Festivals & practices
Tithe
A tenth of produce or livestock set apart as holy to God under biblical law.
Also called · tenth
What it means
Leviticus sets apart a tenth of grain and fruit. For cattle and sheep, every tenth animal passing under the rod is holy; good and bad animals must not be selected or exchanged.
Deuteronomy describes eating the tithe with the household at God’s chosen place and caring for the Levite. Every third year, that year’s tithe is stored in the town so Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows can eat.
How it appears in the Bible
Malachi calls for the full tithe to be brought to the storehouse so there is food in God’s house. Jesus says tithing must not accompany neglect of the more important matters of justice, mercy, and faith; neither should tithing be abandoned.