Understanding γαζοφυλάκιον (gazophylakion) Strong’s G1049: The Sacred Treasury Where Jesus Observed True Worship

Pronunciation Guide: gah-zoh-foo-LAH-kee-on

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1049: The γαζοφυλάκιον (gazophylakion) refers to the treasury or offering boxes located in the Temple in Jerusalem where worshippers deposited their monetary gifts. This term specifically designated both the chamber where sacred treasures and offerings were stored and the thirteen trumpet-shaped collection boxes placed in the Court of Women. It was at this location where Yeshua (Jesus) observed the widow giving her two small copper coins, teaching one of His most profound lessons on sacrificial giving.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Noun (neuter)
• Compound Word: Formed from two words – “gaza” (Persian: treasure) + “phylax” (Greek: guard, keeper)
• Language Origin: Mixed Persian-Greek etymology
• Primary Usage: Found in narrative portions of the Gospels
• Case Forms: Nominative, accusative, and dative cases in the New Testament

γαζοφυλάκιον Morphology:

• γαζοφυλάκιον (nominative singular) – the treasury
• γαζοφυλακίου (genitive singular) – of the treasury
• γαζοφυλακίῳ (dative singular) – in/at the treasury
• γαζοφυλάκιον (accusative singular) – (to) the treasury

Origin & History

The term γαζοφυλάκιον has a fascinating cross-cultural etymology. The first part, “gaza” (γάζα), comes from the Persian word for royal treasure or wealth. This Persian loanword entered Greek following Alexander the Great’s conquests when Greek culture encountered Persian customs and administration. The second component, “phylakion” (φυλάκιον), derives from the Greek verb “phylassō” (φυλάσσω), meaning “to guard” or “to keep watch.” The compound word thus literally means “treasure-guard” or “treasury.”

In the Septuagint (LXX), γαζοφυλάκιον appears in several passages, including 2 Kings 23:11 (4 Kingdoms in LXX) and Nehemiah 10:38, referring to chambers in the Temple where offerings, sacred vessels, and tithes were stored. Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, uses the term in his works “Antiquities of the Jews” (19.6.1) and “The Jewish War” (5.5.2) when describing the Temple complex, confirming its significance in first-century Jewish religious practice. The term thus carried both administrative and sacred connotations by the time of Yeshua’s ministry.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• The physical chamber or room in the Temple where sacred treasures, offerings, and tithes were stored
• The thirteen trumpet-shaped collection boxes (called “shopharoth” in Hebrew) in the Court of Women where monetary offerings were deposited
• The entire treasury system and operation within the Temple administration
• The location in the Temple where people publicly made their offerings (becoming the setting for Yeshua’s teaching on sacrificial giving)

γαζοφυλάκιον Translation Options:

• Treasury – The most common English translation, accurately conveying the function of collection and storage, though missing the compound nature of guard/protection implied in the original
• Offering Box – Emphasizes the specific collection containers rather than the entire treasury chamber, appropriate when referring to the widow’s mite context
• Temple Treasury – Adds clarity by specifying the sacred location, helpful for modern readers unfamiliar with Temple architecture
• Treasure Chamber – Highlights the storage aspect, useful when referring to the physical room rather than the collection boxes

Biblical Usage

The term γαζοφυλάκιον appears explicitly four times in the New Testament, all within the context of the Jerusalem Temple. Most notably, it serves as the setting for one of Yeshua’s most memorable teachings on genuine worship versus religious show. In Mark’s Gospel, Yeshua deliberately positions Himself opposite the treasury to observe how people give their offerings, culminating in His praise of the poor widow’s sacrificial gift of two small copper coins (lepta).

In the Gospel of John, the γαζοφυλάκιον is identified as the location where Yeshua taught about being the light of the world, suggesting it was a prominent public area within the Temple complex where large groups could gather. This detail helps us understand that the treasury area served not only as a collection point for offerings but also as a significant teaching space within the Temple courts.

• “And He sat down opposite the treasury [γαζοφυλάκιον], and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury [γαζοφυλάκιον]; and many rich people were putting in large sums.” Mark 12:41
• “And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury [γαζοφυλάκιον].'” Mark 12:42-43
• “These words He spoke in the treasury [γαζοφυλακίῳ], as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.” John 8:20

Cultural Insights

The γαζοφυλάκιον was located in the Court of Women, the furthest area of the Temple complex that women could enter. This positioning is significant as it meant that all Jewish worshippers—regardless of gender—could participate in giving offerings to יהוה (Yahweh). The thirteen trumpet-shaped collection boxes that comprised part of the γαζοφυλάκιον were each designated for specific purposes: six for voluntary offerings and seven for obligatory offerings such as the half-shekel Temple tax, sacrificial bird offerings, wood for the altar, incense, and gold for the Holy of Holies.

These collection boxes were constructed with narrow, trumpet-shaped openings that widened at the bottom. According to rabbinic sources (Mishnah Shekalim 6:5), this design served two purposes: first, to prevent theft by making it impossible to reach inside, and second, to authenticate the sound of genuine coins being deposited. The distinct sound of coins sliding down these metal receptacles meant that giving was inherently a public act—one could hear the amount given based on the duration and volume of the coins’ descent. This cultural context makes Yeshua’s observation of the widow even more poignant; her two small copper coins would have made barely any sound compared to the loud clanging of the wealthy donors’ substantial contributions, yet Yeshua declared her gift the greatest of all.

