CORBAN (Hebr. qorbân, Gr. χορβάν; common forms: corban and corbona). — In Hebrew, *c.* as well as its Akkadian equivalent *qurbânu*, means “offering” or, according to its etymology, “presentation of a gift to God” (cf. Lev. 2:1, 4; 7:13; 9:7, 15; Num. 7:3; Ezek. 40:43): the word occurs only in the three books cited, namely in the legislation concerning worship. It was also Hellenized and used by Flavius Josephus (cf. *Antiquitates Judaicae*, IV, 73).
In rabbinic usage *c.* came to signify the formula of an oath by which a given object or animal was declared consecrated to God. Once such a formula was pronounced, the subject of the vow became unusable for profane purposes. The Gospel (Mark 7:11) informs us that such a promise was often made by ungrateful children, who thereby barred their parents from using desired objects. This practice was peculiar to the Jews. Flavius Josephus, indeed, notes that among the Tyrians the *c.*-vows or oaths were not recognized: “They do not acknowledge *chorban*” (*Contra Apionem*, II, 175). By extension, *c.* also denoted the place or receptacle that housed monetary offerings; in practice it was the treasury of the Temple (Matt. 27:6; Flavius Josephus, *Bellum Judaicum*, II, 175).
ANGELO PENNA