43. Builder. Maker. Artificer

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: Appendix By: George A. Morrish

The two words to be considered are τεχνίτης and δημιουργός, and principally in their signification in Heb. 11:10¹⁰For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10), where of Abraham it is said "he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." The words ‘builder' and ‘maker' are somewhat indefinite as applied to a city.

The word δημιουργός, ‘a worker for the people,' hence ‘a skilled workman,' (from δῆμος, ‘a people,' and ἔργον, ‘work') translated ‘maker,' does not occur again in the N. T. nor is it found in the LXX except in 2 Mac. 4:1, where it is used symbolically for a worker' of evil. Outside of scripture it has been used for the Maker of the world,' and of almost everything else. We never speak of making a city; builder or constructor gives the true sense.

τεχνίτης (from τίχνη, ‘art') translated ‘builder,' occurs also in Acts 19:24, 38²⁴For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; (Acts 19:24)
³⁸Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. (Acts 19:38), for the ‘artificers' (‘craftsmen,’ A. V.) who made the silver shrines of the temple at Ephesus; and in Rev. 18:22²²And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; (Revelation 18:22), alluding to no artificer of any art being found in spiritual Babylon. This seems to give the key to the signification of τεχνίτης. in Heb. 11:10¹⁰For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10): the arts would embrace the planning of a city, descending to the bricklayers and masons, who also have to learn the art of their several employments.

The same word is used by the LXX in 1 Chron. 22:15; 29:5¹⁵Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work. (1 Chronicles 22:15)
⁵The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? (1 Chronicles 29:5), for the artificers who worked with the masons in building the temple. Our word ‘artificer' is now commonly confined in its application to workmen, but its meaning is ‘one who uses art,' quite agreeing with the signification of τεχνίτης, ‘one who does or handles a thing by the rules of art' (Liddell and Scott), which applies as much to the higher branches of the arts as to the lower. Delitzsch explains τεχνίης as ‘having laid down its plan;' and δηιμουγός ‘as having framed it accordingly,' that is, the city. Bengel has ‘contriver and founder;' Alford, ‘architect and master builder'; J. N. Darby, ‘artificer and constructor.'

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