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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Treasure; Treasurer; Treasury
Subjects in this Topic:
trezh´uÌ„Ìr, trezh´uÌ„Ìr-ẽr, trezh´uÌ„Ìr-i (×וצר, 'oÌ„caÌ„r, ×’Ö¼× ×–, genaz, ×’Ö¼× ×–, genez, ×’Ö¼× ×–×š, ganzakh, חסן, hÌ£oÌ„sÌ£en מטמון, matÌ£moÌ„n, ×ž×¡×›Ö¼× ×”, misÌ£kenaÌ„h, מכמן, mikhman, עתוּד, ‛aÌ„thuÌ„dh, שׂפן, saÌ„phan; γαÌζα, gaÌza, θησαυÏοÌÏ‚, theÌ„sauroÌs):
I. In the Old Testament.
1. Treasure
The English word “treasure†has in the Old Testament at least five somewhat distinct meanings as expressed in the words: “treasure,†genaz (Aramaic) or genez (Hebrew), usually meaning “the thing storedâ€; translated “treasures†in , but in and translated “treasure-houseâ€: “search made in the king's treasure-house.†In ; the Hebrew form is translated “treasury,†as is ganzakh in .
2. Storehouse:
“Storehouse,†not the thing stored but the place of storage; 'oÌ„caÌ„r means depository, cellar, garner, armory, store or treasure-house. In several places it ought to be translated by some of these words. It is the most frequent word for treasure. the English Revised Version and the American Standard Revised Version both translate in some instances by other words, e.g. , “treasuries of the house of Yahweh,†so also ; “treasury†in , , “gave to the treasury a thousand darics of goldâ€; in , “treasuries of the snow†(compare ; ; ; ).
3. Hidden Riches:
“Treasure†or something concealed. There are 3 Hebrew words with this meaning and all in the King James Version translated “treasure.†(1) Maṭmōn, which literally means “a secret storehouse†and so a secreted valuable, usually money buried, and so hidden riches of any kind, hid treasures: “treasure in your sacks†(); “dig for it more than for hid treasures†(); “search for her as for hid treasures†(); “We have stores hidden in the field, of wheat,†etc. (). (2) Mikhman, treasure as hidden, used only in : “have power over the treasures of gold and silver.†(3) Sāphan, meaning hidden treasure or valuables concealed: “hidden treasures of the sand†().
4. Strength:
Perhaps the strength of riches and so treasure, the Hebrew word being ḥōṣen, from a root meaning to hoard or lay up: “In the house of the righteous is much treasure†(); “They take treasure and precious things†().
5. Something Prepared:
“Something prepared,†made ready, the Hebrew word being ‛āthūdh, meaning “prepared,†“ready,†therefore something of value and so treasure: “have robbed their treasures,†fortifications or other things “made ready†().
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word most often translated “treasure†is 'ōcār. It occurs in the sing. as follows: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; in the pl.: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; , etc.
The same word is in the King James Version translated “treasuries†in ; ; ; , ; ; and “treasury†in , ; .
II. In the New Testament.
1. Gaza:
There are two words translated “treasureâ€: GaÌza is of Persian origin, meaning “treasure.†Found only once in concerning the Ethiopian “who was over all her (Queen Candace's) treasure.†In the compound γαζοφυλαÌκιον, gazophulaÌkion, “guarding of gaza,†the same word appears and the compound is translated “treasury†in , parallel ; . See TEMPLE; TREASURY (OF TEMPLE).
2. Thesauros:
The word thēsauros means literally, a “deposit,†so wealth and treasure. Evidently throughout the New Testament it has a twofold usage as describing (1) material treasure, either money or other valuable material possession, and (2) spiritual treasure, e.g. “like unto treasure hid in a field†(); “good treasure of the heart†(). Other references to material treasure are ; ; , , etc. References to spiritual treasure are ; ; ; ; ; plural ; .
In the word for “treasury†is κοÏβανᾶς, korbanaÌs; compare the Revised Version margin. See CORBAN.
Treasurer
(×צר, 'aÌ„car, גּדבר, gedhaÌ„bhaÌ„r, גּזבּר, gizbaÌ„r, סכן, sÌ£aÌ„khan; οἰκονοÌμος, oikonoÌmos): (1) 'Acar, meaning primarily “to store up,†and hence, one who lays up in store, i.e. a “treasurerâ€: “I made treasurers over the treasuries†(). (2) GedhaÌ„bhaÌ„r (Aramaic), used only in , : “treasurers,†named with judges and counselors as recognized officials. (3) GizbaÌ„r, used in (Aramaic) and equivalent in (Hebrew): “treasurers beyond the river†and “Mithredath the treasurer.†(4) SÌ£aÌ„khan, primarily meaning “one who ministers to,†and hence, a keeper of treasure, treasurer: “Get thee unto this treasurer†(). Perhaps the idea of steward is here intended. (5) Oikonomos, by the King James Version translated “chamberlain,†more properly in the American Standard Revised Version translated “treasurerâ€: “Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you†().