τέχνη (technē)
technē
skill
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun technē refers to a specific kind of skill, usually involving manual dexterity or artistic craft. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, consistently pointing to human expertise in making things rather than abstract wisdom. This usage aligns with its Old Greek translation of words like chokmah, which can mean practical ability or workmanship.
We see this concrete sense in Acts 17:29, where Paul argues that the divine cannot be represented by gold, silver, or stone carved by human technē. The term highlights the limitation of material artistry when compared to the Creator. Similarly, Acts 18:3 mentions Paul working as a tentmaker, a trade requiring technical skill and practiced hands.
The word also surfaces in Revelation 18:22, describing the silence of musicians and craftsmen in fallen Babylon. Here, technē represents the complex industries of commerce and production that define worldly prosperity. Its rarity in Scripture suggests it is not a theological term for divine power, but a descriptor of human industry and the tangible results of skilled labor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word technē points to the tangible skill we use with our hands. It describes the care and expertise behind making something real, whether that is a tent or a carved image. When we engage in work, we are reflecting the Creator’s own attention to detail and order. Our labor, when done well, becomes a quiet witness to the dignity of creation.
Yet Scripture also reminds us of the limits of human craftsmanship. In Acts 17:29, Paul notes that God cannot be confined to stone or metal shaped by human hands. This does not devalue our work; instead, it places it in its proper context. Our skills are gifts, but they are not substitutes for the Divine presence.
Whether you are an artist, a tradesperson, or simply someone who takes pride in daily tasks, this word invites you to see your labor as meaningful. It is a way to honor God through excellence and integrity, while keeping our hearts fixed on Him rather than on the things we make.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of craft1×
- craft1×
- by trade;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τέχνης2×
- τέχνῃ·1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 17:29
Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.
This verse uses technē to argue against idolatry, showing that human artistic skill cannot capture or contain the infinite nature of God.
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Acts 18:3
and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.
Here the term highlights Paul’s humble trade as a tentmaker, demonstrating that apostolic ministry was supported by skilled manual labor rather than divine spectacle.
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Revelation of John 18:22
The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman of whatever craft will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.
The silence of craftsmen in this verse signifies the total collapse of worldly economic systems and human achievement when judged by God.