Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "craft" encompasses a range of meanings, from the skillful work of artisans to the cunning and deceitful actions of individuals. The Bible provides numerous references to both the positive and negative aspects of craft, illustrating its significance in ancient society and its moral implications.
Artisan CraftsmanshipThe Bible frequently highlights the importance of skilled craftsmanship in the construction of sacred spaces and objects. In the Old Testament, God commands Moses to build the Tabernacle, a task that requires the expertise of skilled artisans.
Exodus 31:1-5 states, "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of crafts—to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft.'"
This passage underscores the divine inspiration and empowerment given to craftsmen, emphasizing that their skills are gifts from God to be used for His glory. The construction of the Temple under King Solomon also involved numerous craftsmen, as described in
1 Kings 7, where Hiram of Tyre is noted for his expertise in bronze work.
Craft in IdolatryConversely, the Bible also warns against the misuse of craft in the creation of idols.
Isaiah 44:12-17 describes the futility and folly of idol-making, where craftsmen use their skills to fashion gods that cannot see, hear, or save. This passage serves as a critique of idolatry, highlighting the contrast between the living God and lifeless idols made by human hands.
Craftiness and DeceitThe term "craft" also appears in the context of cunning and deceit. In
Genesis 3:1 , the serpent is described as "more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made." This craftiness leads to the deception of Eve and the subsequent fall of humanity. The New Testament echoes this theme, warning believers to be wary of deceitful schemes.
Ephesians 4:14 cautions, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming."
Wisdom and CraftWhile craftiness can have negative connotations, the Bible also associates wisdom with skillful living.
Proverbs 8 personifies wisdom as a master craftsman, present with God during the creation of the world. This portrayal elevates the concept of craft to a divine level, suggesting that true wisdom involves the skillful application of knowledge in accordance with God's will.
ConclusionThe biblical perspective on craft is multifaceted, recognizing both the God-given talents of artisans and the potential for craftiness to lead to sin. Whether in the context of building sacred spaces or navigating the moral complexities of life, the Bible calls for the use of craft in ways that honor God and reflect His wisdom.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Strength; might; secret power.
2. (n.) Art or skill; dexterity in particular manual employment; hence, the occupation or employment itself; manual art; a trade.
3. (n.) Those engaged in any trade, taken collectively; a guild; as, the craft of ironmongers.
4. (n.) Cunning, art, or skill, in a bad sense, or applied to bad purposes; artifice; guile; skill or dexterity employed to effect purposes by deceit or shrewd devices.
5. (n.) A vessel; vessels of any kind; -- generally used in a collective sense.
6. (v. t.) To play tricks; to practice artifice.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CRAFT; CRAFTINESS; CRAFTYkraft, kraf'-ti-nes, kraf'-ti, (panourgia), (panourgos): The original meaning is that of "ability to do anything," universally applied in a bad sense to unscrupulous wickedness, that stops short of no measure, however reprehensible, in order to attain its purposes; then, in a modified form, to resourcefulness in wrong, cunning (Daniel 8:25; 2 Maccabees 12:24; the Revised Version, margin "jugglery"). InLuke 20:23, Jesus perceives "the craftiness" of His adversaries, i.e. the complicated network which they have laid to ensnare Him. The art with which a plot is concealed, and its direction to the ruin of others, are elements that enter into the meaning. Heinrici on1 Corinthians 3:19 illustrates from Plato the distinction between craftiness and wisdom. There is a touch of humor in2 Corinthians 12:16, when Paul speaks of his conduct toward the Corinthians as having been "crafty."
H. E. Jacobs
Greek
5078. techne -- art,craft, trade... art,
craft, trade. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: techne Phonetic
Spelling: (tekh'-nay) Short Definition: art, skill, trade Definition: art
...1388. dolos -- a bait, fig.craft, deceit
...craft, deceit. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: dolos Phonetic Spelling:
(dol'-os) Short Definition: deceit, guile, treachery Definition: deceit...
3180. methodeia --craft, deceit
...craft, deceit. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: methodeia Phonetic
Spelling: (meth-od-i'-ah) Short Definition: scheming, craftiness Definition...
3673. homotechnos -- of the same trade
... trade. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: homotechnos Phonetic Spelling:
(hom-ot'-ekh-nos) Short Definition: of the same trade orcraft Definition: of...
2039. ergasia -- work (noun)
...craft, diligence, gain, work. From ergates; occupation; by implication, profit,
pains --craft, diligence, gain, work. see GREEK ergates....
3313. meros -- a part, share, portion
... to get as a section or allotment); a division or share (literally or figuratively,
in a wide application) -- behalf, course, coast,craft, particular (+ -ly...
