CRAFT WORKERS

Among the crafts workers mentioned in the Bible are metal-workers (Exod 31:3-4; Isa 44:12; 54:16; Jer 10:9; 2 Tim 4:14), carpenters (2 Sam 5:11; Isa 44:13; Mark 6:3), wood-carvers (Exod 31:5; 1 Kings 6:32), stone-workers (2 Sam 5:11; 1 Kings 6:7), jewellers (Exod 28:11; 31:5), potters (Isa 41:25; Jer 18:1- 4), spinners and weavers (Exod 35:25; Job 7:6; Isa 19:9), dyers (Exod 26:1; 2 Chron 2:7; Acts 16:14), tanners (Exod 26:14; Matt 3:4; Acts 9:43) and tent-makers (Gen 4:20; Acts 18:3).

Tools that these craft workers used are also mentioned occasionally (Gen 4:22; 1 Sam 13:20; 1 Kings 6:7; 7:9; 2 Kings 6:5; Isa 41:7; Jer 23:29). People of the same craft, along with their families, usually lived in the same part of a town or village (1 Chron 4:21; Neh 11:35). Their common interests naturally produced a strong social bond. This was well demonstrated on one occasion in Ephesus. When Paul’s preaching resulted in many idol worshippers being converted, the silversmiths saw him as a threat to their livelihood and used their collective power to oppose him vigorously (Acts 19:24-27). See also WORK.