# Is “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day” in the Bible?

> No. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day” is not in the Bible.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/give-a-man-a-fish
By Andrew Kittridge · October 28, 2026

Scripture does value work and sharing: whoever is not willing to work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10), and we work so we have something to share with anyone in need (Ephesians 4:28).

Not in the Bible. Origin uncertain.

## What the Bible says instead

> For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, he should not eat.”
>
> — [2 Thessalonians 3:10](https://www.lumin.faith/read/2-thessalonians/3#10) (Lumin Translation)

> The one who steals must steal no longer; instead, he must labor, doing good work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
>
> — [Ephesians 4:28](https://www.lumin.faith/read/ephesians/4#28) (Lumin Translation)

## Common questions

### Is “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day” in the Bible?

No. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day” is not in the Bible. Scripture does value work and sharing: whoever is not willing to work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10), and we work so we have something to share with anyone in need (Ephesians 4:28).

### What does the Bible say instead?

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Ephesians 4:28. Scripture does value work and sharing: whoever is not willing to work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10), and we work so we have something to share with anyone in need (Ephesians 4:28).

## More

- [Is “Let go and let God” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/let-go-and-let-god.md)
- [Is “Amen” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/amen.md)
- [Is “Dinosaur” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/dinosaur.md)
- [Is “Halloween” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/halloween.md)
- [Is “Rapture” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/rapture.md)
- [Is “Trinity” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/trinity.md)
- [Is “This too shall pass” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/this-too-shall-pass.md)
- [Is “The lion will lie down with the lamb” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-lion-will-lie-down-with-the-lamb.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)