proverb · Source-linked selection
The charitable give out at the door, and God puts in at the window.
The charitable give out at the door, and God puts in at the window.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Generosity is imagined as receiving an unexpected return through divine care. The door-and-window image expresses trust that giving need not mean simple loss, without guaranteeing repayment or material reward.
What the words are saying
The charitable person gives through the door while God supplies something through the window. The two openings make a memorable picture of resources flowing outward and inward by different routes. Read within its religious language, the saying encourages confidence in generosity and divine provision. It can also prompt reflection on the indirect benefits of helping, such as stronger bonds or a shared willingness to support others. Neither reading establishes that a particular gift will be repaid. The value of giving should not depend on a promised financial return, and a person may need to balance generosity with the responsibilities they already carry.
Everyday example
A neighbour shares supplies during a disruption and later receives help with a different practical task.
When to use it
Use it to discuss generosity, trust and unexpected support.
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What it does not mean
The religious assurance is not a guarantee of material repayment.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 230 · Charitable
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English
