Workmanship
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Etymology:
The term "workmanship" refers to the quality or skill demonstrated in the creation of something. In a biblical context, it often denotes the craftsmanship or artistry of God as the Creator. The word is derived from the Old English "weorc" (work) and "mann" (man), indicating the skill or artistry of a worker.

Biblical References:

1. Ephesians 2:10 :
"For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."
This verse highlights the concept of believers as God's creation, crafted with purpose and intention. It emphasizes that Christians are not only created by God but are also designed for specific good works that align with His divine plan.

2. Exodus 31:3-5 :
"And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, 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."
Here, God speaks of Bezalel, whom He endowed with the Spirit to perform skilled work for the construction of the Tabernacle. This passage illustrates the divine origin of artistic skill and craftsmanship, portraying it as a gift from God for His purposes.

3. Psalm 139:14 :
"I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
This verse reflects the psalmist's awe at God's intricate design in creating human beings. It acknowledges the complexity and beauty of God's workmanship in the creation of life.

Theological Significance:

· Divine Craftsmanship:
The concept of workmanship in the Bible underscores the belief that God is the ultimate craftsman. His creation is not random or accidental but is marked by intentionality and purpose. This is evident in the natural world, human beings, and the spiritual rebirth of believers.

· Human Creativity as Reflection of God:
Human ability to create and craft is seen as a reflection of being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The skills and talents bestowed upon individuals are viewed as gifts from God, meant to be used for His glory and the edification of others.

· Purpose and Calling:
The idea of being God's workmanship implies that each person has a unique purpose and calling. Believers are encouraged to seek and fulfill the good works that God has prepared for them, living lives that reflect His character and intentions.

Practical Implications:

· Stewardship of Talents:
Christians are called to be good stewards of the skills and talents they have been given. This involves developing and using these gifts in ways that honor God and serve others.

· Excellence in Work:
The biblical view of workmanship encourages excellence in all endeavors, whether artistic, professional, or spiritual. Believers are urged to work diligently and with integrity, as if serving the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

· Recognition of God's Sovereignty:
Acknowledging oneself as God's workmanship fosters a sense of humility and dependence on God. It reminds believers that their abilities and achievements are ultimately rooted in God's creative power and grace.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The art or skill of a workman; the execution or manner of making anything.

2. (n.) That which is effected, made, or produced; manufacture, something made by manual labor.

Greek
4161. poiema -- a work
... of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: poiema Phonetic Spelling: (poy'-ay-mah)
Short Definition: a thing made Definition: a thing made, a work, workmanship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4161.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
8521. Tel Charsha -- "mound of a craftsman," a city in Babylon
... Tel-haresha, Tel-harsa. From tel and the feminine of Charashiym; mound of workmanship;
Tel-Charsha, a place in Babylonia -- Tel-haresha, Tel-harsa. ...
/hebrew/8521.htm - 6k

4639. maaseh -- a deed, work
... things (5), verses (1), vocation (1), what He has done (1), what is done (2), what
is made (1), work (99), work quota (1), working (2), workmanship (10), works ...
/hebrew/4639.htm - 6k

4399. melakah -- occupation, work
... 1), property (2), purpose (1), service (2), something (1), supplies (1), task (2),
use (2), used (2), work (118), workers (1), workmanship (1), workmen (5 ...
/hebrew/4399.htm - 6k

Library

On the Workmanship of God
On the Workmanship of God. <. On the Workmanship of God Lactantius. translated
by the rev. william fletcher, dd Table of Contents. Title Page. Chap. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lactantius/on the workmanship of god/

God's Workmanship and Our Works
... EPHESIANS GOD'S WORKMANSHIP AND OUR WORKS. 'We are ... life. And so each Christian
is 'God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.'. And ...
/.../gods workmanship and our works.htm

March 14. "We are his Workmanship" (Eph. Ii. 10).
... MARCH 14. "We are His workmanship" (Eph. ii. 10). "We are His workmanship"
(Ephesians 2:10). Christ sends us to serve Him, not ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /march 14 we are his.htm

On the Workmanship of God
On the Workmanship of God. <. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lactantius/on the workmanship of god/title page.htm

Created in Christ Jesus for Good Works
... For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God afore prepared that we should walk in them.'"Eph.2:8-10 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/working for god/ix created in christ jesus.htm

The Hearing Ear and the Seeing Eye
... The tiny drum of the ear, which quivers with every sound which strikes it, puts
to shame with its divine workmanship all the clumsy workmanship of man. ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon vi the hearing ear.htm

Man is Endowed with the Faculty of Distinguishing Good and Evil ...
... If, then, thou art God's workmanship, await the hand of thy Maker which creates
everything in due time; in due time as far as thou art concerned, whose ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxix man is endowed with.htm

Of the Golden Age, of Images, and Prometheus, who First Fashioned ...
... For since he himself is the workmanship of God, whereas an image is the workmanship
of man, the human workmanship cannot be preferred to the divine; and as God ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxv of the golden age.htm

The Question Answered. Justification is Grace Simply and Entirely ...
... To meet, therefore, these opinions on both sides, he immediately added, "For we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ...
/.../anti-pelagian writings/chapter 20 the question answered justification.htm

Gifts and Talents.
... and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and
in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/viii gifts and talents.htm

Thesaurus
Workmanship (15 Occurrences)
...Workmanship (15 Occurrences). ... Exodus 31:5 and in cutting of stones for setting,
and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship. ...
/w/workmanship.htm - 11k

Craftsmanship (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in
understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, (See NAS RSV). ...
/c/craftsmanship.htm - 7k

