Lexical Summary keramos: Clay, Pottery, Tile Original Word: κέραμος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tiling. Probably from the base of kerannumi (through the idea of mixing clay and water); earthenware, i.e. A tile (by analogy, a thin roof or awning) -- tiling. see GREEK kerannumi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kerannumi Definition a tile NASB Translation tiles (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2766: κέραμοςκέραμος, κεράμου, ὁ (κεράννυμι); 1. clay, potter's earth. 2. anything made of clay, earthen ware. 3. specifically, a (roofing) tile (Thucydides, Athen., Hdian, others); the roof itself (Aristophanes from 129 d.): so διά τῶν κεράμων, through the roof, i. e. through the door in the roof to which a ladder or stairway led up from the street (accordingly the rabbis distinguish two ways of entering a house, 'the way through the door' and 'the way through the roof' (Lightfoot Horae Hebrew, p. 601); cf. Winers RWB, under the word Dach; Keim, ii., p. 176f (English translation 3:215; Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, i., 501f; Jewish Social Life, p. 93ff)), Luke 5:19. Mark (ii. 4) describes the occurrence differently (see ἀποστεγάζω), evidently led into error by misapprehending the words of Luke. (But, to say nothing of the improbability of assuming Mark's narrative to be dependent on Luke's, the alleged discrepance disappears if Luke's language is taken literally, through the tiles (see διά, A. I. 1); he says nothing of the door in the roof. On the various views that have been taken of the details of the occurrence, see B. D. (especially American edition) under the word The term identifies objects made of fired clay—particularly roof tiles—within the Greco-Roman world. It can also stand generically for any earthenware, placing it among the everyday materials that framed ancient life. Cultural and Architectural Context in First-Century Palestine Domestic structures in Galilee commonly combined timber beams with packed earth and layers of baked-clay tiles. These tiles were light enough to be lifted yet sturdy enough to shed rain. They were laid over reeds or branches, then plastered, forming a roof that was both walkable and readily repairable—ideal for communal gatherings or last-minute alterations such as those recorded in Luke 5:19. Luke 5:19 and the Ministry of Jesus Luke alone records the dramatic opening of a tiled roof to lower a paralytic before the Lord: “but not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed the tiles, and lowered him on his mat through the opening into the middle of the crowd, before Jesus.” (Luke 5:19) 1. Accessibility of Christ: The removable tiles symbolize the readiness of creation itself to yield to the purposes of redemption. Obstacles can be taken apart when faith insists on drawing near to the Savior. Symbolic Echoes of Clay and Earthenware in Scripture • Human Frailty: “We have this treasure in jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Clay vessels, though fragile, carry priceless content, illustrating God’s power perfected in weakness. Theological Themes Derived from the Removal of the Roof Tiles 1. Incarnation Meets Materiality: The same Lord who once formed Adam from dust now ministers beneath baked clay, uniting heaven and earth. Historical Parallels and Extra-Biblical Evidence Hellenistic and Roman literature describe terracotta roofing (e.g., Vitruvius, De Architectura 2.8). Archaeological digs in Capernaum and nearby sites uncover rows of interlocking clay tiles consistent with Luke’s narrative, confirming the plausibility of rapid removal and subsequent repair. Cross-References with Old Testament Imagery • Exodus 25:11—gold overlay on acacia wood vessels, contrasting precious interiors with humble substrates. Practical Applications for Ministry Today • Creative Access: Like the friends who broke through roofing, believers may need inventive methods—literally or figuratively—to bring people to Christ. Conclusion Though appearing only once in the Greek New Testament, the word for roof tiles opens a window onto first-century life, highlights daring faith, and connects to the broader biblical testimony about clay, human frailty, and divine power. The humble tile thus bears witness to the gospel’s power to penetrate every barrier and transform the everyday into a setting for salvation. |
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