χαλκεύς (chalkeus)
chalkeus
coppersmith
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun chalkeus refers to a craftsman who works with metal, specifically identified as a coppersmith or ironworker. Derived from the word for bronze or copper (chalkos), it describes someone whose trade involves shaping durable materials through heat and hammering. This was a common profession in the ancient world, requiring skill and physical strength.
Its most notable appearance in Scripture is in 2 Timothy 4:14, where Paul warns Timothy about Alexander the coppersmith, who caused him significant harm. The specific mention of his trade grounds this conflict in everyday reality; it was not an abstract enemy but a local artisan whose actions directly impacted the apostle’s well-being. This usage highlights how spiritual struggles often intersect with ordinary professional lives.
Translators typically render chalkeus as "coppersmith" or "blacksmith," depending on context, though the Greek term broadly covers metalworkers. The word itself carries no inherent theological weight beyond its literal meaning, yet its presence in Paul’s final letter underscores the tangible, often difficult nature of his ministry and the personal costs involved.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chalkeus simply means a metalworker, someone who shapes copper or iron with heat and hammer. In the ancient world this was hard physical labor requiring skill and strength. It reminds us that faith does not exist in an abstract realm but is lived out in ordinary trades and daily routines.
Paul mentions Alexander the coppersmith in 2 Timothy 4:14 as someone who opposed him. This shows that spiritual conflicts often involve real people with specific jobs and motives. We do not need to fear these earthly tensions because the Lord sees them clearly.
Your own work matters deeply to God. Whether you shape metal or serve others, your labor is part of His story. Trust that He oversees both the quiet moments and the difficult encounters, bringing justice and peace in His time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- coppersmith1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χαλκεὺς1×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
This verse identifies Alexander by his trade to show that spiritual opposition often comes from those involved in everyday professional life.