Theological Significance

The γαζοφυλάκιον provides the setting for one of the Messiah’s most profound teachings on true worship and devotion to God. In the widow’s mite incident, Yeshua reveals that יהוה (Yahweh) measures giving not by the amount given but by the sacrifice it represents. This teaches us that God sees beyond outward appearances and religious performances, looking instead at the heart’s intention and the proportion of sacrifice. The theological implications are immense: true worship is measured by surrender and sacrifice, not by quantity or public recognition.

Additionally, it is theologically significant that Yeshua chose the treasury—a place representing the meeting point of material resources and spiritual devotion—to deliver some of His teachings. In John 8:12-20, immediately after declaring Himself “the light of the world,” Yeshua taught in the γαζοφυλάκιον. This juxtaposition suggests a powerful truth: where people invest their material treasures often reveals where their spiritual allegiances lie. By teaching at the γαζοφυλάκιον, Yeshua was implicitly challenging His hearers to consider whether their financial commitments aligned with their professed faith.

The location also embodies a theological truth about accessibility to God. Being situated in the Court of Women, the most accessible area of the Temple for all Jewish worshippers, the γαζοφυλάκιον symbolizes how God’s presence and the privilege of giving to His work are available to all believers regardless of social status, gender, or economic means.

Personal Application

The lessons from the γαζοφυλάκιον speak powerfully to our lives today. When we give to God’s work—whether through financial offerings, time, talents, or service—what matters most is not the quantity but the heart behind the giving. The question we must ask ourselves is not “How much did I give?” but rather “How sacrificially did I give?” and “Did I give from my surplus or from my substance?”

Just as the widow at the γαζοφυλάκιον gave everything she had to live on, demonstrating complete trust in God’s provision, we too are called to practice radical generosity that stems from whole-hearted trust in our Heavenly Father’s care. This concept challenges us to move beyond comfortable giving to sacrificial giving—the kind that might not be noticed by others but is greatly valued by God. When we give in this manner, we participate in the same spiritual reality that Yeshua highlighted at the Temple treasury: that the Kingdom of God operates on principles often contrary to worldly values, where the least becomes the greatest and sacrificial worship becomes the truest expression of faith.

Related Words

• θησαυρός (thēsauros, thay-sow-ROSS) – A treasure, storehouse, or repository. While γαζοφυλάκιον refers specifically to the Temple treasury, θησαυρός is a broader term for any collection of valuable things, whether material or spiritual. Yeshua used this term when instructing His followers to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. See G2344
• κορβᾶν (korban, kor-BAN) – A gift or offering dedicated to God. This Hebrew-derived term designated something specifically set apart for sacred use. Yeshua critiqued the misuse of this concept when people declared property as “korban” to avoid supporting their parents. See G2878
• λεπτόν (lepton, lep-TAWN) – A small copper coin, the “widow’s mite,” worth about 1/128 of a denarius. The specific coin deposited in the γαζοφυλάκιον by the widow in Mark 12. See G3016
• κολλυβιστής (kollybistēs, kol-loo-bis-TACE) – A money-changer in the Temple, who exchanged foreign currency for Temple currency that could be used in the γαζοφυλάκιον, often at exploitative rates. These were the merchants Yeshua drove out during His cleansing of the Temple. See G2855
• δίδραχμον (didrachmon, DID-rakh-mon) – A two-drachma coin used to pay the Temple tax that went into the γαζοφυλάκιον. Mentioned in Matthew 17:24 regarding the Temple tax that Yeshua and Peter paid. See G1323

Did you Know?

• The thirteen trumpet-shaped collection boxes of the γαζοφυλάκιον were made of brass, and their unique shape amplified the sound of coins being deposited. Ancient Jewish sources suggest that some wealthy individuals would drop their coins in one by one to create maximum noise and draw attention to their generosity—precisely the type of behavior Yeshua critiqued when contrasting it with the widow’s humble offering.
• The Court of Women where the γαζοφυλάκιον was located wasn’t named because only women could enter it (men could too), but because it marked the furthest point women could advance into the Temple complex. This area was a bustling center of Temple activity, brilliantly illuminated during the Feast of Tabernacles by four enormous golden lampstands. This illumination provides the backdrop for Yeshua’s declaration nearby that He is “the light of the world” (John 8:12).
• The Temple treasury managed enormous sums of money. Historical records suggest that when Crassus plundered the Jerusalem Temple in 54 BCE, he seized approximately 2,000 talents (equivalent to millions of dollars today) from the treasury, yet this was considered only a portion of its wealth. The γαζοφυλάκιον not only funded Temple operations and maintenance but also served as a form of social welfare, supporting widows, orphans, and the poor in the community—making the widow’s contribution to this system all the more poignant.

Remember This

The γαζοφυλάκιον reminds us that in the economy of God’s Kingdom, true value is measured not by the amount we give but by the cost to our hearts—for where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.