The term "artificial" refers to something made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally. In the context of the Bible, while the word "artificial" itself is not directly used in the Scriptures, the concept can be explored through various passages and themes that address human creativity, craftsmanship, and the use of man-made objects.

Human Creativity and Craftsmanship

The Bible acknowledges human creativity and the ability to craft and design. In Exodus 31:1-5 , God appoints Bezalel, filling him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship. This divine endowment enables Bezalel to create artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze, as well as to cut and set stones and to work in wood. This passage highlights the God-given ability to create and design, which can be seen as a form of artificial production.

Idolatry and Artificial Objects

The Bible often contrasts the worship of the one true God with the worship of idols, which are artificial objects made by human hands. In Isaiah 44:9-20 , the futility of idol-making is emphasized. The passage describes how craftsmen fashion idols from wood, yet these idols cannot see, hear, or save. The artificial nature of idols is highlighted to demonstrate their impotence compared to the living God. This theme is echoed in Psalm 115:4-8 , where idols are described as the work of human hands, having mouths but not speaking, eyes but not seeing.

Artificial Constructs in Parables and Teachings

Jesus often used parables and teachings that involved artificial constructs to convey spiritual truths. In Matthew 7:24-27 , Jesus speaks of the wise and foolish builders. The wise man builds his house on the rock, while the foolish man builds on sand. Although the houses are artificial constructs, the parable uses them to illustrate the importance of a solid foundation in life, which is obedience to Christ's teachings.

Symbolism and Artificial Elements

The Bible also uses artificial elements symbolically. In Revelation 21:18-21 , the New Jerusalem is described with walls of jasper and a city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls are adorned with every kind of precious stone. These artificial elements symbolize the glory and perfection of God's eternal kingdom, crafted by divine design.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

While the Bible does not explicitly address modern artificial constructs such as technology or artificial intelligence, it provides principles for evaluating human creations. Believers are called to exercise discernment and wisdom, ensuring that artificial creations align with God's purposes and do not lead to idolatry or moral compromise. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 , Paul instructs, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." This principle can be applied to the use and creation of artificial objects, ensuring they serve to honor God and benefit humanity.1. (a.) Made or contrived by art; produced or modified by human skill and labor, in opposition to natural; as, artificial heat or light, gems, salts, minerals, fountains, flowers.

2. (a.) Feigned; fictitious; assumed; affected; not genuine.

3. (a.) Artful; cunning; crafty.

4. (a.) Cultivated; not indigenous; not of spontaneous growth; as, artificial grasses.

4112. plastos -- formed, molded
... properly, shaped according to a mold (predesign); (figuratively) "made-up," fabricated,
ie unrealistic ("forged" from something artificial); contrived. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4112.htm - 7k

5499. cheiropoietos -- made by hand
... Transliteration: cheiropoietos Phonetic Spelling: (khi-rop-oy'-ay-tos) Short Definition:
done or made with hands Definition: done or made with hands, artificial ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5499.htm - 6k

798. astron -- a star
... star. Neuter from aster; properly, a constellation; put for a single star (natural
or artificial) -- star. see GREEK aster. (astra) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/798.htm - 7k

5457. phos -- light
... phao (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; compare phaino, phemi);
luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5457.htm - 7k

5456. phone -- a voice, sound
... Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial
or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5456.htm - 7k

6525. perach -- a bud, sprout
... blossom, bud, flower. From parach; a calyx (natural or artificial); generally, bloom --
blossom, bud, flower. see HEBREW parach. 6524c, 6525. perach. 6526 ...
/hebrew/6525.htm - 6k

7416. rimmon -- a pomegranate
... pomegranate. Or rimmon {rim-mone'}; from ramam; a pomegranate, the tree (from its
upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial ornament) -- pomegranate. ...
/hebrew/7416.htm - 6k

6213a. asah -- do, make
... 1), acquired (6), act (22), acted (12), acts (7), administer (1), administered
(1), administered* (1), apply (1), appointed (3), artificial (1), attain (1 ...
/hebrew/6213a.htm - 8k

