1597. ganzak
Lexical Summary
ganzak: Treasury, Storehouse

Original Word: גִּנְזַךְ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ginzak
Pronunciation: gan-zak
Phonetic Spelling: (ghin-zak')
KJV: treasury
NASB: storehouses
Word Origin: [prolonged from H1595 (גֶּנֶז - treasuries)]

1. a treasury

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
treasury

Prolonged from genez; a treasury -- treasury.

see HEBREW genez

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as genez
Definition
treasury
NASB Translation
storehouses (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
גַּנְזַךְ noun [masculine] treasury (Late Hebrew גנזכה treasure; loan-word from or through Persian compare above & LagGes. Abh. 28); וְגַנְזַכָּיו 1 Chronicles 28:11. ᵐ5 τῶν ζακχὼ αὐτοῦ; but ᵐ5L τῶν ἀποθηκῶν αὐτοῦ.

Topical Lexicon
Canonical Setting

1 Chronicles 28 records King David’s solemn handover of the architectural “pattern” for the future Temple to Solomon. Among the specific design elements are the גִּנְזַךְ, the “treasuries” or “treasure chambers” (1 Chronicles 28:11). Though occurring only here, the term pinpoints a distinct complex of rooms intended for the secure keeping of valuables dedicated to the LORD.

Historical Background

The Chronicler writes to post-exilic Judah, reminding the community that worship and national identity revolve around the divinely prescribed Temple. David’s inclusion of treasure chambers in the revealed blueprint underscores that provision for the Temple’s material needs was not an afterthought but a God-ordained feature established even before construction began (cf. 1 Chronicles 29:2–9). In later history these chambers safeguarded articles of precious metal, tithes in kind, and freewill offerings (compare 1 Kings 7:51; 2 Kings 12:4–15; Nehemiah 10:37–39).

Theological Emphasis

1. Stewardship: By designating a sacred space for resources set apart to God, the text presents stewardship as an act of covenant fidelity. Everything held in the ginzak belonged to the LORD first (1 Chronicles 29:14).
2. Holiness and Separation: The treasure chambers were within the Temple precinct yet distinct from areas of sacrifice and worship, teaching that material wealth, though earthly, could be sanctified for holy purposes (cf. Leviticus 27:28).
3. Continuity of Worship: The Chronicler links David’s plans with the Mosaic pattern (1 Chronicles 28:12, 19), showing that ordered storage for offerings continues the earlier tabernacle principle of wisely managing contributions (Exodus 35:21; Numbers 7:1–5).

Practical Ministry Insights

• Designated Giving: The ginzak highlights the legitimacy of setting aside funds and assets specifically for the maintenance of God’s house (2 Chronicles 31:11–12).
• Transparency and Accountability: Later reforms under Joash and Nehemiah opened, inventoried, and fairly distributed the contents of temple treasuries (2 Kings 12:15; Nehemiah 13:12–13), modeling financial integrity.
• Spiritual Treasure: While the Old Covenant had literal chambers, believers today are admonished to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20), converting material means into eternal dividends through generous, kingdom-minded giving (Philippians 4:17).

Typological Perspective

The carefully guarded treasure chambers anticipate the priceless worth of Christ and the gospel. Just as the ginzak protected consecrated riches, so the Father has hidden “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” in the Son (Colossians 2:3). The Church, as the Temple of the Holy Spirit, now becomes the living repository of these riches (Ephesians 3:8–10).

Related Biblical Themes

Stewardship – Genesis 14:20; Malachi 3:10

Temple Architecture – 1 Kings 6–7; Ezekiel 40–43

Holiness of Offerings – Leviticus 27:30–33; Haggai 2:8

Generosity and Reward – Proverbs 3:9–10; 2 Corinthians 9:6–11

Summary

Though גִּנְזַךְ appears only once, its solitary witness in 1 Chronicles 28:11 opens a window on the ordered, sacred stewardship of resources in Israel’s worship. The treasure chambers testify that every gift is God-given, God-directed, and ultimately aimed at glorifying Him. They challenge modern readers to handle finances with holiness, transparency, and an eye toward the eternal kingdom to which all true treasure belongs.

Forms and Transliterations
וְגַנְזַכָּ֧יו וגנזכיו veganzakKav wə·ḡan·zak·kāw wəḡanzakkāw
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Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 28:11
HEB: וְֽאֶת־ בָּ֨תָּ֜יו וְגַנְזַכָּ֧יו וַעֲלִיֹּתָ֛יו וַחֲדָרָ֥יו
NAS: [of the temple], its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms,
KJV: and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers
INT: of the porch buildings storehouses upper rooms

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1597
1 Occurrence


wə·ḡan·zak·kāw — 1 Occ.

1596
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