Handicraft

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Handicraft.  Acts 18:3;  Acts 19:25;  Revelation 18:22. A trade was taught to all the Jewish boys as a necessary part of their education. Even the greatest rabbis maintained themselves by trades (Delitzsch). Says Rabbi Jehuda, "He Who Does Not Teach His Son A Trade Is Much The Same As If He Taught Him To Be A Thief". In the present article, brief notice only can be given of such handicraft trades as are mentioned in Scripture.

1. Smiths or metal-workers. - The preparation of iron for use either in war, in agriculture or for domestic purposes was doubtless one of the earliest applications of labor; and together with iron, working in brass, or rather copper alloyed with tin (bronze), is mentioned as practiced in antediluvian times.  Genesis 4:22. After the establishment of the Jews in Canaan, the occupation of a smith became recognized as a distinct employment -  1 Samuel 13:19. The smith's work and its results are often mentioned in Scripture.  2 Samuel 12:31;  1 Kings 6:7;  2 Chronicles 26:14;  Isaiah 44:12;  Isaiah 54:16. The worker in gold and silver must have found employment among both the Hebrews and the neighboring nations in very early times.  Genesis 24:22;  Genesis 24:53;  Genesis 35:4;  Genesis 38:18. Various processes of the goldsmith's work are illustrated by Egyptian monuments. After the conquest, frequent notices are found of both moulded and wrought metal, including soldering.

2. Carpenters are often mentioned in Scripture.  Genesis 6:14; Exodus 37;  Isaiah 44:13. In the palace built by David for himself, the workmen employed were chiefly foreigners.  2 Samuel 5:11. That the Jewish carpenters must have been able to carve with some skill is evident from  Isaiah 41:7;  Isaiah 44:13. In the New Testament, the occupation of a carpenter is mentioned in connection with Joseph the husband of the Virgin Mary, and ascribed to our Lord himself.  Matthew 13:55;  Mark 6:3. The trade included our cabinet work as well as carpentering.

3. The Masons employed by David and Solomon, at least the chief of them, were Phoenicians.  1 Kings 5:18;  Ezekiel 27:9. The large stones used in Solomon's Temple are said by Josephus to have been fitted together exactly without either mortar or clamps, but the foundation stones to have been fastened with lead. For ordinary building, mortar was used; sometimes, perhaps, bitumen, as was the case at Babylon.  Genesis 11:3. The wall "daubed with untempered mortar" of  Ezekiel 13:10 was perhaps a sort of cob-wall of mud or clay without lime, which would give way under heavy rain. The use of whitewash on tombs is remarked by our Lord.  Matthew 23:27.

4. Ship-building must have been exercised to some extent for the fishing-vessels on the Lake of Gennesaret.  Matthew 8:23;  Matthew 9:1;  John 21:3;  John 21:8. Solomon built ships for his foreign trade.  1 Kings 9:26-27;  1 Kings 22:48;  2 Chronicles 20:36-37.

5. Apothecaries or perfumers appear to have formed a guild or association.  Exodus 30:25;  Exodus 30:35;  2 Chronicles 16:14;  Nehemiah 3:8;  Ecclesiastes 7:1;  Ecclesiastes 10:1.  Sirach 38:8.

6. Weavers. - The arts of spinning and weaving both wool and linen were carried on in early times, as they usually are still among the Bedouins, by women.  Exodus 35:20;  Exodus 35:26;  Leviticus 19:19;  Leviticus 22:11;  2 Kings 23:7;  Ezekiel 16:16;  Proverbs 31:13-14. The loom with its beam,  1 Samuel 17:7 pin,  Judges 16:14, and shuttles  Job 7:6 was perhaps introduced later, but as early as David's time.  1 Samuel 17:7.

7. Dyeing and dressing cloth were practiced in Palestine, as were also Tanning And Dressing Leather .  Joshua 2:15-18;  2 Kings 1:8;  Matthew 3:4;  Acts 9:43.

8. Barbers.  Numbers 6:5;  Numbers 6:19;  Ezekiel 5:1.

9. Tentmakers are noticed in  Acts 18:3.

10. Potters are frequently alluded to.  Jeremiah 18:2-6.

11. Bakers are noticed in Scripture,  Jeremiah 37:21;  Hosea 7:4, and the well-known valley Tyropoeon probably derived its name from the occupation of the Cheese-Makers , its inhabitants.

