Lexical Summary démiourgos: Creator, Craftsman, Maker Original Word: δημιουργός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance maker. From demos and ergon; a worker for the people, i.e. Mechanic (spoken of the Creator) -- maker. see GREEK demos see GREEK ergon HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1217 dēmiourgós (from 1218 /dḗmos, "a unified group of people" and 2014 /epiphaínō, "work") – properly, someone working on behalf of a group of people (used only in Heb 11:10). See 1218 (dēmos). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom démos and ergon Definition builder, maker, creator NASB Translation builder (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1217: δημιουργόςδημιουργός, δημιουργου, ὁ (δήμιος, public, belonging to the people, and ἘΡΓΩ; cf. ἱερουργός, ἀμπελουργός, etc.), often in Greek writers from Homer down; a. properly, a workman for the public. b. universally, the author of any work, an artisan, framer, builder: τεχνιτεσς καί δημιουργός, Hebrews 11:10; (Xenophon, mem. 1, 4, 7 (cf. 9) σοφοῦ τίνος δημιουργου τέχνημα. God is called ὁ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ δημιουργός in Plato, rep. 7, p. 530 a.; ὁ δημιουργός τῶν ὅλων in Josephus, Antiquities 1, 7, 1, and often in ecclesiastical writers from Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 20, 11 [ET]; 26, 1 [ET]; 33, 2 [ET] on; (cf. Philo, de mut. nom. § 4; de opif. mund., Muller, edition, p. 133; Piper, Einl. in monument. Theol. § 26; Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word). In the Scriptures, besides, only in 2 Macc. 4:1 κακῶν δημιουργός). (Cf. Trench, § cv.) In the single New Testament appearance of δημιουργός (Hebrews 11:10), the writer portrays God as the “architect and builder” of the city Abraham awaited. The verse casts Abraham’s faith forward to a divinely planned and constructed dwelling whose permanence rests not in human craftsmanship but in the purposeful handiwork of God Himself. By using a word that Greeks associated with public craftsmen who served the common good, the author underscores that God’s creative labor is both intentional and beneficent—designed for the redeemed community. Old Testament Foundations Scripture repeatedly presents the Lord as Maker and Builder long before the epistle to the Hebrews entwines those themes: • Genesis 1:1—God’s initial act of creation establishes His unrivaled authority as Creator. Hebrews 11:10 thus stands in continuity with the Old Testament portrayal: God builds realms of worship and habitation, and faithful people anchor their hope in His craftsmanship rather than in transient structures. The Heavenly City The “city with foundations” (Hebrews 11:10) anticipates the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21:2,14. Twelve foundations inscribed with the apostles’ names reveal stability and covenantal completeness. The shared imagery confirms that the term δημιουργός does not merely describe God’s past creative act but His ongoing project culminating in an eschatological dwelling for His people. Theological Implications 1. Divine Initiative: Salvation history is constructed by God from blueprint to completion (Philippians 1:6). Historical and Cultural Background In classical usage a δημιουργός was a skilled artisan who produced goods “for the people.” Philosophers like Plato employed the term for a cosmic craftsman who orders the universe. Hebrews reclaims and purifies the concept: the biblical God is not a subordinate fashioner of pre-existing matter but the sovereign Lord who speaks worlds into being (Psalm 33:6). Early Christian apologists later distinguished this scriptural Creator from the diminished “demiurge” of Gnostic speculation, anchoring their arguments in texts such as Hebrews 11:10 to insist upon the goodness and supremacy of the biblical God. Application for Ministry Today • Preaching: Hebrews 11:10 invites congregations to lift their gaze from temporal achievements to God’s lasting construction. Sermons can tie personal faith journeys to Abraham’s expectancy, emphasizing perseverance. Related Concepts in Scripture Architect and foundation—Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 Builder of the house—2 Samuel 7:13; Hebrews 3:3-4 Heavenly homeland—John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:1-4 Craftsman imagery—Exodus 31:1-5; Proverbs 8:30 Summary By depicting God as δημιουργός, Hebrews 11:10 frames the life of faith within a grand architectural narrative: the Creator designs, constructs, and completes an enduring city for His people. The term enriches biblical theology by merging creation, covenant, and consummation into a single image of divine craftsmanship, urging believers to trust the Builder whose work will stand forever. |
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