tithing

Tithing is the practice of giving a tenth of one’s income or agricultural produce to a religious institution or to charitable causes. The term comes from Old English, meaning tenth, and the concept appears in ancient religious and legal texts as a form of communal support and worship.

Historically, in ancient Israel, tithes funded the Levites and priests, supported temple operations, and paid for religious festivals and public welfare. The biblical system also included additional tithe provisions intended for other religious and social purposes, such as aiding the poor.

In Judaism, the concept of tithe is discussed in rabbinic literature and historical practice, with distinctions among various tithes (ma’aser) and allocations such as terumah for priests and ma’aser ani for the poor. The specifics have evolved over time with changes in agricultural practices and communal needs.

In Christianity, tithing developed as a discipline for supporters of the church, commonly described as giving about 10% of one’s income to the church to fund worship, missions, and charitable programs. Practices and expectations vary by denomination; some churches teach tithing as a churchwide obligation, others view it as a voluntary guideline or financial principle.

Other traditions distinguish tithing from zakat, the Islamic almsgiving pillar, which requires a calculated portion of wealth, commonly 2.5%, allocated for the needy and communal use. In modern secular contexts, tithing often intersects with tax policy and charitable giving, with debates about its obligation, interpretation, and economic impact.