We Hear Much of the Human Error which Accepts what is Sham and ...
... Tropic birds look like staring toys out of a toy-shop. Tropic flowers simply
look like artificial flowers, like things cut out of wax. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 20 we hear much.htm

Whether the Ashes of the Human Body must Needs, by the ...
... On the contrary, Artificial things are more dependent on their matter than
natural things. Now in artificial things, in order that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the ashes of the.htm

Whether Man's Happiness Consists in Wealth?
... For wealth is twofold, as the Philosopher says (Polit. i, 3), viz. natural
and artificial. Natural wealth is that which serves man ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether mans happiness consists in.htm

Whether Observances Directed to the Alteration of Bodies, as for ...
... alteration of bodies. Objection 2: Further, artificial bodies are subject to
the heavenly bodies, just as natural bodies are. Now natural ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether observances directed to the.htm

On Sandals and Simplicity
... of the world. It would teach them the historic fact that the artificial
is, if anything, older than the natural. It would teach ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/x on sandals and simplicity.htm

Home as a Nursery.
... by fitting the body in a dress as the Chinese do their children's feet in shoes;
in a word, by making the entire nursery life too artificial, and substituting ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xiii home as a.htm

The Home-Parlor.
... In that society we live above the trammels of artificial life. ... There is an artificial
screen behind which all that is revolting and dangerous is concealed. ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xxii the home-parlor.htm

Practical Hints for Speakers
... inflated, prolix, ambiguous, feeble, monotonous, loose, slip-shod, dry, flowery,
pedantic, pompous, rhetorical, grandiloquent, artificial, formal, ornate ...
/.../kleiser/talks on talking/practical hints for speakers.htm

The Christian Church a Family.
... that the Church of Christ is a society founded upon natural affinities"a "family."
A family is built on affinities which are natural, not artificial; it is ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xv the christian church a.htm

Perseverance
... Who ever thought artificial motions would hold long? The hypocrite's motion is only
artificial, not vital. All blossoms do not ripen into fruit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/10 perseverance.htm

Artificial (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Made or contrived by art; produced or modified by human skill and labor,
in opposition to natural; as, artificial heat or light, gems, salts, minerals ...
/a/artificial.htm - 7k

Assos (2 Occurrences)
... high; its sides are covered with terraces, both natural and artificial, and so steep
is it that Stratoricus wrote of it: "If you wish to hasten your death, try ...
/a/assos.htm - 10k

Dyeing
... color has been produced from them by modern chemists, but it is of historical interest
only, in the light of the discovery of modern artificial dyes with which ...
/d/dyeing.htm - 14k

Dye (1 Occurrence)
... color has been produced from them by modern chemists, but it is of historical interest
only, in the light of the discovery of modern artificial dyes with which ...
/d/dye.htm - 15k

Natural (49 Occurrences)
... pertaining to the constitution of a thing; belonging to native character; according
to nature; essential; characteristic; not artificial, foreign, assumed, put ...
/n/natural.htm - 42k

Reservoir (1 Occurrence)
... are very rare in Syria and Palestine, but the dry climate, which is one reason for
the fewness of lakes, impels the inhabitants to make artificial pools or ...
/r/reservoir.htm - 12k

Pond (2 Occurrences)
... are very rare in Syria and Palestine, but the dry climate, which is one reason for
the fewness of lakes, impels the inhabitants to make artificial pools or ...
/p/pond.htm - 12k

Candlestick (34 Occurrences)
... The tabernacle was a tent without windows, and thus artificial light was
needed. This was supplied by the candlestick, which, however ...
/c/candlestick.htm - 27k

Air (74 Occurrences)
... 14. (n.) An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity;
haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs. 15. ...
/a/air.htm - 34k

Shoot (51 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) An inclined plane, either artificial or natural, down which timber, coal,
etc., are caused to slide; also, a narrow passage, either natural or ...
/s/shoot.htm - 24k

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