12. Butchers , not Jewish, are spoken of  1 Corinthians 10:25.

Shoemakers, tailors, glaziers and glass vessels Painters and Gold Workers are mentioned in the Mishna. Chel. viii. 9; xxix. 3,4; xxx. 1.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Handicraft.  Acts 18:3;  Acts 19:25;  Revelation 18:22. Says Rabbi Jehuda, "He who does not teach his son a trade is much the same as if he taught him to be a thief." Metalworkers. The preparation of iron for use either in war, in agriculture, together with iron, working in brass, or rather copper alloyed with tin (bronze), is mentioned as practiced in antediluvian times.  Genesis 4:22. After the establishment of the Jews in Canaan, the occupation of a smith became a distinct employment.  1 Samuel 13:19. The smith's work and its results are often mentioned in Scripture,  2 Samuel 12:31;  1 Kings 6:7;  2 Chronicles 26:14;  Isaiah 44:12;  Isaiah 54:1-17;  Isaiah 16:1-14. The worker also in gold and silver must have found employment among the Hebrews in very early times.  Genesis 24:22;  Genesis 24:53;  Genesis 35:4;  Genesis 38:18. Various processes of the goldsmith's work are illustrated by Egyptian monuments. After the conquest frequent notices are found of both moulded and wrought metal, including soldering. Carpenters are often mentioned in Scripture.  Genesis 6:14;  Exodus 37:1-29;  Isaiah 44:13. In the palace built by David for himself the workmen employed were chiefly foreigners.  2 Samuel 6:11. That the Jewish carpenters must have been able to carve with some Skill is evident from  Isaiah 41:7;  Isaiah 44:13. In the New Testament the occupation of a carpenter is mentioned in connection with Joseph the husband of Mary, and our Lord himself was a carpenter.  Matthew 13:55;  Mark 6:3. Masons and Stone-Cutters were employed by David and Solomon, many of whom were Phœnicians.  1 Kings 5:18. The large stones used in Solomon's temple are said by Josephus to have been fitted together exactly without either mortar or clamps, but the foundation stones to have been fastened with lead. For ordinary building mortar was used; sometimes bitumen, as at Babylon.  Genesis 11:3;  Ezekiel 13:10. The use of whitewash on tombs is noticed by our Lord.  Matthew 23:27. Shipboat-Building was common to some extent, for there were the fishing-vessels on the Lake of Gennesaret.  Matthew 8:23;  Matthew 9:1;  John 21:3;  John 21:8. Solomon built ships for his foreign trade.  1 Kings 9:26-27;  1 Kings 22:48;  2 Chronicles 20:36-37. Apothecaries or perfumers appear to have formed a guild or association.  Exodus 30:25;  Exodus 30:35;  2 Chronicles 16:14;  Nehemiah 3:8;  Ecclesiastes 7:1;  Ecclesiastes 10:1. The arts of Spinning and Weaving both wool and linen were carried on in early times by women.  Exodus 35:25-26;  Leviticus 19:19;  Deuteronomy 22:11;  2 Kings 23:7;  Ezekiel 16:16;  Proverbs 31:13;  Proverbs 31:24. The loom with Its beam,  1 Samuel 17:7, pin,  Judges 16:14, and shuttle,  Job 7:6, was perhaps introduced later, but as early as David's time.  1 Samuel 17:7. Dyeing and dressing cloth were practiced in Palestine, as were also tanning and dressing leather.  Joshua 2:15-18;  2 Kings 1:8;  Matthew 3:4;  Acts 9:43. Barbers.  Numbers 6:5;  Numbers 6:19;  Ezekiel 5:1. Tentmakers are noticed in  Acts 18:3. Potters are frequently alluded to.  Jeremiah 18:2-6. Bakers are noticed in Scripture,  Jeremiah 37:21;  Hosea 7:4; and the well-known valley Tyropœon probably derived its name from the occupation of the cheese-makers, its inhabitants. Dealers in meat, not Jewish, are spoken of in  1 Corinthians 10:25.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

(See Civilization ; Brass Jewish workmen, as distinguished from the pagan workmen in ancient times, were not slaves, nor were their trades hereditary. After the captivity it was deemed at once honourable and necessary for a father to teach his son a trade. (Mishna, Pirke, ab. 2:2). Hence, Joseph the carpenter taught the holy Jesus his trade; and many of His own country marveled that works so mighty should be wrought by one like themselves, an artisan: "is not this the carpenter?" ( Mark 6:3).

