TREASURE; TREASURER; TREASURY
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 below:
"Treasure," genes (Aramaic) or genes (Hebrew), usually meaning "the thing stored"; translated "treasures" in Ezra 6:1, but in 5:17 and 7:20 translated "treasure-house": "search made in the king's treasure-house." In Esther 3:9; 4:7 the Hebrew form is translated as "treasury".
2. Storehouse:
"Storehouse," not the thing stored but the place of storage; 'other means depository, cellar, garner, armoury, 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 Kings 7:51, "treasuries of the house of Yahweh," so also 2 Chronicles 5:1; "treasury" in Nehemiah 7:70,71, "gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold"; in Job 38:22, "treasuries of the snow" (compare Proverbs 8:21; Jeremiah 10:13; 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 as "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" (Genesis 43:23); "dig for it more than for hid treasures" (Job 3:21); "search for her as for hid treasures" (Proverbs 2:4); "We have stores hidden in the field, of wheat," etc. (Jeremiah 41:8). (2) Mikhman, treasure as hidden, used only in Daniel 11:43: "have power over the treasures of gold and silver." (3) Saphan, meaning hidden treasure or valuables concealed: "hidden treasures of the sand" (Deuteronomy 33:19).
4. Strength:
Perhaps the strength of riches and so treasure, the Hebrew word being chosen, from a root meaning to hoard or lay up:
"In the house of the righteous is much treasure" (Proverbs 15:6); "They take treasure and precious things" (Ezekiel 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" (Isaiah 10:13).
II. In the New Testament.
1. Gaza:
There are two words translated as "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 as "treasury" in Mark 12:41,43 parallel Luke 21:1; John 8:20.
2. Thesaurus:
The word thesaurus means 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" (Matthew 13:44); "good treasure of the heart" (Matthew 12:35).
In Matthew 27:6 the word for "treasury" is korban.
Thus: you are not common, you are not ordinary, you are not small, and you are not a failure. You have the blood-bought right to rise to stardom. TREASURE WITHOUT MEASURE IS YOUR PERFECT AND RIGHT DESCRIPTION
God bless you for the good work MOG
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