גִּזְבָּר (giz.bar)
giz.bar
treasurer
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gizbar refers to a treasurer, an official responsible for managing financial resources. This term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, within Ezra 1:8, where it describes the role of someone overseeing the return of sacred vessels and funds.
In this specific context, the word highlights the administrative side of the post-exilic restoration. It points to a person entrusted with the careful handling of valuable items brought back from Babylon, emphasizing order and accountability in the rebuilding effort.
The rarity of the term makes its single appearance significant. By using gizbar, the text underscores that the return of God’s people included not just spiritual renewal but also the practical management of community assets under trusted leadership.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gizbar appears just once in Scripture, identifying a treasurer who managed the return of sacred items from Babylon. This single mention reminds us that God cares about the practical details of our lives and communities. It was not enough for the people to simply return; they needed order, accountability, and trusted leaders to handle the resources entrusted to them.
In Ezra 1:8, Mithredath is named as the one who counted out the vessels to Sheshbazzar. This shows that spiritual restoration often involves careful administration. God uses ordinary roles like this to ensure His purposes are fulfilled with precision and care.
When we serve in our own communities, whether managing finances or organizing tasks, we participate in this same kind of faithful stewardship. It is a quiet but vital part of building up the people of God. Trustworthy service in small matters honors God just as much as any grand spiritual act.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ treasurer1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/גִּזְבָּ֑ר1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 1:8
even those, Cyrus king of Persia brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.
This verse uniquely identifies Mithredath by his title, showing that even foreign officials played a specific role in facilitating the return of sacred resources.