The Hebrew word ma'aser means tithe or a tenth part. It derives from the root 'asar (H6237, to tithe, take a tenth) and refers to the practice of dedicating one-tenth of income, produce, or livestock to God. The tithe is one of the oldest and most foundational expressions of worship and stewardship in Scripture, predating the Mosaic law in the examples of Abraham (Genesis 14:20) and Jacob (Genesis 28:22).
The ma'aser embodies a revolutionary theological principle: everything belongs to God, and by returning a tenth, the worshipper acknowledges God's ownership of the whole. The Mosaic law established multiple tithes — one for the Levites (Numbers 18:21), a festival tithe (Deuteronomy 14:22-27), and a charity tithe every third year (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). Malachi 3:10 contains God's extraordinary challenge: test me in this, bring the whole ma'aser into the storehouse, and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven. The tithe is ultimately about trust — trusting that the God who owns everything will provide abundantly when we honor Him first.