Chest

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) The part of the body inclosed by the ribs and breastbone; the thorax.

(2): (n.) A tight receptacle or box, usually for holding gas, steam, liquids, etc.; as, the steam chest of an engine; the wind chest of an organ.

(3): (n.) A case in which certain goods, as tea, opium, etc., are transported; hence, the quantity which such a case contains.

(4): (n.) A large box of wood, or other material, having, like a trunk, a lid, but no covering of skin, leather, or cloth.

(5): (n.) A coffin.

(6): (n.) Strife; contention; controversy.

(7): (v. i.) To deposit in a chest; to hoard.

(8): (v. i.) To place in a coffin.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Chest. By this word, are translated, in the Authorized Version, two distinct Hebrew terms:

1. Aron ; this is invariably used for the Ark of the Covenant, and, with two exceptions, for that only. The two exceptions alluded to are

(a) the "coffin" in which the bones of Joseph were carried from Egypt,  Genesis 50:26, and

(b) the "chest" in which Jehoiada, the priest, collected the alms for the repairs of the Temple.  2 Kings 12:9-10;  2 Chronicles 24:8-11.

2. Genazim , "chests." In  Ezekiel 27:24 only.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. 'Αron , always, except twice (Joseph's coffin and Jehoiada's alms chest,  Genesis 50:26;  2 Kings 12:9-10), used for the ark of the covenant; the "ark" ( Teebah ) of Noah, and that of bulrushes in which Moses was put, is quite distinct.

2. Genazim , "chests of rich apparel" ( Ezekiel 27:24), from Ganaz "to hoard."

King James Dictionary

CHEST, n.

1. A box of wood or other material, in which goods are kept or transported. It differs from a trunk in not being covered with skin or leather. 2. The trunk of the body from the neck to the belly the thorax. Hence, broad-chested, narrow-chested, having a broad or narrow chest. 3. In commerce, a certain quantity as a chest of sugar a chest of indigo &c.

Chest of drawers is a case of movable boxes called drawers.

CHEST, To reposit in a chest to hoard.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

'Aron   2 Kings 12:9,10 2 Chronicles 24:8,10,11 Genesis 50:26  Ezekiel 27:24 Genazim

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

chest ( ארון , 'ārōn , גּנזים , genāzı̄m  ; κιβωτός , kibōtós ):

(1) The ark of the covenant in Old Testament is invariably denoted by the word 'ārōn , elsewhere rendered the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "chest." See Ark .

(2) 'Ārōn is also the word rendered "coffin" ( Genesis 50:26 : "and he was put in a coffin in E."). See Coffin .

(3) In Kings and Chronicles ( 2 Kings 12:9 ,  2 Kings 12:10;  2 Chronicles 24:8 ,  2 Chronicles 24:10 ,  2 Chronicles 24:11 ) 'ārōn stands uniformly for a money chest. It is the "chest" that Jehoiada, the priest, placed in the court "beside the altar" and "bored a hole in the lid of" that the priests might "put therein all the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh" ( 2 Kings 12:9 ); and "the chest" that King Joash commanded to be made and set "without at the gate of the house of Yahweh" to receive "the tax that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel" ( 2 Chronicles 24:8 ,  2 Chronicles 24:10 ,  2 Chronicles 24:11 ). One feature is common to the thing meant in all these applications - the c. was rectangular in shape, and, most probably in every instance, made of wood.

(4) Josephus ( Ant. , VI, 1, 2) uses the equivalent of the word to denote the "coffer" ( 1 Samuel 6:8 English Versions), or small chest, in which the princes of Philistia deposited the gold mice.

(5) In New Testament times the "chests" that were provided in the court of the women, in the temple of Herod, to receive the various kinds of money gifts had the exceptional shape of a trumpet (if Sheḳālı̄m , vi.5 may be trusted) - wide at the bottom and gradually narrowing toward the top, hence, called שׁופרות , shōphārōth ̌ . It was into these that the Master was watching the multitude casting in their money when He saw the poor widow cast in her two mites ( Mark 12:41 ,  Mark 12:42 ).

(6) In  Ezekiel 27:24 , where the prophet is giving an inventory of the merchandise of Tyre, another word entirely is used ( genāzı̄m ), and it is rendered in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "chests" ("chests of rich apparel, bound with cords and made of cedar"). According to Cornill, Davidson, Smend and others this rendering is without sufficient support (see Smith, Dictionary of the Bible and commentary in the place cited.).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Chest'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/c/chest.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.