We meet with this word but once in the Bible. (Mark 7:11) But it should seem, from the manner in which it is spoken of by our blessed Lord, that the Jews were much in the habit of using it. The word Corban applied by the Jews to all voluntary gifts. It should seem to have been taken from the word Karab, to give. And from a passage in the gospel by St. Matthew, it should appear that they not unfrequently swore by it. (Matthew 23:18-19) As they used the word Corban upon certain occasions, so they, sometimes, used the word Mencha, which means offering, for all presentations to the temple.
See Offering.
The manner in which our Lord hath condemned the Jews, for the use of the word Corban, plainly shews what a pretext, or covering, they made it to evade important duties. "Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, it is Corban; that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother." (Mark 7:10-12) By which, it should seem, that those unfeeling men sheltered themselves, from affording relief to the necessities of their parents, under pretence, that they had made a Corban of what they had to the Lord. "It is Corban, said they; that is, it is the Lord's. I have devoted all I can spare to the service of the templeI cannot help you."
Blessed Lord! how sweetly doth thy gospel explain and enforce that unceasing precept both of nature and of grace, and which needs no higher rewards to follow than a man's own uncorrupt feelings-"Honour thy father and thy mother, which (saith the Holy Ghost), is the first commandment with promise." (Ephesians 6:2) It is worthy observation, and deserves to be noticed under this subject, that this commandment is, indeed, the first to which a promise is given. For the first table of the law gives no promise. It is the first commandment in the second table that opens with a promise, and a blessed one it is, "that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12