Skill (26 Occurrences)
... Exodus 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in
understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, (See NIV). ...
/s/skill.htm - 19k

Ability (34 Occurrences)
... Exodus 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in
understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, (See RSV NIV). ...
/a/ability.htm - 18k

Kinds (110 Occurrences)
... Exodus 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in
understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, (See NAS NIV). ...
/k/kinds.htm - 36k

Skilled (44 Occurrences)
... (See NAS NIV). Exodus 35:33 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving
of wood, to work in all manner of skilful workmanship. (See RSV). ...
/s/skilled.htm - 20k

Skilful (38 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:33 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood,
to work in all manner of skilful workmanship. (See JPS ASV). ...
/s/skilful.htm - 21k

Yarn (37 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship,
of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in ...
/y/yarn.htm - 18k

Weaver (11 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship,
of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in ...
/w/weaver.htm - 9k

Intelligence (45 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Exodus 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and
in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, (See RSV). ...
/i/intelligence.htm - 19k

Resources
What does it mean that we are God's workmanship in Ephesians 2:10? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about Christian behavior? | GotQuestions.org

Was Satan in charge of music in Heaven? | GotQuestions.org

Workmanship: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Workmanship (15 Occurrences)

1 Corinthians 9:1
Am not I an apostle? am not I free? Jesus Christ our Lord have I not seen? my work are not ye in the Lord?
(See RSV)

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 28:8
And the skilfully woven band, which is upon it, wherewith to gird it on, shall be like the work thereof and of the same piece: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
(See NAS RSV)

Exodus 31:3
and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Exodus 31:5
and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Exodus 35:31
He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Exodus 35:33
in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship.
(WEB JPS ASV)

Exodus 35:35
He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works.
(WEB JPS ASV)

Exodus 39:5
And the skilfully woven band, that was upon it, wherewith to gird it on, was of the same piece and like the work thereof: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, as the LORD commanded Moses.
(See NAS RSV)

Exodus 39:8
And he made the breastplate, the work of the skilful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
(See NAS)

Numbers 8:4
This was the workmanship of the lampstand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work: according to the pattern which Yahweh had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.
(WEB NAS RSV)

1 Kings 7:8
And his house where he might dwell, in the other court, within the porch, was of the like work. He made also a house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom Solomon had taken to wife, like unto this porch.
(See NAS RSV)

1 Kings 7:33
And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel; their axletrees, and their felloes, and their spokes, and their naves, were all molten.
(See NAS)

2 Kings 16:10
King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and its pattern, according to all its workmanship.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS)

Ezekiel 1:16
The appearance of the wheels and their works 'is' as the colour of beryl, and one likeness 'is' to them four, and their appearances and their works 'are' as it were the wheel in the midst of the wheel.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Workmanship

Related Terms

Fellow-workmen (5 Occurrences)

Workmen's (1 Occurrence)

Workers (76 Occurrences)

Oversight (23 Occurrences)

Repairing (12 Occurrences)

Worker (36 Occurrences)

Repair (26 Occurrences)

Workman (22 Occurrences)

Workfellow (1 Occurrence)

Supervise (8 Occurrences)

Expert (59 Occurrences)

Vine-garden (43 Occurrences)

Owner (56 Occurrences)

Labored (35 Occurrences)

Pattern (28 Occurrences)

Beseech (85 Occurrences)

Supplicate (8 Occurrences)

Hiram (21 Occurrences)

Heritage (435 Occurrences)

Damaged (44 Occurrences)

Garden (68 Occurrences)

Overseers (47 Occurrences)

Oversee (7 Occurrences)

Winged (69 Occurrences)

Repaired (46 Occurrences)

Restoring (8 Occurrences)

Emptied (20 Occurrences)

Mend (7 Occurrences)

Metal-workers (5 Occurrences)

Phenicia (1 Occurrence)

Blows (105 Occurrences)

Breaches (16 Occurrences)

Craftsmen (22 Occurrences)

Amend (7 Occurrences)

Shift (1 Occurrence)

Supervisors (5 Occurrences)

Ornament (23 Occurrences)

Restored (77 Occurrences)

Paid (86 Occurrences)

Engaged (31 Occurrences)

Jeshua (30 Occurrences)

Crafts (2 Occurrences)

Strengthen (105 Occurrences)

Property (212 Occurrences)

Breach (55 Occurrences)

Skilled (44 Occurrences)

Workmanship (15 Occurrences)

Tyre (59 Occurrences)

Worked (145 Occurrences)

Restore (122 Occurrences)

Design (84 Occurrences)

Felt (40 Occurrences)

Best (252 Occurrences)

Reached (152 Occurrences)

Quarries (4 Occurrences)

Vines (39 Occurrences)

Kad'mi-el (8 Occurrences)

Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

Obadiah (21 Occurrences)

Ours (63 Occurrences)

Occupation (9 Occurrences)

Original (6 Occurrences)

Overseeing (4 Occurrences)

Outcry (56 Occurrences)

Joppa (14 Occurrences)

Jeshuah (1 Occurrence)

Lukas (3 Occurrences)

Library

Giving (611 Occurrences)

Gihon (6 Occurrences)

Gebalites (2 Occurrences)

Gebal (3 Occurrences)

Garb (2 Occurrences)

Income (7 Occurrences)

Invention (4 Occurrences)

In-gathered (1 Occurrence)

Ivory (13 Occurrences)

Idle (33 Occurrences)

Fellow-workman (5 Occurrences)

Workman's
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