κεραμεύς (kerameus)
kerameus
potter
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kerameus refers simply to a potter, one who shapes clay into vessels. In the New Testament, this word appears only three times, linking the everyday craft of pottery to significant theological and historical moments. It describes the profession involved in buying a field for burying strangers, as recorded in Matthew 27:7, and serves as a central metaphor in Paul’s argument about God’s sovereignty in Romans 9:21.
The term carries strong resonance from the Greek Old Testament, where it translates the Hebrew word yatsar. This connects the New Testament usage to prophetic imagery found in passages like Jeremiah 18, where a potter works with clay to demonstrate divine authority over nations. By using this specific occupational title, the biblical authors evoke an image of creation and judgment that relies on the craftsman’s absolute control over his material.
Its rarity in the New Testament highlights its symbolic weight rather than its common usage. When Paul asks if the potter has no right over the clay, he is not discussing artisanal technique but asserting divine prerogative. The word anchors these abstract concepts in a tangible, familiar trade, reminding readers that the Creator’s relationship to humanity mirrors a maker’s intimate knowledge of his work.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kerameus simply means potter, yet it carries deep weight in Scripture. In Matthew’s Gospel, we see it used to describe a practical transaction: buying a field for burying strangers. This humble detail connects the daily work of a craftsman to the fulfillment of prophecy and the care God shows even for those outside his immediate community.
Paul takes this familiar image further in Romans 9. He asks if the potter has no right over the clay, shaping some pieces for honor and others for dishonor. This is not about artistic technique but about divine sovereignty. It reminds us that the Creator knows his material intimately, holding authority over every part of the story.
When you feel uncertain about your place in God’s plan, remember this image. You are shaped by a hand that understands the clay completely. There is comfort in knowing that the One who forms us has both the right and the wisdom to shape our lives according to His purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- potter2×
- potter,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κεραμέως,1×
- κεραμέως1×
- κεραμεὺς1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 27:7
They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them to bury strangers in.
This occurrence links a mundane financial transaction to the fulfillment of prophecy, showing how God uses ordinary work like pottery to accomplish His purposes.
-
Matthew 27:10
and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Here the term confirms that the purchase was done exactly as commanded, validating the authority of the prophetic word through specific historical detail.
-
Romans 9:21
Or hasn’t the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel for honor, and another for dishonor?
Paul uses this occupational title to argue for God’s sovereign right to shape human destinies, moving from a literal craft to a profound theological truth.