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A man who earns his living by handicraft; a handicraftsman.

(2): ( n.) A trade requiring skill of hand; manual occupation; handcraft.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Copyright StatementThese files are public domain. Bibliography InformationMcClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Handicraft'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/h/handicraft.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

In the early periods to which the Scriptural history refers we do not meet with those artificial feelings and unreasonable prejudices against hand-labor which prevail and are so banefully influential in modern society. The primitive history which the Bible presents is the history of hand-laborers. Adam dressed the garden in which God had placed him , Abel was a keeper of sheep, Cain a tiller of the ground , Tubal-cain a smith . The general nature of this article does not require any extensive or detailed inquiry into the hand-labors which the Israelites practiced before their descent into Egypt; but the high and varied culture which they found there must have contributed greatly to increase their knowledge of the practical arts of life, though the herdsman-sort of life which the Hebrews continued to lead was not favorable to their advancement in either science or art.

Another source of knowledge to the Hebrews of handicrafts were the maritime and commercial Phoenicians. Commerce and navigation imply great skill in art and science; and the pursuits to which they lead largely increase the skill whence they emanate. It is not, therefore, surprising that the origin of so many arts has been referred to the north-eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea; nor is there any difficulty in understanding how arts and letters should be propagated from the coast to the interior, conferring high advantages on the inhabitants of Syria in general, as well before as after the settlement of the Hebrew tribes in the land of promise.

The skill of the Hebrews during their wanderings in the desert does not appear to have been inconsiderable; but the pursuits of war and the entire absorption of the energies of the nation in the one great work of gaining the land which had been given to them, may have led to their falling off in the arts of peace; and from a passage in I Samuel it would appear that not long after they had taken possession of the country they were in a low condition as to the instruments of handicraft. A comparatively settled state of society, however, soon led to the revival of skill by the encouragement of industry. A more minute division of labor ensued. Trades, strictly so called, arose, carried on by persons exclusively devoted to one pursuit. Thus in and , 'the founder' is mentioned, a trade which implies a practical knowledge of metallurgy; the smelting and working of metals were well known to the Hebrews brass was in use before iron; arms and instruments of husbandry were made of iron. In Exodus a passage occurs which may serve to specify many arts that were practiced among the Israelites, though it seems also to intimate that at the time to which it refers artificers of the description referred to were not numerous. From the ensuing chapter it appears that gilding was known before the settlement in Canaan. The ark was overlaid with pure gold within and without. The cherubim were wrought ('beaten,' ) in gold. The candlestick was of beaten gold . Wire-drawing was probably understood . Covering with brass and with silver was practiced. Architecture and the kindred arts do not appear to have made much progress till the days of Solomon, who employed an incredible number of persons to procure timber (, sq.); but the men of skill for building his temple he obtained from Hiram, king of Tyre (1 Kings 5 sq.;; ). The intercourse which the Babylonish captivity gave the Jews seems to have greatly improved their knowledge and skill in both the practical and the fine arts, and to have led them to hold them in very high estimation. The arts were even carried on by persons of learning, who took a title of honor from their trade. It was held a sign of a bad education if a father did not teach his son some handicraft.

In the Apocrypha and New Testament there are mentioned tanners , tent-makers in Josephus, cheese-makers, domestics; in the Talmud, with others we find tailors, shoe-makers, blood-letters, glaziers, goldsmiths, plasterers. Certain handicraftsmen could never rise to the rank of high-priest, such as weavers, barbers, fullers, perfumers, cuppers, tanners; which pursuits, especially the last, were held in disesteem. In large cities particular localities were set apart for particular trades, as is the case in the East to the present day. Thus in Jeremiah we read of 'the bakers Street.' So in the Talmud mention is made of a flesh-market; in Josephus, of a cheese-market; and in the New Testament we read of a sheep-market.