Corban, treasury

“Corban” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(offering). The offering in fulfillment of a vow (Lev. 27; Num. 30). The plea of corban reprehended by Christ (Matt. 15:3-9³But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ⁴For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. ⁵But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; ⁶And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. ⁷Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, ⁸This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ⁹But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:3‑9)).

“Treasury” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(place). The place in the temple where gifts were received (1 Chron. 9:26²⁶For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. (1 Chronicles 9:26); Mark 12:41⁴¹And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (Mark 12:41); Luke 21:1¹And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. (Luke 21:1); John 8:20²⁰These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. (John 8:20)).

“Corban” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

This is the Greek word, κορβᾶν, representing the Hebrew word qorban, “an offering,” and signifies anything brought near or devoted to God. The Jews allowed, and perhaps encouraged, sons to devote their property to God, and then refuse to assist their parents under the plea that their substance was “corban,” or devoted. The Lord blames the rulers for this as one of their traditions, by which they had made the word of God of none effect (Mark 7:11¹¹But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. (Mark 7:11)).

“Treasury” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

A part of the temple was called “the treasury,” in which were kept things consecrated to Jehovah, as the gold, silver, and vessels of brass and iron captured from Jericho (Josh. 6:19¹⁹But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. (Joshua 6:19)). The free-will offerings of the people were also given in at “the treasury” (Mark 12:41,43⁴¹And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (Mark 12:41)
⁴³And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: (Mark 12:43)). On one occasion the Lord spoke to the people “in the treasury, as He taught in the temple,” doubtless in the outer part where He could watch the people bringing in their gifts (Luke 21:1¹And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. (Luke 21:1); John 8:20²⁰These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. (John 8:20)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

2878 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

κορβᾶν

Transliteration:

korban

Phonic:

kor-ban’

Meaning:

and κορβανᾶς (kor-ban-as') of Hebrew and Chaldee origin respectively (7133); a votive offering and the offering; a consecrated present (to the Temple fund); by extension (the latter term) the Treasury itself, i.e. the room where the contribution boxes stood

KJV Usage:

Corban, treasury

Potts’ Bible Proper Names:

A gift; offering:―an offering to God in fulfillment of a vow, Mark 7:11. {Donum}

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Mark 7:11¹¹But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. (Mark 7:11). Ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

The corban was an offering of any kind consecrated to God. It was right to make such offerings because God had commanded them; but the Saviour charges the Pharisees with placing their traditions above the Divine commands. For instance, God ordained honor and obedience to parents; but the Pharisees, by their traditionary explanation and abuse of the law of corban, completely nullified the law of parental honor. Their traditions taught that whatever was corban, that is, a gift consecrated to God, could not be alienated for any other purpose; but in the application of this principle, which in itself is correct enough, they manifested a wonderful ingenuity of perversion. If, for instance, parents desired help, and the son should say “My property is corban,” it released him from all obligation to sustain his parents; nevertheless, strange to say, it did not bind him to consecrate his substance to sacred uses. He could use it for his own purposes, or give it to whom he pleased, except to those to whom he had said, “It is corban.” No wonder the Saviour charged the Pharisees with “making the word of God of none effect” through their tradition.