θησαυρίζω (G2343) — Greek Lexicon

θησαυρίζω

thēsaurízō

G2343 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To gather, accumulate, or store up valuables or resources; specifically, to collect and keep in reserve, whether material (such as wealth or goods) or immaterial (such as knowledge or merit). In various contexts, the word can also mean to reserve something for future use, or metaphorically, to accumulate non-material resources such as judgment, wrath, or merit.

Semantic Range

to store up (wealth or goods), to accumulate (treasure or valuables), to reserve for future use, to amass, to heap up, to accumulate intangible things (e.g., wrath, judgment, merit)

Root / Etymology

Derived from θησαυρός ('storehouse, treasury, treasure'), plus the denominative verb suffix -ίζω, indicating the act of doing what the noun refers to. Thus, θησαυρίζω means 'to store up as in a treasury.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, θησαυρίζω is relatively rare but understood in parallel with θησαυρός. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the verb is attested especially in contexts relating to storing up goods, wealth, or valuables for future use or security. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the verb frequently takes on metaphorical connotations: in the Septuagint, used both for storing literal goods and metaphorically for divine or human actions (e.g., God storing up something, or people laying up iniquity). In the New Testament, it occurs most notably in ethical teachings (e.g., Matthew 6:19–20), contrasting the storing up of earthly versus heavenly treasures. The verb can also refer to storing up divine judgment or wrath (Romans 2:5), showing the semantic extension from physical to abstract storing. Standard English translations like 'lay up,' 'store up,' or 'heap up' capture only part of the word's range, sometimes overlooking nuances related to intangible accumulation or reserved future consequences. The metaphorical uses became prominent in later Greek Jewish and Christian usage, often in moral or eschatological contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "store" 8 occurrences

"Store" naturally covers the primary sense of gathering and keeping in reserve (both material and immaterial). It fits common English idioms (e.g. "store up wrath/treasure") and is concise and natural-sounding across contexts where θησαυρίζω appears.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from θησαυρός; to amass or reserve (literally or figuratively):--lay up (treasure), (keep) in store, (heap) treasure (together, up).

Root Family

θησαυρ- (thēsaurízō) — to store, to accumulate, to reserve

Root θησαυρ- to store, to accumulate, to reserve

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G597	ἀποθησαυρίζω	storing away in reserve

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2343-05`	θησαυρίζετε	thesaurizete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	lay up	Keep storing up	Keep storing up	2
`G2343-06`	θησαυρίζων	thesaurizon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	stores up	storing up	storing up	2
`G2343-01`	ἐθησαυρίσατε	ethesaurisate	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	you have heaped up	you stored up	you stored up	1
`G2343-02`	τεθησαυρισμένοι	tethesaurismenoi	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	stored-up	having been stored up	having been stored up	1
`G2343-03`	θησαυρίζειν	thesaurizein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to lay up	to be storing up	to be storing up	1
`G2343-04`	θησαυρίζεις	thesaurizeis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	you are storing up	you are storing up	you are storing up	1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2343-05`	Matthew 6:19	θησαυρίζετε	thesaurizete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	store up	Keep storing up	Keep storing up
`G2343-05`	Matthew 6:20	θησαυρίζετε	thesaurizete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	lay up	Keep storing up	Keep storing up
`G2343-06`	Luke 12:21	θησαυρίζων	thesaurizon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	stores up	storing up	storing up
`G2343-04`	Romans 2:5	θησαυρίζεις	thesaurizeis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	you are storing up	you are storing up	you are storing up
`G2343-06`	1 Corinthians 16:2	θησαυρίζων	thesaurizon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	storing up	storing up	storing up
`G2343-03`	2 Corinthians 12:14	θησαυρίζειν	thesaurizein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to lay up	to be storing up	to be storing up
`G2343-01`	James 5:3	ἐθησαυρίσατε	ethesaurisate	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	you have heaped up	you stored up	you stored up
`G2343-02`	2 Peter 3:7	τεθησαυρισμένοι	tethesaurismenoi	`V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	stored-up	having been stored up	having been stored up

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