What are…
carpenters in the Bible

Photographer: Vigmund Djupang
Photograph in Nazareth, Israel, depicting an ancient carpenter at his work bench

In biblical times, a carpenter was an artificer in stone, iron, and copper, as well as in wood (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Chronicles 14:1; Mark 6:3).

Every Jew, even the rabbis, learned some handicraft: Paul was a tentmaker.

The tools used by carpenters are mentioned in 1 Samuel 13:19-20; Judges 4:21; Isaiah 10:15; 44:13.

Jesus Christ

It was said of our Lord, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matthew 13:55); also, “Is not this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:3).

“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.”

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