Strong's Hebrew
5231. nekel -- wiliness,craft, knavery... 5230, 5231. nekel. 5232 . wiliness,
craft, knavery. Transliteration: nekel
Phonetic Spelling: (nay'-kel) Short Definition: tricks.
...4820. mirmah -- deceit, treachery
... treachery (2).craft, deceitful false, feigned, guile, treachery. From ramah
in the sense of deceiving; fraud --craft, deceit(-ful...
7914b. sekiyyah -- perhaps ship
... perhaps ship. Transliteration: sekiyyah Short Definition:craft. Word Origin from
the same as sekvi Definition perhaps ship NASB Word Usagecraft (1)....
3784. kashaph -- to practice sorcery
... sorcerer, use witchcraft. A primitive root; properly, to whisper a spell, ie To
inchant or practise magic -- sorcerer, (use) witch(-craft). 3783, 3784....
2791. cheresh -- silently, secretly
... cunning, secretly From charash; magicalcraft; also silence -- cunning, secretly.
see HEBREW charash. 2790b, 2791. cheresh. 2791a . Strong's Numbers.
Library
HebrewCraft
... CHAPTER XI HEBREWCRAFT. When Mentu returned from On a light had kindled in his
eyes and his stately step had grown elastic.... "It is Hebrewcraft!"....
TheCraft of the Pelagians.
... Book IV. Chapter 19."TheCraft of the Pelagians. And if these things be
so, let the Pelagians cease by their most insidious praises...
The Best Way to Baffle theCraft of the Enemy, is to be Subjected...
... and External Penance. CHAP. I. The best way to baffle theCraft of the Enemy,
is to be Subjected to a Ghostly Father. 1. It is every...
The Fight with Wild Beasts at Ephesus
... 25. Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said,
Sirs, ye know that by thiscraft we have our wealth.26....
Novatus, his Manner of Life and his Heresy.
... strength of his faith overcame the weakness of the flesh, and mightily conquered
the adversary,"these men found him out and detected hiscraft and duplicity...
Matt. xiii. 24-30.
... For indeed this also is a part of the devil'scraft, by the side of the truth always
to bring in error, painting thereon many resemblances, so as easily to...
Days of Toil and Trial
... Demetrius, a manufacturer of silver shrines, calling together the workmen of his
craft, said: "Sirs, ye know that by thiscraft we have our wealth....
The Testament of Issachar Concerning Simplicity.
... years. What shall I do to thee, because thecraft and the subtlety of men
are increased, andcraft prospereth upon the earth? And...
Grace and Glory
... We call itcraft"the glory of the sophist, who could prove or disprove anything
for gain or display; the glory of the successful adventurer, whose shrewdness...
Self-Denial.
... a wheel, so there is within our being a rudder, or whatever you may call it, which
is turned by a small wheel, and as we turn the entirecraft either leeward...
Thesaurus
Craft (14 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) Those engaged in any trade, taken collectively; a guild; as, the
craft of
ironmongers.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
CRAFT; CRAFTINESS; CRAFTY.
...Crafty (15 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Relating to, or characterized by,craft or skill; dexterous.... 3. (a.) Skillful
at deceiving others; characterized bycraft; cunning; wily. Int....
Working (205 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Acts 18:3 and because of being of the samecraft, he did remain with them,
and was working, for they were tent-makers as tocraft; (YLT NAS)....
Policy (3 Occurrences)
... pol'-i-si: Literally "method of government," and so "ability to manage affairs."
In a bad sense, "cunning," "craft," in Daniel 8:25 (sekhel, "understanding...
Beguile (10 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To delude by guile, artifice, orcraft; to deceive or impose on, as by a
false statement; to lure. 2. (vt) To elude, or evade bycraft; to foil....
Aaron's
... The cases of Ishmael, Moab, etc., are similar. The traditional originator of acraft
is the father of those who practice thecraft (eg Genesis 4:20, 21, 22)....
Subtilty (9 Occurrences)
... subtlety of air or light. 2. (n.) Refinement; extreme acuteness; subtlety.
3. (n.) Cunning; skill;craft. 4. (n.) Slyness in design...
Cunning (43 Occurrences)
... 5. (a.) Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity. 6. (n.) The faculty or act of using stratagem
to accomplish a purpose; fraudulent skill or dexterity; deceit;craft....
Cracks (9 Occurrences)
Architecture
... There are none now standing, and what the spade has uncovered proves little
more than a mere buildingcraft of an inferior order....
Resources
What is the Job's Daughters program? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Order of DeMolay? | GotQuestions.orgIs there value in studying comparative religions? | GotQuestions.orgCraft: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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