Reference: Gift
Easton
(1.) An gratuity (Pr 19:6) to secure favour (Pr 18:16; 21:14), a thank-offering (Nu 18:11), or a dowry (Ge 34:12).
(2.) An oblation or proppitatory gift (2Sa 8:2,6; 1Ch 18:2,6; 2Ch 26:8; Ps 45:12; 72:10).
(3.) A bribe to a judge to obtain a favourable verdict (Ex 23:8; De 16:19).
(4.) Simply a thing given (Mt 7:11; Lu 11:13; Eph 4:8); sacrifical (Mt 5:23-24; 8:4); eleemosynary (Lu 21:1); a gratuity (Joh 4:10; Ac 8:20). In Ac 2:38 the generic word dorea is rendered "gift." It differs from the charisma (1Co 12:4) as denoting not miraculous powers but the working of a new spirit in men, and that spirit from God.
The giving of presents entered largely into the affairs of common life in the East. The nature of the presents was as various as were the occasions: food (1Sa 9:7; 16:20), sheep and cattle (Ge 32:13-15), gold (2Sa 18:11), jewels (Ge 24:53), furniture, and vessels for eating and drinking (2Sa 17:28); delicacies, as spices, honey, etc. (1Ki 10:25; 2Ki 5:1; 22). The mode of presentation was with as much parade as possible: the presents were conveyed by the hands of servants (Jg 3:18), or still better, on the backs of beasts of burden (2Ki 8:9). The refusal of a present was regarded as a high indignity; and this constituted the aggravated insult noticed in Mt 22:11, the marriage robe having been offered and refused.
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And the servant took forth jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: But unto her brother and to her mother, he gave spices.
And he tarried there that same night, and took of that which came to hand, a present, unto Esau his brother: Two hundred she goats and twenty he goats: two hundred sheep and twenty rams: read more. thirty milch camels with their colts: forty cows and ten bulls: twenty she asses and ten foals
Ask freely of me both the dowry and gifts, and I will give according as ye say unto me, and give me the damsel to wife."
Thou shalt take no gifts, for gifts blind the seeing and pervert the words of the righteous.
And this shall be thine: the heave offering of their gifts, throughout all the wave offerings of the children of Israel, for I have given them unto thee and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee, to be a duty forever: and all that are clean in thy house, shall eat of it,
Wrest not the law, nor know any person, neither take any reward: for gifts blind the wise and pervert the words of the righteous.
And when he had delivered the present, he let the people go that had carried the present,
Then said Saul to his lad, "If we go, what shall we bring the man? For our bread is all spent out of our hampers and there is none other present to bring the man of God. What have we?"
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a flacket of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
And he beat the Moabites and measured them with a line, making them lie along the earth; so that he brought two parts of them to death, and let one part live. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and paid tribute.
And the Syrians became servants to David paying tribute. And thus the LORD saved David in all that he went to.
brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels: and also corn, barley, flour and parched corn, beans and rice,
And Joab said unto him that told him, "Lo, sawest thou him? And why didst thou not there smite him to the ground, that I should have given thee ten sicles of silver and a soldier's girdle?"
And brought him every man his present, vessels of silver and of gold, and of raiment, harness, sweet odours, horses and mules, year by year.
And Hazael went to meet him and took presents with him, even of all the good things of Damascus - as much as forty camels could bear - and came and presented himself before him and said, "Thy son Benhadad, king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying, 'Shall I recover of this my disease?'"
The daughters of Tyre shall be there with gifts, the rich among the people shall make their supplication before thee.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall give presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts.
Liberality bringeth a man to honour and worship, and setteth him among great men.
The multitude hangeth upon great men; and every man favoureth him that giveth rewards.
A privy reward pacifieth displeasure; and a gift in the bosom stilleth furiousness.
Therefore when thou offerest thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thine offering before the altar, and go thy way first, and be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
If ye then, which are evil, can give to your children good gifts, how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask of him?
And Jesus said unto him, "See thou tell no man; but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, to be offered in witness to them."
Then the King came in, to visit the guests, and spied there a man which had not on a wedding garment,
If ye then which are evil, can give good gifts unto your children: How much more shall the father of heaven give a holy spirit to them, that desire it of him?"
As he beheld, he saw the rich men, how they cast in their offerings into the treasury.
Jesus answered and said unto her, "If thou knowest the gift of God, and who it is, that sayeth to thee, 'Give me drink': thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee water of life."
Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptised every one of of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy ghost.
Then said Peter unto him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou wenest that the gift of God may be obtained with money.
There are diversities of gifts verily, yet but one spirit.
Wherefore he saith, "He is gone up on high, and hath led captivity captive, and hath given gifts unto men."
Smith
Gift.
The giving and receiving of presents has in all ages been not only a more frequent but also a more formal and significant proceeding in the East than among ourselves. We cannot adduce a more remarkable proof of the important part which presents play in the social life of the East than the fact that the Hebrew language possesses no less than fifteen different expressions for the one idea. The mode of presentation was with as much parade as possible. The refusal of a present was regarded us a high indignity. No less an insult was it not to bring a present when the position of the parties demanded it.
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But the children of Belial said, "How shall he save us?" And despised him and brought him not presents. And he made as though he had not heard it.