Lover of gain (greed / love of money)
Someone who loves money beyond its true worth; a term for a person whose entire focus is on gaining wealth at any cost. Its original source is Exodus 18:21: “But you shall choose from among all the people capable men, who fear God, men of truth, hating dishonest gain.” The literal meaning of betza kesef is “a piece of silver.”
(“The sons of Samuel were lovers of gain; moreover, they took bribes and perverted justice.” – Radak on 1 Samuel 8:3. Also: “He is not called a judge and is disqualified from judging, for since he loves gain, he will accept a bribe.” – Rashbam, Bava Batra 58a)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
אוֹהֵב בֶּצַע (תַּאֲוַת בֶּצַע)
Definition (Hebrew)
אוֹהֵב כֶּסֶף מֵעֵבֶר לַחֲשִׁיבוּתוֹ הָאֲמִתִּית. כִּנּוּי לְאָדָם שֶׁכָּל תְּחוּמֵי עִנְיָנוֹ הֵם הַשָּׂגַת כֶּסֶף בְּכָל מְחִיר. מְקוֹרוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹנִי שֶׁל הַבִּטּוּי בִּשְׁמוֹת יח כא: "וְאַתָּה תֶחֱזֶה מִכָּל הָעָם אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל יִרְאֵי אֱלֹהִים אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע". "בֶּצַע כֶּסֶף" פֵּרוּשׁוֹ הַמִּלּוּלִי – חֲתִיכָה שֶׁל כֶּסֶף.
("בְּנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל הָיוּ אוֹהֲבֵי בֶּצַע וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁלָּקְחוּ שֹׁחַד וֵטוֹ מִשְׁפָּט" – רָדָ"ק שְׁמוּאֵל א ח ג, וְכֵן: "לֹא שְׁמֵהּ דַּיָּן – וּפָסוּל לָדוּן, דְּכֵיוָן דְּאוּהַב בֶּצַע הוּא יְקַבֵּל שֹׁחַד" – רַשְׁבָּ"ם, מַסֶּכֶת בָּבָא בָּתְרָא נָח ע"א)