of Hebrew and Chaldee origin respectively (קׇרְבָּן); 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:--Corban, treasury.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun κορβᾶν (G2878), transliterated as *korbân*, is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic term קׇרְבָּן (H7133), meaning "an offering" or "a gift." Its root, קׇרַב (H7126), signifies "to draw near" or "to bring near," inherently linking the concept of an offering to the act of presenting something to God. In its primary sense, κορβᾶν refers to a consecrated gift, a votive offering dedicated to God or the Temple. This dedication rendered the item or funds irrevocably sacred and set apart for divine use, making it inaccessible for ordinary purposes, even for pressing family needs. By extension, as indicated in its base definition, κορβᾶν could also refer to the "treasury" itself, specifically the Temple fund or the room where contributions were collected and stored, as these were the receptacles for such consecrated offerings. The term thus encompasses both the dedicated gift and the sacred repository thereof.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term κορβᾶν (G2878) appears directly in the New Testament only once, in the Gospel of Mark:
* **[[Mark 7:11]]**: "But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban (that is, a gift devoted to God),"' then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother."
In this pivotal passage, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes regarding their perversion of God's law through human tradition. The practice of declaring one's assets κορβᾶν allowed an individual to dedicate their possessions to God, thereby making them unavailable for supporting their aging parents, effectively nullifying the Fifth Commandment to honor one's father and mother ([[Exodus 20:12]]; [[Deuteronomy 5:16]]). Jesus exposes this as a hypocritical manipulation of religious custom, prioritizing an outward show of piety (dedicating to God) over a fundamental moral and familial obligation. The κορβᾶν declaration, intended as an act of devotion, became a convenient legalistic loophole to evade responsibility, demonstrating a profound misunderstanding of God's true will.
While κορβᾶν (G2878) itself is not used for "treasury" in a direct New Testament occurrence, its semantic range, as per the provided definition, does include "the treasury." The closely related Greek term κορβανᾶς (G2879), which shares the same Hebrew/Aramaic root and meaning, is explicitly used in:
* **[[Matthew 27:6]]**: "But the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the temple treasury [κορβανᾶς], since it is blood money.'"
Here, the term refers to the Temple treasury, the sacred fund where offerings were kept. The refusal to deposit Judas's thirty pieces of silver into the κορβανᾶς highlights the meticulous concern for ritual purity among the chief priests, even as they had just participated in a morally reprehensible act. This instance underscores the sacred nature of the Temple treasury and the strict rules governing what could be placed within it.
### Related Words & Concepts
The conceptual field of κορβᾶν (G2878) is rich, drawing deeply from Old Testament sacrificial practices and Temple worship.
* **Hebrew Origin:** The direct source is קׇרְבָּן (H7133), which appears extensively in the Old Testament, particularly in Leviticus and Numbers, referring to a wide array of offerings and sacrifices (e.g., burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings). The underlying Hebrew root קׇרַב (H7126), "to draw near," emphasizes the act of bringing something into God's presence as an act of worship or propitiation.
* **Greek Synonyms/Related Terms:**
* δῶρον (G1435): A general term for "gift," often used for offerings to God or the Temple (e.g., [[Matthew 2:11]], [[Matthew 5:23-24]]).
* προσφορά (G4376): "An offering" or "a presentation," often specifically referring to a sacrifice or oblation (e.g., [[Ephesians 5:2]], [[Hebrews 10:10]]).
* θυσία (G2378): "Sacrifice," encompassing both animal and non-animal offerings, often with the connotation of being slain (e.g., [[Romans 12:1]]).
* **Temple Practices:** κορβᾶν is intrinsically linked to the elaborate system of Temple worship, which included various types of offerings, vows, and the management of the Temple treasury. It speaks to the Jewish legal and religious landscape of Jesus' day, where such practices were central to piety.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of κορβᾶν (G2878) in the New Testament is primarily revealed through Jesus' critique in [[Mark 7:11]]. This passage serves as a potent illustration of several key theological principles:
* **The Primacy of God's Commandment over Human Tradition:** Jesus unequivocally condemns the practice of κορβᾶν when it is used to circumvent a divine command. This highlights the danger of elevating human traditions or interpretations above the clear, ethical demands of God's law. True piety involves obedience to God's revealed will, not merely adherence to external rituals or legalistic loopholes.
* **True Worship vs. Hypocrisy:** The κορβᾶν abuse exposes a deep-seated hypocrisy. Those who claimed to be devout by dedicating assets to God were simultaneously neglecting their fundamental moral duties to family. Jesus teaches that genuine worship is not merely about outward acts or financial contributions, but about the condition of the heart and the demonstration of love and righteousness ([[Matthew 15:8-9]]).
* **The Spirit of the Law vs. the Letter:** The κορβᾶν practice exemplifies a rigid adherence to the letter of a religious custom while violating the spirit of God's law, which is rooted in love for God and neighbor. Jesus consistently challenged such legalism, emphasizing mercy, justice, and faithfulness over ritualistic performance.
* **The Nature of Dedication:** While κορβᾶν literally means a dedicated offering, its misuse in Mark 7 underscores that true dedication to God must not come at the expense of one's ethical responsibilities. God desires obedience and love more than mere material offerings when those offerings are used as an excuse for disobedience.
* **Sacredness of Funds:** The concept of κορβανᾶς (G2879) as the Temple treasury in [[Matthew 27:6]] reinforces the idea of certain funds being sacred and set apart. The refusal to accept "blood money" into the treasury, despite the priests' own moral failings, underscores the purity expected of things dedicated to God, even if the application was inconsistent.
### Summary
The Greek word κορβᾶν (G2878) directly transliterates the Hebrew/Aramaic קׇרְבָּן (H7133), signifying a "consecrated gift" or "votive offering" dedicated to God or the Temple. By extension, its semantic range also includes the "Temple treasury" itself. Its singular direct occurrence in the New Testament, found in [[Mark 7:11]], is profoundly significant. Here, Jesus uses the κορβᾶν practice to expose the hypocrisy of religious leaders who employed human traditions to nullify God's clear command to honor parents. This instance serves as a powerful theological statement against legalism and in favor of genuine obedience, love, and the spirit of the law over rigid adherence to external rituals. While the specific form κορβανᾶς (G2879) is used for the Temple treasury in [[Matthew 27:6]], the concept of the sacred offering and its repository remains central to understanding the Jewish religious landscape of the time and Jesus' call for authentic devotion. κορβᾶν thus stands as a crucial term for understanding the tension between outward piety and true righteousness in the Gospels.
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