κερᾰμ-εύς G2763
potter; one who shapes clay vessels on a wheel
The craftsman who forms vessels from clay using a potter's wheel. In the ancient world, potters were essential artisans providing everyday containers for water, oil, grain, and other necessities. The potter's freedom to shape clay as desired made this craft a powerful biblical image for God's sovereignty over creation. Paul draws on this imagery in Romans 9:21, asking whether the clay can question the potter's right to make different vessels for different purposes. Matthew 27:7, 10 reference the potter's field purchased with Judas's blood money, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A craftsman who shapes clay into vessels. Matthew 27:7, 10 both reference 'the potter's field'—land purchased with the thirty pieces of silver returned by Judas, fulfilling prophecy. Romans 9:21 uses the potter metaphorically: just as a potter has authority over clay to make different vessels for different purposes, so God has sovereignty over his creation. The image emphasizes divine freedom and human creatureliness. 3×
AR["الْخَزَّافُ", "الْفَخَّارِ"]·ben["কুম্ভকারের"]·DE["Toepfer", "κεραμέως"]·EN["potter"]·FR["potier"]·heb["יוֹצֵר"]·HI["कुम्हार"]·ID["tukang-periuk"]·IT["vasaio"]·jav["tukang-grabah,", "tukang-klenthik"]·KO["도공-의", "도예가가"]·PT["oleiro"]·RU["-глины", "горшечника"]·ES["alfarero"]·SW["mfinyanzi"]·TR["çömlekçi", "çömlekçinin"]·urd["کمہار", "کُمہار-کی", "کُمہار-کے"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κερᾰμ-εύς, έως, ὁ, potter, ὡς ὅτε τις τροχὸν.. κεραμεὺς πειρήσεται Refs 8th c.BC+; οἱ κ., a guild at Thyatira, Refs 8th c.BC+; κεραμέως πλοῦτος and κεραμεὺς ἅνθρωπος, proverbial, of anything frail and uncertain, Refs 4th c.AD+ __II Κεραμεῖς, Attic dialect Κεραμῆς, οἱ, name of an Attic deme, Refs 5th c.BC+