Finding a parallel for “charism” in the Old Testament is not easy. One way is to look at various words translated “gift” in English Bibles. Using the same categories I found in the NT, I found a very different set of uses for “gift” in the older Testament.
First of all, if we think of the commonly assumed meaning of “charisms” – diversity of gifts given to believers – we find that there are only a few references, and even those are open to other interpretations. The vast majority of occurences of “gifts” in the OT relate to religious offerings and gifts exchanged between humans. There are no occurrences describing salvation as a gift, though there are a few terms which seem to imply “blessing.”
What is perhaps significant with relation to the question of ecclesial charisms, however, are the three references in Romans which describe the Levites (8:19 and 18:16) and the service of priesthood (18:7) as gifts. As far as I’ve seen, these are the only references which imply that a particular group within the people of God is itself a gift of God for the benefit of the whole. Their functional specialization also coheres well with the idea of specialized movements which are raised up around a particular gift that brings with it a vocational obligation.
BLESSING
| REF | HEB | MEANING |
| Genesis 30:20 | zebed | good gift (of a son) |
| Num. 8:19 | nathan | Levites given as a gift to Aaron & sons |
| Num. 18:6 | mattanah | Levites as gift for Israel to perform service at tent of mtg |
| Num. 18:7 | mattanah | service of the priesthood given as a gift to Aaron and sons |
| Deut. 33:15 | NA | gifts of the ancient mountains |
| Deut. 33:16 | NA | gifts of the earth |
| Psalm 127:3 | nachalah | children are a gift of the Lord |
| Eccl. 3:13 | mattath | a man’s labour is the gift of God |
| Eccl. 5:19 | mattath | a man’s labour is the gift of God |
DIVERSITY OF GIFTS GIVEN BY GOD TO BELIEVERS
| REF | HEB | MEANING |
| Num. 8:19 | nathan | Levites given as a gift to Aaron & sons |
| Num. 18:6 | mattanah | Levites as gift for Israel to perform service at tent of mtg |
| Num. 18:7 | mattanah | service of the priesthood given as a gift to Aaron and sons |
| Eccl. 3:13 | mattath | a man’s labour is the gift of God |
| Eccl. 5:19 | mattath | a man’s labour is the gift of God |
RELIGIOUS OFFERING
| REF | HEB | MEANING |
| Exodus 28:38 | mattanah | holy gifts |
| Leviticus 22:2 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Leviticus 22:3 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Leviticus 22:4 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Leviticus 22:6 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Leviticus 22:7 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Lev. 22:10 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Lev. 22:12 | terumah | gift / offering |
| Lev. 22:12 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Lev. 22:14 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Lev. 22:14 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Lev. 22:15 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Lev. 22:16 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Lev. 22:18 | NA | gift for a burnt offering |
| Lev. 23:38 | mattanah | gifts / offering |
| Numbers 5:9 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Numbers 5:10 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Numbers 7:3 | qorban | gifts / offering |
| Numbers 18:8 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Numbers 18:9 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Num. 18:10 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Num. 18:11 | mattan | gift / offering |
| Num. 18:19 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Num. 18:29 | mattanah | gifts / offering |
| Num. 18:32 | qadosh | holy (gifts / things) |
| Num. 31:52 | terumah | gift / offering |
| Deut. 12:6 | terumah | special gifts / offerings |
| Deut. 12:11 | terumah | special gifts / offerings |
| Deut. 12:17 | terumah | special gifts / offerings |
| Deut. 16:17 | mattanah | gift / offering |
| 1 Samuel 6:3 | NA | gift offering |
| 1 Samuel 9:7 | teshurah | gift to take to the man of God |
| 2 Kings 12:18 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| 1 Chro. 26:20 | qodesh | dedicated gifts |
| 1 Chro. 26:26 | qodesh | dedicated gifts |
| 2 Chro. 31:6 | qodesh | holy (gifts / things) |
| 2 Chro. 31:12 | terumah | contributions |
| 2 Chro. 31:12 | qodesh | dedicated gifts |
| 2 Chro. 31:14 | terumah | contributions |
| 2 Chro. 31:14 | qodesh | dedicated gifts |
| 2 Chro. 32:23 | minchah | gift / offering |
| Ezra 1:6 | migdanah | valuable gifts for the rebuilding of the Temple |
