Treasury

Treasury [EBD]

(Matt. 27:6; Mark 12:41; John 8:20). It does not appear that there was a separate building so called. The name was given to the thirteen brazen chests, called "trumpets," from the form of the opening into which the offerings of the temple worshippers were put. These stood in the outer "court of the women." "Nine chests were for the appointed money-tribute and for the sacrifice-tribute, i.e., money-gifts instead of the sacrifices; four chests for freewill-offerings for wood, incense, temple decoration, and burnt-offerings" (Lightfoot's Hor. Heb.).

Treasure [NAVE]

TREASURE
1. A thing of highly estimated value. Money, Gen. 42:25, 27, 28, 35; 43:23, with vs. 18,21,22. Precious stones, 1 Chr. 29:8.
Jesus forbids the hoarding of, Matt. 6:19; 19:21; Luke 12:33.
Hidden, Matt. 13:44.
Figurative
Of the graces of the spirit, Prov. 21:20; Isa. 33:6.
Of spiritual understanding, Matt. 13:52; Col. 2:3.
Of the object of the affections, Matt. 6:21; Luke 12:34.
Of spiritual calling, 2 Cor. 4:6, 7.
Gospel called, 2 Cor. 4:7.
Parable of, Matt. 13:44.

TREASURY [SMITH]

(Mark 12:41; Luke 21:1) a name given by the rabbins to thirteen chests in the temple, called trumpets from their shape. They stood in the court of the women. It would seem probable that this court was sometimes itself called "the treasury" because it contained these repositories.

TREASURE; TREASURER; TREASURY [ISBE]

TREASURE; TREASURER; TREASURY - trezh'-ur, trezh'-ur-er, trezh'-ur-i (otsar, genaz, genez, ganzakh, chocen matmon, mickenah, mikhman, `athudh, saphan; gaza, thesauros):

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 stored"; translated "treasures" in Ezr 6:1, but in 5:17 and 7:20 translated "treasure-house": "search made in the king's treasure-house." In Est 3:9; 4:7 the Hebrew form is translated "treasury," as is ganzakh in 1 Ch 28:11.

2. Storehouse:

"Storehouse," not the thing stored but the place of storage; 'otsar 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. 1 Ki 7:51, "treasuries of the house of Yahweh," so also 2 Ch 5:1; "treasury" in Neh 7:70,71, "gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold"; in Job 38:22, "treasuries of the snow" (compare Prov 8:21; Jer 10:13; 51:16; Ezr 2:69).

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) Matmon, 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" (Gen 43:23); "dig for it more than for hid treasures" (Job 3:21); "search for her as for hid treasures" (Prov 2:4); "We have stores hidden in the field, of wheat," etc. (Jer 41:8). (2) Mikhman, treasure as hidden, used only in Dan 11:43: "have power over the treasures of gold and silver." (3) Saphan, meaning hidden treasure or valuables concealed: "hidden treasures of the sand" (Dt 33:19).

4. Strength:

Perhaps the strength of riches and so treasure, the Hebrew word being chocen, from a root meaning to hoard or lay up: "In the house of the righteous is much treasure" (Prov 15:6); "They take treasure and precious things" (Ezek 22:25).

5. Something Prepared:

"Something prepared," made ready, the Hebrew word being `athudh, meaning "prepared," "ready," therefore something of value and so treasure: "have robbed their treasures," fortifications or other things "made ready" (Isa 10:13).

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word most often translated "treasure" is 'otsar. It occurs in the sing. as follows: Dt 28:12; 1 Ch 29:8; Neh 10:38; Ps 17:14; 135:4; Prov 15:16; 21:20; Eccl 2:8; Isa 33:6; Dan 1:2; Hos 13:15; in the pl.: Dt 32:34; 1 Ki 14:26; 15:18; 2 Ki 12:18; 14:14; 16:8; 18:15; 20:13,15; 24:13, etc.

The same word is in the King James Version translated "treasuries" in 1 Ch 9:26; 28:12; 2 Ch 32:27; Neh 13:12,13; Ps 135:7; and "treasury" in Josh 6:19,24; Jer 38:11.

II. In the New Testament.

1. Gaza:

There are two words translated "treasure": Gaza is of Persian origin, meaning "treasure." Found only once in Acts 8:27 concerning the Ethiopian "who was over all her (Queen Candace's) treasure." In the compound gazophulakion, "guarding of gaza," the same word appears and the compound is translated "treasury" in Mk 12:41,43 parallel Lk 21:1; Jn 8:20.

See TEMPLE; TREASURY (OF TEMPLE).

2. Thesauros:

The word thesauros 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" (Mt 13:44); "good treasure of the heart" (Mt 12:35). Other references to material treasure are Mt 6:21; 13:52; Lk 12:21,34, etc. References to spiritual treasure are Mt 19:21; Mk 10:21; Lk 6:45; 12:33; 18:22; plural Mt 6:20; Col 2:3.

In Mt 27:6 the word for "treasury" is korbanas; compare the Revised Version margin.

See CORBAN.

TREASURER [ISBE]

TREASURER - ('atsar, gedhabhar, gizbar, cakhan; oikonomos): (1) 'Atsar, meaning primarily "to store up," and hence, one who lays up in store, i.e. a "treasurer": "I made treasurers over the treasuries" (Neh 13:13). (2) Gedhabhar (Aramaic), used only in Dan 3:2,3: "treasurers," named with judges and counselors as recognized officials. (3) Gizbar, used in Ezr 7:21 (Aramaic) and equivalent in Ezr 1:8 (Hebrew): "treasurers beyond the river" and "Mithredath the treasurer." (4) Cakhan, primarily meaning "one who ministers to," and hence, a keeper of treasure, treasurer: "Get thee unto this treasurer" (Isa 22:15). 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 "treasurer": "Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you" (Rom 16:23).

William Edward Raffety