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Article on what a Carpenter meant


urroner

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Posted

There is a article somewhere that stated that the word "carpenter" when describing what Joseph, the stepfather of Christ, was means something different than somebody who worked with wood. Does anybody know where this article is?

Posted

There is a article somewhere that stated that the word "carpenter" when describing what Joseph, the stepfather of Christ, was means something different than somebody who worked with wood. Does anybody know where this article is?

Those familiar with the language spoken by Jesus are acquainted with a metaphorical use of 'carpenter' and 'carpenter's son' in ancient Jewish writings. In Talmudic sayings the Aramaic noun denoting carpenter or craftsman (naggar) stands for a 'scholar' or 'learned man' :

'This is something no carpenter, son of carpenters, can explain.'

'There is no carpenter, nor a carpenter's son, to explain it'

Thus, although no one can be absolutely sure that the sayings cited in the Talmud were current already in first-century AD Galilee, proverbs such as these are likely to be age-old. If so, it is possible that the charming picture of 'Jesus the carpenter' may have to be buried and forgotten.

-Geza Vermas, Jesus the Jew: A Historian's Reading of the Gospels, 21-22.

Posted

There is a article somewhere that stated that the word "carpenter" when describing what Joseph, the stepfather of Christ, was means something different than somebody who worked with wood. Does anybody know where this article is?

A carpenter was someone who worked with wood, stone, and blueprints. A contractor of sorts.

Posted

Geza Vermes misinterpreted the talmudic quote. I humbly present this response. http://calba-savua.blogspot.com/2010/12/is-not-this-carpenter.html

Dude, I humbly bow to you knowledge. I guess I won't be making that point next week in Sunday School about Joseph being a scholar.

This is one of the reasons I love this message board. If one can't get past the noise, there is a lot of good knowledge being passed around by members and non-members.

Posted

Geza Vermes misinterpreted the talmudic quote. I humbly present this response. http://calba-savua.blogspot.com/2010/12/is-not-this-carpenter.html

Awesome!

The word in Greek, tekt?n, means craftsman or artisan, and could refer to many types of craftsmen. In the Septuagint, their is mentioned:

tekt?n sid?rou = iron smith (1 Sm. 13:19)

tekt?n xul?n = wood worker, carpenter (1 Sm. 5:11)

tekt?n lith?n = stone worker, mason (1 Sm. 5:11)

tekt?n chalkou = bronze worker, bronze caster (1 Kgs. 7:2)

It's possible that he was involved in all three--wood, metal and stone.

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