: Heb. there is found in my hand

1 Samuel 18:3

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

1 Samuel 18:4

And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

1 Samuel 25:18

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. clusters: or, lumps

1 Samuel 25:27

And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. blessing: or, present follow: Heb. walk at the feet of, etc

1 Samuel 25:28

I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

1 Samuel 25:35

So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

1 Kings

1 Kings 10:2

And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

1 Kings 10:25

And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

1 Kings 14:3

And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child. with: Heb. in thine hand cracknels: or, cakes cruse: or, bottle

1 Kings 15:18

Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

2 Kings

2 Kings 5:2

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. waited: Heb. was before

2 Kings 8:8

And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

2 Kings 8:9

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? with: Heb. in his hand

2 Kings 17:24

And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

2 Kings 20:12

At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. Berodachbaladan: or, Merodachbaladan

2 Chronicles

People in the Bible and presents

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying presents for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 20:14, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Genesis, 1 Samuel and 2 Kings each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of David, Abraham and Jacob and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Prudence, Travellers, Solomon and Servants.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about presents?

The Bible addresses presents across 65 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, 1 Samuel and 2 Kings. Closely related themes include Prudence, Travellers, Solomon and Servants. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Abraham, Jacob and Joseph.

How many Bible verses are about presents?

The Bible references presents in 65 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention presents?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 20:14: “And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with presents?

David, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and Solomon.

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