Arts and crafts

Artistic skills, usually practised by craftsmen and passed on from generation to generation, of which a wide variety are mentioned in Scripture.

Metalwork

Exodus 39:2–3 See also Exodus 31:1–5 parallel Exodus 35:30–33; 1 Samuel 13:19–21; 1 Kings 7:13–14; Isaiah 41:7; Jeremiah 10:9; Acts 19:23–41

Bezalel made the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen — the work of a skilled craftsman.

Stonework

1 Kings 5:17–18 See also 1 Kings 6:36, 1 Kings 7:9–12; 2 Kings 22:3–6 parallel 2 Chronicles 34:8–11; 1 Chronicles 22:2; 2 Chronicles 2:13–14; Ezekiel 40:42

And the king commanded them to quarry large, costly stones to lay the foundation of the temple with dressed stones. So Solomon’s and Hiram’s builders, along with the Gebalites, quarried the stone and prepared the timber and stone for the construction of the temple.

Building

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 See also 2 Chronicles 34:11; Ezra 3:10; Isaiah 9:8–10; Amos 5:11; Hebrews 3:3–4

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.

Pottery

Isaiah 41:25 See also 2 Samuel 17:27–29; 1 Chronicles 4:21–23; Isaiah 29:16, Isaiah 45:9, Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1–10, Jeremiah 19:1; Romans 9:19–21

I have raised up one from the north, and he has come — one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who treads the clay.

Carpentry

Isaiah 44:13 See also Genesis 6:14; 2 Samuel 5:11 parallel 1 Chronicles 14:1; 1 Kings 6:31–33; 2 Kings 12:10–12 parallel 2 Chronicles 24:11–12; Matthew 13:54–55 parallel Mark 6:2–3

The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.

Engraving

Exodus 28:9–12 parallel Exodus 39:6–7 See also Exodus 28:36–37 parallel Exodus 39:30–31; 1 Kings 7:30–36; 2 Chronicles 2:13–14

Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, in the order of their birth. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings. Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names on his two shoulders as a memorial before the LORD.

Dyeing

Exodus 36:19 parallel Exodus 26:14 See also Exodus 35:22–23

Additionally, he made for the tent a covering of ram skins dyed red, and over that a covering of fine leather.

Weaving and embroidery

Exodus 35:34–35 See also Exodus 28:39–40 parallel Exodus 39:22–29; 2 Kings 23:7; 1 Chronicles 4:21; Isaiah 19:9–10, Isaiah 38:12

And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers — as artistic designers of every kind of craft.[’’]

Tanning

Acts 9:43 See also Acts 10:5–6, Acts 10:32–33

And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

Making idols

Leviticus 26:1 See also 2 Kings 17:14–16; Isaiah 40:18–20, Isaiah 41:5–7, Isaiah 44:9–20

“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God.