גִּנְזַךְ
a treasury
Definition
גִּנְזַךְ (ginzak) refers specifically to a treasury or storehouse, particularly one associated with a temple or royal palace. It denotes a secure repository for valuable items, often precious metals, temple vessels, or dedicated offerings. In its sole biblical occurrence, it describes the treasury plans given by David to Solomon for the future temple (1 Chronicles 28:11). The term implies not just storage, but a formal, organized collection under official oversight.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 28:11. Here, King David gives his son Solomon the detailed architectural plans for the temple, including the design for its treasury (גִּנְזַךְ). The context is the formal, divinely-inspired transfer of responsibility for building God's house, highlighting the treasury as an integral part of the sacred complex.
Etymology
The noun גִּנְזַךְ (ginzak) is a prolonged or derived form from the root גֶּנֶז (genéz, H1595), which means 'treasure' or 'store.' This root is itself a loanword from Old Persian *ganza-, meaning 'treasury.' The development shows a specialized meaning moving from a general concept of treasure to the specific place where such treasure is kept.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it pertains directly to the temple, God's dwelling place among His people. The treasury was not merely a vault but a dedicated repository for the dedicated things of God, representing the people's offerings and God's provision. Understanding this term enriches the reading of 1 Chronicles 28 by emphasizing that every detail of the temple, including its financial and material administration, was part of God's ordained plan for proper worship.
In the ancient Near East, temple treasuries were central to both religious and state economies. They stored not only wealth but also important treaties, records, and dedicated objects. A royal or temple treasury (גִּנְזַךְ) symbolized power, stability, and divine favor. Its inclusion in the temple plans signified that Israel's worship involved the orderly and sacred management of community resources dedicated to God.
אוֹצָר (otsar, H214) — A more common and general term for treasure, storehouse, or treasury, used for both royal and divine storehouses (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:12). גִּנְזַךְ appears to be a more specific, formal, or Persian-influenced term.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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