Greek word · G1049

γαζοφυλάκιον

gazophylakion

treasury

Literally 'treasure-guard,' from the Persian loanword gaza ('treasure') plus phylassō ('to guard'). It means a treasury or storeroom for valuables. For the Temple it can mean the treasure chambers, or the receptacles where offerings were collected and the area around them.

Appears 5 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated November 01, 2026

What it means

γαζο-φυλάκιον, -ου, τό

(γάζα, φυλακή), [in LXX chiefly for לִשְׁכָּה, נִשְׁכָּה (2 Kings 23:11, al.), once for גְּנָזִים (Esther 3:9); το͂ γ., τᾶ γ., of a temple treasury, Nehemiah 10:37, 2Ma.3:6, al. ;]

treasury: also, apparently, the trumpet-shaped chests into which the peoples' temple-offerings were thrown (DB, iv, 96; DCG, ii, 748): Mark 12:41, 43 Luke 21:1, John 8:20.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 8:20

Range of meaning: Literally 'treasure-guard,' from the Persian loanword gaza ('treasure') plus phylassō ('to guard'). It means a treasury or storeroom for valuables. For the Temple it can mean the treasure chambers, or the receptacles where offerings were collected and the area around them.
Against the English: 'Treasury' makes a modern reader picture a vault or a government finance office, somewhere Jesus would hardly be teaching a crowd. The BSB ('near the treasury') and NIV (which describes the place where offerings were put) bring out that this was a public spot beside the offering points.
How it drifted: The English word 'treasury' now suggests a closed strongroom or a government department. In the Temple the offering chests and the doors of the treasure chambers stood in an open court.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX: used for the Temple storerooms (2 Esdras/Nehemiah 10:38–39; 13:5, 7) and for the Temple treasury Heliodorus tried to plunder (2 Macc 3:6, 24, 28, 40). Josephus uses it for the Temple treasure chambers (War 5.200; 6.282; Ant. 19.294). The Mishnah (Sheqalim 6:1, 5) describes thirteen trumpet-shaped chests (shofarot) for different offerings. Mark 12:41–43 and Luke 21:1 place the poor widow's offering 'opposite the treasury,' which shows people could see the giving from the court.

From the study of Mark 12:43

Range of meaning: Literally 'treasure-guard place', from Persian-derived gaza ('treasure') + phylakē ('guarding'). It can mean (1) a strongroom or storeroom where valuables are kept, or (2) by extension, the receptacles where contributions were deposited.
Against the English: 'Treasury' (BSB, KJV, WEB, YLT, NIV, NASB) can make a modern reader picture a vault, a finance office or a government department. The ESV renders it 'offering box' here, which is closer to the probable scene but loses the institutional sense of the temple's treasure system.
How it drifted: 'Treasury' today mostly means government finance or an office. In the first century this was a sacred collection point inside the temple, open to worshippers.
Used elsewhere in the period: The Septuagint uses it for temple storerooms (e.g., 2 Esdras/Neh 12:44; 1 Macc 14:49; 2 Macc 3:6, 24, 28). Josephus places gazophylakia in the colonnades of the inner temple courts (War 5.200; cf. Ant. 19.294) and reports that they burned in AD 70 (War 6.282). The Mishnah (Sheqalim 6:1, 5) describes thirteen trumpet-shaped chests (shofarot) in the temple, labelled for different purposes, six of them for freewill offerings. John 8:20 places Jesus teaching 'in the treasury'.

From the study of Mark 12:41

Range of meaning: A compound of gaza, a Persian loanword for 'royal treasure', and phylakē, 'guarding': literally a 'treasure-guard', i.e. a treasury. It can mean (1) a strong-room or chamber where valuables and money are stored, or (2) by extension the place or receptacle where contributions are received.
Against the English: Most versions say 'treasury' (KJV, BSB, WEB, NASB). ESV has 'offering box' for the second occurrence, and NLT has 'collection box'. 'Treasury' is accurate but sounds to modern ears like a government finance department or a bank vault. 'Offering box' gives the right picture of the place but loses the word's link to the temple's whole store of wealth.
How it drifted: 'Treasury' in modern English mainly means a national finance ministry or an institution's funds, not a set of collection chests in a worship court.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) it is used for the temple storerooms where tithes and offerings were kept (Neh 10:37–39 [LXX 2 Esdras 20:38–40]; 1 Macc 14:49). 2 Maccabees 3 tells how Heliodorus tried to seize the temple treasury, and the high priest protests that it held 'deposits of widows and orphans' (2 Macc 3:10). Josephus speaks of treasury chambers in the inner courts (Jewish War 5.200) and of their burning in 70 CE, full of money and goods (War 6.282). The Mishnah (Shekalim 6:1, 5), compiled about 200 CE but recalling temple practice, describes thirteen 'shofar' (trumpet-shaped) chests in the temple, each marked for a purpose such as the temple tax, bird offerings, wood, incense, and freewill gifts. John 8:20 places Jesus teaching 'in the treasury'.

Where it appears

Mark · 3

Mark 12:41 γαζοφυλακίου γαζοφυλάκιον. treasury, treasury.

As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.

Here: The temple's treasury. Here it means the place where gifts were deposited, most likely the trumpet-shaped offering chests in the temple court, not a finance office or a vault.
Mark 12:43 γαζοφυλάκιον· treasury;

Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.

Here: The temple's collection point. In context it most likely means the offering chests in the Court of the Women, though it can also mean the temple's storerooms for valuables.

Luke · 1

Luke 21:1 γαζοφυλάκιον treasury

Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,

Here: Literally a 'treasure-guard', the temple's place for receiving and storing offerings. Here it most likely means the offering chests that stood in the temple courts, or the treasury area where they stood. It is not a government treasury.

John · 1

John 8:20 γαζοφυλακίῳ treasury

He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

Here: The Temple's treasury area. This probably means the part of the Court of Women where the trumpet-shaped offering chests stood and where the treasure chambers opened. It was a busy, public spot, not a locked vault.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.