Carpenter

An artificer in stone, iron, and copper, as well as in wood (2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Chr. 14:1; Mark 6:3). The tools used by carpenters are mentioned in 1 Sam. 13:19, 20; Judg. 4:21; Isa. 10:15; 44:13. It was said of our Lord, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matt. 13:55); also, “Is not this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:3). Every Jew, even the rabbis, learned some handicraft: Paul was a tentmaker. “In the cities the carpenters would be Greeks, and skilled workmen; the carpenter of a provincial village could only have held a very humble position, and secured a very moderate competence.”

[HANDICRAFT]

kar'-pen-ter (charash; tekton): This word, which is a general word for graver or craftsman, is translated "carpenter" in 2Ki 22:6; 2Ch 24:12; Ezr 3:7; Isa 41:7. The same word is rendered "craftsman" in the American Standard Revised Version of Jer 24:1 and Jer 29:2 and "smith" in the American Standard Revised Version of Zec 1:20. In 2Sa 5:11; 2Ki 12:11; 1Ch 14:1; and Isa 44:13, charash occurs with `ets (wood), and is more exactly translated "carpenter" or "worker in wood." Tekton, the corresponding Greek word for artificer, is translated "carpenter" in Mt 13:55 and Mr 6:3.

See CARVING; CRAFTS.