| Psalm 45:12 | minchah | gift for the King from daughter of Tyre |
| Psalm 68:18 | mattanah | ascended God receiving gifts from people |
| Psalm 68:29 | shay | kings will bring gifts to you |
| Psalm 72:10 | minchah | gifts for the King from kings of Tarshish and Islands |
| Psalm 72:10 | eshkar | gifts brought to the King from kings of Sheba and Seba |
| Psalm 76:11 | shay | let all around bring gifts for the Lord, who is to be feared |
| Isaiah 18:7 | shay | a gift of homage will b brought to the Lord |
| Ezekiel 20:26 | mattanah | idolatrous offering of passing sons through fire |
| Ezekiel 20:31 | mattanah | idolatrous offering of passing sons through fire |
| Ezekiel 20:39 | mattanah | idolatrous offerings will no longer profane my name |
| Ezekiel 20:40 | maseth | on holy mountain God will seek the people’s gifts |
| Ezekiel 44:30 | terumah | offerings / special gifts |
| Ezekiel 45:13 | terumah | offerings / special gifts |
| Ezekiel 48:8 | terumah | offerings / special gifts |
| Ezekiel 48:12 | terumiyyah | special gift |
| Ezekiel 48:12 | terumah | sacred portion |
| Ezekiel 48:12 | qodesh | most holy (portion) |
| Ezekiel 48:20 | terumah | special gift |
| Ezekiel 48:20 | qodesh | sacred (portion) |
| Ezekiel 48:20 | terumah | (sacred) portion |
| Hosea 8:13 | habhab | idolatrous sacrificial gifts |
| Micah 1:7 | ethnan | idolatrous temple gifts |
| Micah 1:7 | ethnan | idolatrous gifts |
| Micah 1:7 | ethnan | wages of prostitutes |
GIFTS EXCHANGED BETWEEN HUMANS
| REF | HEB | MEANING |
| Genesis 24:53 | migdanah | costly gifts |
| Genesis 25:6 | mattanah | gifts for sons of Abraham’s concubines |
| Genesis 32:13 | minchah | gift for Esau |
| Genesis 32:18 | minchah | gift for Esau |
| Genesis 32:20 | minchah | gift for Esau |
| Genesis 32:21 | minchah | gift for Esau |
| Genesis 33:10 | minchah | gift for Esau |
| Genesis 33:11 | berakah | gift for Esau |
| Genesis 34:12 | mattan | bridal gift |
| Genesis 43:11 | minchah | gift for Joseph |
| Genesis 43:15 | minchah | gifts for Joseph |
| Genesis 43:25 | minchah | gifts for Joseph |
| Genesis 43:26 | minchah | gifts for Joseph |
| 1 Sam. 10:27 | minchah | gifts for Saul |
| 1 Sam. 25:27 | berakah | gift for David |
| 1 Sam. 30:26 | berakah | gift for David |
| 2 Samuel 11:8 | maseth | gift for Uriah |
| 1 Kings 9:16 | shilluchim | wedding gift for Solomon’s daughter |
| 1 Kings 10:25 | minchah | gifts brought to Solomon from other nations |
| 1 Kings 13:7 | mattath | gift for man of God |
| 1 Kings 15:19 | shochad | gift between kings |
| 2 Kings 5:15 | berakah | gift for Elisha |
| 2 Kings 8:8 | minchah | gift for Elisha |
| 2 Kings 8:9 | minchah | gift for Elisha |
| 2 Kings 16:8 | shochad | gift for the King of Assyria |
| 2 Kings 20:12 | minchah | gift for Hezekiah |
| 2 Chro. 9:24 | minchah | gifts brought to Solomon from other nations |
| 2 Chro. 17:5 | minchah | gifts for Jehoshaphat from all Judah |
| 2 Chro. 17:11 | minchah | gifts for Jehoshaphat from Philistines, Arabians |
| 2 Chro. 21:3 | mattanah | gifts from King to sons |
| Esther 2:18 | maseth | gifts from the King to the people |
| Esther 9:22 | mattanah | gifts to the poor |
| Psalm 45:12 | minchah | gift for the King from daughter of Tyre |
| Psalm 72:10 | minchah | gifts for the King from kings of Tarshish and Islands |
| Psalm 72:10 | eshkar | gifts brought to the King from kings of Sheba and Seba |
| Psalm 112:9 | nathan | the righteous have freely scattered their gifts to the poor |
| Proverbs 6:35 | shochad | scorned husband accepts no gifts (bribe) |
| Prov. 18:16 | mattan | a man’s gift makes room for him |
| Proverbs 19:6 | mattan | all are a friend to he who gives gifts |
| Prov. 21:14 | mattan | a gift given in secret subdues anger |
| Prov. 22:16 | nathan | one who gives gifts to the rich comes to poverty |
| Prov. 25:14 | mattath | one who boasts falsely is like clouds without rain |
| Isaiah 1:23 | shochad | your rulers chase after gifts |
| Isaiah 39:1 | minchah | gifts for Hezekiah |
| Jeremiah 40:5 | maseth | gift for captain of the bodyguard |
| Ezekiel 16:33 | nedeh | men give gifts to harlots |
| Ezekiel 16:33 | nadan | you give gifts to all your lovers |
| Ezekiel 46:16 | mattanah | gift from prince to his sons – inheritance |
| Ezekiel 46:17 | mattanah | gift from prince to his servants – temporary until jubilee |
| Daniel 2:6 | mattena | king offers Daniel gifts |
| Daniel 2:48 | mattena | king gives Daniel gifts |
| Daniel 5:17 | mattena | Daniel refuses king’s gifts |
| Daniel 11:38 | yaqar | (Antiochus) will offer costly gifts to foreign god |
| Micah 1:14 | shilluchim | parting gifts |
| Micah 7:3 | shillum | ruler & judge accepts gifts / bribes |
James Pedlar 