← G1048 G1050 →

γαζοφυλάκιον

gazophylákion

G1049 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A treasury, a place within a temple or public building designated for the storage and safeguarding of valuable objects or monetary offerings. In the context of the Jerusalem temple, it refers specifically to a chamber or area where offerings and funds were collected and managed. The term can denote both the physical chamber/room for valuables and, in some contexts, the collection-boxes or chests themselves.

Semantic Range

treasury, storehouse for valuables, collection-box in a temple, temple treasury chamber, public repository for money or valuables

Root / Etymology

From the Persian γάζα (gáza, 'treasure' or 'royal treasury') and φυλακή (phylakē, 'guard, keeping, prison'), hence 'place for keeping treasure.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

The noun γαζοφυλάκιον appears in Hellenistic Greek texts to refer to treasuries or storehouses for valuables, both in secular and sacred contexts. In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 12:41; John 8:20), γαζοφυλάκιον specifically designates the part of the Jerusalem temple complex where monetary offerings were deposited, typically in the form of chests or boxes under priestly oversight. The term highlights both the function (guarded storage) and the association with religious practice. Classical Greek had its own terms for public and sacred treasuries (e.g., θησαυρός), but γαζοφυλάκιον became more common in the context of Near Eastern and Hellenistic temple administrations. The English term 'treasury' partially captures the meaning but does not distinguish between a public/state storehouse and the specialized temple context. Translators sometimes render it 'treasury' without indicating that the reference is specifically to a temple chamber or collection-boxes within the Jerusalem temple. In the LXX, similar terms denote storerooms or temple treasuries but γαζοφυλάκιον itself is rare. Unlike θησαυρός, which can broadly mean 'storehouse' or 'treasure,' γαζοφυλάκιον implies both value and guardedness as well as a specialized religious context.

Translation Consistency

primary "treasury" 5 occurrences

"Treasury" is the common, natural English term that covers the full SILEX range — a room or chamber for valuables in a temple/public building and the collection-boxes/chests themselves. It is the most frequent rendering in the P2 data and sounds natural in modern English while preserving the historical/administrative sense.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from γάζα and φυλακή; a treasure-house, i.e. a court in the temple for the collection-boxes:--treasury.

Root Family

γαζοφυλακ- (gazophylákion) — to guard treasure, to store valuables

Root γαζοφυλακ- to guard treasure, to store valuables

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1049-02 γαζοφυλάκιον gazophulakion N ACC N SG treasury treasure-keeping treasury treasury 3
G1049-01 γαζοφυλακίῳ gazophulakio N DAT N SG treasury in the treasury chamber treasury chamber 1
G1049-03 γαζοφυλακίου gazophulakiou N GEN N SG treasury of the treasury chamber treasury chamber 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1049-03 Mark 12:41 γαζοφυλακίου gazophulakiou N GEN N SG treasury of the treasury chamber treasury chamber
G1049-02 Mark 12:41 γαζοφυλάκιον gazophulakion N ACC N SG treasury treasure-keeping treasury treasury
G1049-02 Mark 12:43 γαζοφυλάκιον gazophulakion N ACC N SG treasury treasure-keeping treasury treasury
G1049-02 Luke 21:1 γαζοφυλάκιον gazophulakion N ACC N SG treasury treasure-keeping treasury treasury
G1049-01 John 8:20 γαζοφυλακίῳ gazophulakio N DAT N SG treasury in the treasury chamber treasury chamber
← G1048 Greek Lexicon G1050 →