2343. thésaurizó

Lexical Summary

thésaurizó: To store up, to lay up, to treasure

Original Word: θησαυρίζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: thésaurizó
Pronunciation: thay-sow-RID-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (thay-sow-rid'-zo)
KJV: lay up (treasure), (keep) in store, (heap) treasure (together, up)
NASB: save, store, reserved, stored up treasure, stores up treasure, storing
Word Origin: [from G2344 (θησαυρός - treasure)]

1. to amass or reserve
{literally or figuratively}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

lay up treasure, keep in store.

From thesauros; to amass or reserve (literally or figuratively) -- lay up (treasure), (keep) in store, (heap) treasure (together, up).

see GREEK thesauros

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2343 thēsaurízō – properly, to put away, "store up"; lay aside treasure, built up (accumulated) for the day of future recompense. See 2344 (thēsauros).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from thésauros
Definition
to lay up, store up
NASB Translation
reserved (1), save (2), store (2), stored up...treasure (1), stores up treasure (1), storing (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2343: θησαυρίζω

θησαυρίζω; 1 aorist ἐθησαυρισα; perfect passive participle τεθησαυρισμενος; (θησαυρός); from Herodotus down; to gather and lay up, to heap up, store up: to accumulate riches, James 5:3; τίνι, Luke 12:21; 2 Corinthians 12:14; τί, 1 Corinthians 16:2; θησαυρούς ἐηαύτω, Matthew 6:19f; equivalent to to keep in store, store up, reserve: passive 2 Peter 3:7; metaphorically, so to live from day to day as to increase either the bitterness or the happiness of one's consequent lot: ὀργήν ἑαυτῷ, Romans 2:5; κακά, Proverbs 1:18; ζωήν, Psalms of Solomon 9, 9 (ἐυτυχιαν, Appendix, Samn. 4, 3 (i. e. vol. i., p. 23, 31 edition, Bekker); τεθησαυρισμενος κατά τίνος φθόνος, Diodorus 20, 36). (Compare: ἀποθησαυρίζω.)

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Scope

The verb denotes the intentional laying up of treasure, whether material or immaterial, for future use. It always carries the idea of deliberate accumulation rather than casual possession.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Matthew 6:19 — “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”
2. Matthew 6:20 — “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
3. Luke 12:21 — “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
4. Romans 2:5 — “But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”
5. 2 Corinthians 12:14 — “For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.”
6. 1 Corinthians 16:2 — “On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
7. James 5:3 — “Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days.”
8. 2 Peter 3:7 — “The present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

Old Testament Background

The Septuagint often uses cognate vocabulary to translate Hebrew roots conveying the accumulation of treasure (for example Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 13:22). In prophetic literature, hoarded riches frequently signify arrogance and impending judgment (Isaiah 23:18; Ezekiel 28:4–5). This backdrop informs New Testament usage: treasure can either magnify faithfulness or expose idolatry.

Ethical Duality of Storing Up

1. Faithful Provision: Paul appeals to parents (2 Corinthians 12:14) and congregations (1 Corinthians 16:2) to lay aside resources for the welfare of others. The verb therefore validates prudent foresight when motivated by love and generosity.
2. Ungodly Hoarding: Jesus, James, and Peter target selfish or unbelieving accumulation that ignores God and neighbor. Such treasure multiplies guilt, not security.

Eschatological Dimension

Matthew 6 and Luke 12 present a heavenly account ledger: believers invest in eternal reward through generosity and devotion. Conversely, Romans 2 and James 5 describe the wicked accumulating divine wrath. The same verb underscores the certainty of future recompense—positive or negative.

Integration with Jesus’ Teaching on the Heart

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Storing up is never merely economic; it reveals the spiritual orientation of the heart toward God or toward self.

Stewardship in Early Church Practice

Paul’s directive in 1 Corinthians 16:2 institutionalizes systematic, proportionate giving. The act of putting aside a sum each week displays disciplined stewardship that anticipates future ministry needs without last-minute pressure.

Pastoral Implications Today

• Encourage believers to evaluate savings, investments, and possessions in light of eternity.
• Teach regular, intentional giving as worship and foresight.
• Warn against accumulating resources without reference to God’s kingdom or the poor.
• Remind the church that ungodly wealth can become evidence in the final judgment.

Summary

The verb calls every disciple to choose between stockpiling transient riches or laying up imperishable treasure with God. Its eight New Testament appearances span Jesus’ foundational teaching, apostolic instruction, and eschatological warning, uniting the canon in a consistent call to faithful, eternal-minded stewardship.

Forms and Transliterations

εθησαύρισαν εθησαυρισατε εθησαυρίσατε ἐθησαυρίσατε εθησαύρισεν θησαυρίζει θησαυριζειν θησαυρίζειν θησαυριζεις θησαυρίζεις θησαυρίζεται θησαυριζετε θησαυρίζετε θησαυρίζοντες θησαυρίζουσιν θησαυριζων θησαυρίζων θησαυρίσματα τεθησαυρισμενοι τεθησαυρισμένοι ethesaurisate ethesaurísate ethēsaurisate ethēsaurísate tethesaurismenoi tethesaurisménoi tethēsaurismenoi tethēsaurisménoi thesaurizein thesaurízein thēsaurizein thēsaurízein thesaurizeis thesaurízeis thēsaurizeis thēsaurízeis thesaurizete thesaurízete thēsaurizete thēsaurízete thesaurizon thesaurízon thēsaurizōn thēsaurízōn

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 6:19 V-PMA-2P
GRK: Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς
NAS: Do not store up for yourselves
KJV: Lay not up for yourselves treasures
INT: not store up up for yourselves treasures

Matthew 6:20 V-PMA-2P
GRK: θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν
NAS: But store up for yourselves treasures
KJV: But lay up for yourselves treasures
INT: store up however for youselves

Luke 12:21 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: Οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ καὶ
NAS: So is the man who stores up treasure for himself,
KJV: So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself,
INT: Thus [is] he who treasures up for himself and

Romans 2:5 V-PIA-2S
GRK: ἀμετανόητον καρδίαν θησαυρίζεις σεαυτῷ ὀργὴν
NAS: heart you are storing up wrath
KJV: heart treasurest up unto thyself
INT: unrepentant heart treasure up to yourself wrath

1 Corinthians 16:2 V-PPA-NMS
GRK: ἑαυτῷ τιθέτω θησαυρίζων ὅτι ἐὰν
NAS: aside and save, as he may prosper,
KJV: him in store, as
INT: him let put treasuring up what if

2 Corinthians 12:14 V-PNA
GRK: τοῖς γονεῦσιν θησαυρίζειν ἀλλὰ οἱ
NAS: are not responsible to save up for [their] parents,
KJV: not to lay up for the parents,
INT: for the parents to treasure up but the

James 5:3 V-AIA-2P
GRK: ὡς πῦρ ἐθησαυρίσατε ἐν ἐσχάταις
NAS: days that you have stored up your treasure!
KJV: fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for
INT: as fire You treasured up in [the] last

2 Peter 3:7 V-RPM/P-NMP
GRK: αὐτῷ λόγῳ τεθησαυρισμένοι εἰσὶν πυρὶ
NAS: and earth are being reserved for fire,
KJV: are kept in store, reserved
INT: the same word treasured up are for fire

Strong's Greek 2343
8 Occurrences

ἐθησαυρίσατε — 1 Occ.
τεθησαυρισμένοι — 1 Occ.
θησαυρίζειν — 1 Occ.
θησαυρίζεις — 1 Occ.
θησαυρίζετε — 2 Occ.
θησαυρίζων — 2 Occ.