κορβᾶν (korban)
korban
Corban
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word korban is a direct borrowing from Hebrew, meaning a gift or offering dedicated to God. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in the Gospels where Jesus confronts religious leaders who misuse this concept (Mark 7:11; Matthew 15:5). It refers specifically to something consecrated for sacred use, often implying a vow that binds the giver.
Jesus highlights a serious contradiction: people claimed their resources were korban, set aside for God’s temple, and thus could not be used to help their parents. By invoking this term, they prioritized ritual dedication over basic familial duty. The sources note that while the word itself is neutral—simply meaning a holy gift—it becomes a tool for evasion when used to neglect moral obligations.
This single Aramaic/Hebrew loanword carries significant weight in Jesus’ critique of hypocrisy. It shows how religious language can be twisted to justify selfishness. The term reminds readers that true devotion to God includes practical love for others, not just formal offerings to institutions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word korban comes from Hebrew and simply means a gift dedicated to God. In the New Testament, Jesus uses it to expose a serious problem among religious leaders of His day. They claimed their money was set aside for the temple, so they could not use it to care for their aging parents. This was not true devotion; it was a way to avoid responsibility while appearing holy.
This story challenges us to look at how we use our resources. It is easy to say we are giving to God’s work while neglecting the people right in front of us. True faith does not separate spiritual duty from human kindness. When we claim something is for God, it should lead us to love others more, not less.
Jesus calls us to integrity. Let your yes be yes, and let your care for family reflect your love for the Creator. Do not let religious labels become excuses for selfishness. Instead, let your gifts bring life to those who need help today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- treasury1×
- [It is] Corban,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κορβᾶν,1×
- κορβανᾶν1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 7:11
But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,”’” that is to say, given to God,
This verse shows Jesus quoting the leaders' own excuse that money given to God could not be used for parents, highlighting the conflict between ritual and mercy.