Lexical Summary genez: Treasure, Storehouse Original Word: גֶּנֶז Strong's Exhaustive Concordance chest, treasury From an unused root meaning to store; treasure; by implication, a coffer -- chest, treasury. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition treasury, perhaps chests NASB Translation carpets (1), treasuries (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [גְּנָזִים] noun [masculine] plural 1 chests (?); 2 treasury — only plural constructגִּנְזֵי; — 1 perhaps chests of variegated cloth בְּרֹמִים ׳ג Ezekiel 27:24 so Thes AV RV; Sm Co and others cloths, carpets, Ew Taschen. 2 treasury (Late Hebrew גֶּנֶז, Aramaic גִּנְזָא, גְּנִיז, Biblical Aramaic construct plural גִּנְזֵי; Persian loan-word from [גְּנַז] noun masculineEzra 6:1 treasure (ᵑ7; see Biblical Hebrew [ גְּנָזִים], below גנז); — plural emphatic גִּנְזִיָּא treasures Ezra 6:1, דִּי מַלְכָּא בֵּית ׳ג Ezra 5:17, construct בֵּית גִּנְזֵי מִלְכָּא Ezra 7:20. Topical Lexicon Hebrew Concept and Old Testament Usage גֶּנֶז (genez) designates a royal or commercial store of valuables—“treasury,” “storehouse,” or “chest.” Though only three times attested, each occurrence places the word in a context of concentrated wealth, power, and stewardship: the royal treasuries of Persia in Esther 3:9 and Esther 4:7, and the elaborately packed trade-chests of Tyre in Ezekiel 27:24. The term therefore bridges civil administration and international commerce, portraying wealth as something gathered, guarded, and purpose-driven. Occurrences in Canonical Context • Esther 3:9—Haman’s bribe: “I will pay ten thousand talents of silver … into the royal treasury.” The Persian occurrences emphasize fiscal leverage to promote evil, whereas the Tyrian setting shows luxury destinies in global trade—two very different economies joined by one word. Historical and Cultural Frame In Achaemenid Persia, royal treasuries financed armies, construction, and court life. Offering silver to such a treasury was tantamount to buying imperial policy. Haman weaponized that system to target the Jewish minority. In Phoenician Tyre, cedar-bound chests (gĕnēzîm) safeguarded high-value cloth during maritime transport, illustrating the city’s prowess as “merchant of the peoples” (Ezekiel 27:3). Together, the passages reveal a Near-Eastern world where wealth moved kingdoms and oceans, yet remained vulnerable to divine oversight. Theological Emphases 1. Sovereign Control of Resources Human schemes funded by vast treasuries cannot override the providential plan (Esther 6:1–13; Proverbs 21:1). Haman’s silver never thwarts God’s covenant promise to preserve Israel. Genez embodies stewardship. Whether housed in royal vaults or trading crates, riches carry ethical direction: they may further oppression (Esther 3–4), showcase pride (Ezekiel 27), or—when yielded to God—serve redemptive purposes (Exodus 35:5). Earthly storehouses anticipate “unfading inheritance” (1 Peter 1:4). The contrast between finite chests and eternal riches underlines Jesus’ call: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). Ministry and Discipleship Applications • Stewardship Teaching: Churches can contrast Haman’s manipulative giving with the Macedonians’ grace-motivated generosity (2 Corinthians 8:1-5), urging believers to fund gospel mission, not personal agendas. Summary Insight Genez is a modest term with magnified impact, spotlighting how concentrated wealth influences destinies yet remains subordinate to the Lord of hosts. By tracing these treasuries through Scripture, believers discern a consistent call: honor God with possessions, resist corrupt uses of power, and seek the heavenly inheritance that neither moth nor rust can destroy. Forms and Transliterations גִּנְזֵ֥י גנזי וּבְגִנְזֵ֖י ובגנזי gin·zê ginzê ginZei ū·ḇə·ḡin·zê ūḇəḡinzê uveginZeiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Esther 3:9 HEB: לְהָבִ֖יא אֶל־ גִּנְזֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ NAS: to put into the king's treasuries. KJV: [it] into the king's treasuries. INT: to put into treasuries to the king Esther 4:7 Ezekiel 27:24 3 Occurrences |
    |
treasure? compare Vullersii.1032 LagGes.Abh.27); גִּנְזֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