Lexical Summary atsar: To restrain, to hold back, to stop, to withhold Original Word: אָצַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lay up in store, make treasurer A primitive root; to store up -- (lay up in) store, + (make) treasure(-r). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to lay up, store up NASB Translation appointed (1), hoard (1), laid up in store (2), stored (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אָצַר] verb lay up, store up (Mishna id., Aramaic אֲצַר,  , Arabic  confine, restrict) — Qal Perfect3plural אָֽצְרוּ 2 Kings 20:17; Isaiah 39:6; Participle הָאֹצְרִים Amos 3:10; — store up) treasure 2 Kings 20:17 = Isaiah 39:6; object חָמָס וָשֹׁד Amos 3:10, i.e. treasure gained by violence robbery. Niph`al Imperfect יֵאָצֵר be stored up, of the merchandise of Tyre Isaiah 23:18. Hiph`il Imperfect וָאוֺצְרָה (compare Köi, 391) (denominative from אוֺצָר) Nehemiah 13:13 and I appointed treasurer, followed by accusative of person + עַלאֿוֺצָרוֺת. Topical Lexicon Overview אָצַר depicts the deliberate storing or hoarding of goods, treasure, or even intangible realities. Its five canonical occurrences span royal annals, post-exilic reforms, major prophecy, and social critique. Together they reveal that whatever is “stored up” is never outside the gaze or governance of God; He inspects the contents, the motives, and the ultimate destination of every treasury. Occurrences and Narrative Context • 2 Kings 20:17 and Isaiah 39:6 record the same oracle to Hezekiah: the wealth “stored up” by successive generations would be carried to Babylon. The term is linked to royal treasuries, accumulated over centuries, yet vulnerable when covenant fidelity lapses. Theological Themes 1. Divine Ownership. Whether pagan (Tyre), covenantal (Judah), or apostate (Samaria), all stores are subject to the Lord. “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). Principles of Stewardship and Accountability • Fidelity precedes security. Judah’s hoarded wealth could not shield it from exile, whereas Nehemiah’s vigilant oversight preserved offerings for ministry. Prophetic Warnings Against Misplaced Treasures Both Isaiah and Amos employ אָצַר to confront societies that trusted in stored goods or ill-gotten gain. The prophetic pattern is clear: what is stockpiled apart from covenant obedience becomes evidence in God’s courtroom and spoil for foreign powers. Practical Ministry Application • Church treasurers and mission boards must pursue the Nehemiah model—competent, accountable hands distributing resources to advance worship and care for servants of the gospel. Christological and Eschatological Reflection Jesus portrays Himself as the greater Treasurer who “has been made for us wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). In Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Final judgment is pictured as the disclosure of all that has been stored, whether good or evil (Romans 2:5). Thus אָצַר anticipates both the riches of grace in Christ and the wrath reserved for unrepentant hoarding. Related Passages Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 10:14; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:15-21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; James 5:1-5; Revelation 18:11-17. Forms and Transliterations אָצְר֧וּ אצרו הָאֽוֹצְרִ֛ים האוצרים וָאוֹצְרָ֣ה ואוצרה יֵֽאָצֵ֖ר יאצר ’ā·ṣə·rū ’āṣərū atzeRu hā’ōwṣrîm hā·’ō·wṣ·rîm haotzRim vaotzRah wā’ōwṣrāh wā·’ō·wṣ·rāh yê’āṣêr yê·’ā·ṣêr yeaTzerLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 20:17 HEB: בְּבֵיתֶ֗ךָ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר אָצְר֧וּ אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ עַד־ NAS: and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this KJV: and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, INT: house after have laid your fathers against Nehemiah 13:13 Isaiah 23:18 Isaiah 39:6 Amos 3:10 5 Occurrences |
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