χειροποίητος (cheiropoiētos)
cheiropoiētos
hand-made
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective cheiropoiētos describes anything “made by hand,” emphasizing human craftsmanship rather than divine origin. It combines words for “hand” and “to make,” creating a term that highlights the material, physical nature of the object in question. In the New Testament, this word is used sparingly but with specific theological intent.
It appears most often in Acts and Hebrews to describe temples or idols as human constructions. For instance, Stephen notes that the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands (Acts 7:48), and Paul observes that God created the world without such handcrafted shrines (Acts 17:24). The author of Hebrews uses it to contrast earthly tabernacles with the true heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:11, 24).
Mark 14:58 and Ephesians 2:11 also employ this term. In Mark, false witnesses claim Jesus said he would destroy the temple made by hands. In Ephesians, Paul refers to circumcision as “made by hand” to distinguish it from the spiritual reality of Christ. The word consistently serves to mark a boundary between human effort and divine action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we encounter the word cheiropoiētos, or “hand-made,” it reminds us that human effort, while often necessary, has limits. The Bible uses this term to distinguish between structures built by craftsmen and the reality of God’s presence. Stephen and Paul both pointed out that the Most High does not dwell in temples made by hands (Acts 7:48; 17:24). This was not a rejection of worship spaces, but a clarification that God is greater than any building we can construct.
This distinction offers comfort when we feel pressured to achieve perfection. We are not called to build our own salvation or to contain God within our limited efforts. Instead, Christ entered the true heavenly sanctuary, not a replica made by human hands (Hebrews 9:24). Our faith rests in His finished work, not in the quality of our own craftsmanship.
Even when religious practices are described as “made by hand,” like circumcision in Ephesians 2:11, the focus shifts to the spiritual reality behind them. God looks at the heart, not just the external form. This invites us to trust in His grace rather than relying on our own ability to perform or maintain religious duties.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hand-made2×
- made with hands1×
- made by hands,1×
- made by hands —1×
- made by hands1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χειροποιήτου,2×
- χειροποιήτοις2×
- χειροποίητον1×
- χειροποίητα1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:48
However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
Stephen uses this term to clarify that God’s presence is not confined to human architecture, freeing believers from associating His power with physical locations.
-
Hebrews 9:24
For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
The author contrasts earthly replicas with heaven itself to show that Christ’s ministry operates in a realm beyond human construction or limitation.
-
Mark 14:58
“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’”
False witnesses twist Jesus’ words about the temple made by hands, highlighting how this term was central to accusations against His authority over worship.