κεραμεύς
kerameús
G2763 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A worker or craftsman who shapes and fashions objects from clay, specifically a potter; by extension, one engaged in the art or trade of pottery making. In literary, metaphorical, or parabolic contexts, κεραμεύς may represent one who molds, shapes, or forms, especially with the implication of authority or creative agency.
Semantic Range
potter (artisan who fashions clay vessels); one skilled in pottery; metaphorically, one who shapes or molds (esp. with authority or creative power)
Root / Etymology
From κέραμος (keramos, 'potter's clay,' 'earthenware,' 'pottery') plus the agent suffix -εύς, indicating a person associated with a particular activity or craft. Thus κεραμεύς denotes 'one who works with clay.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term κεραμεύς appears in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek with the primary meaning of a professional potter or artisan skilled in producing items from clay (e.g., vessels, tiles, bricks). Pottery was a significant trade in ancient Mediterranean societies, and the κεραμεύς occupied a well-recognized role in both urban and village economies. In literary usage, notably in parables or philosophical texts, κεραμεύς is sometimes used as an image for a creator or one who has decisive authority over what is formed, as in the analogy of divine sovereignty found in some Septuagint and New Testament passages. English translations typically render the word as 'potter,' but this may miss the nuance of skilled artisan or the social status of the profession in different contexts. The word is related to the place-name Κεραμεικός, the potters' quarter in Athens, reflecting the occupational importance and spatial organization of the craft. In the Septuagint and New Testament, κεραμεύς is used primarily in literal references to a potter or figuratively in discussions about divine agency and human formation. No significant shift in meaning is attested from classical through Koine Greek.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from κέραμος; a potter:--potter.
Root Family
κεραμεύς (kerameus) — to shape clay, to make pottery, to form as clay
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2763-01 |
Κεραμέως | kerameos | N GEN M SG |
potter | of a potter | potter | 2 |
G2763-02 |
κεραμεὺς | kerameus | N NOM M SG |
potter | clay-former | potter | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2763-01 |
Matthew 27:7 | Κεραμέως | kerameos | N GEN M SG |
potter's | of a potter | potter |
G2763-01 |
Matthew 27:10 | Κεραμέως | kerameos | N GEN M SG |
potter | of a potter | potter |
G2763-02 |
Romans 9:21 | κεραμεὺς | kerameus | N NOM M SG |
potter | clay-former | potter |