Meaning
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 Esth 3:9, Esth 4:7 the Hebrew form is translated "treasury," as is ganzakh in 1Ch 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. 1Ki 7:51, "treasuries of the house of Yahweh," so also 2Ch 5:1; "treasury" in Neh 7:70, Neh 7:71, "gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold"; in Job 38:22, "treasuries of the snow" (compare Prov 8:21, Jer 10:13, Jer 51:16, Ezra 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" (Ge 43:23); "dig for it more than for hid treasures" (Job 3:21); "search for her as for hid treasures" (Pr 2:4); "We have stores hidden in the field, of wheat," etc. (Jer 41:8). (2) Mikhman, treasure as hidden, used only in Da 11:43: "have power over the treasures of gold and silver." (3) Saphan, meaning hidden treasure or valuables concealed: "hidden treasures of the sand" (De 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" (Pr 15:6); "They take treasure and precious things" (Eze 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: Deut 28:12, 1Chr 29:8, Neh 10:38, Ps 17:14, Ps 135:4, Prov 15:16, Prov 21:20, Eccl 2:8, Isa 33:6, Dan 1:2, Hos 13:15; in the pl.: Deut 32:34, 1Kgs 14:26, 1Kgs 15:18, 2Kgs 12:18, 2Kgs 14:14, 2Kgs 16:8, 2Kgs 18:15, 2Kgs 20:13, 2Kgs 20:15, 2Kgs 24:13, etc.
The same word is in the King James Version translated "treasuries" in 1Chr 9:26, 1Chr 28:12, 2Chr 32:27, Neh 13:12, Neh 13:13, Ps 135:7; and "treasury" in Josh 6:19, Josh 6:24, 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 Ac 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 Mark 12:41, Mark 12:43 parallel Luke 21:1, John 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 Matt 6:21, Matt 13:52, Luke 12:21, Luke 12:34, etc. References to spiritual treasure are Matt 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 6:45, Luke 12:33, Luke 18:22; plural Matt 6:20, Col 2:3.
In Mt 27:6 the word for "treasury" is korbanas; compare the Revised Version margin.
See CORBAN.
