Mechanic
Summary
A skilled craftsman or artisan, with various mechanical trades being established from the earliest biblical times.
☩Divine Origin of Skill
Wisdom personified declares: 'Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him' (Proverbs 8:30). The term 'brought up with him' (Hebrew: amon) means 'master workman' or 'artificer.' Paul describes himself as 'a wise masterbuilder' who laid the foundation of the church (1 Corinthians 3:10).
☩Tubal-cain
The first named craftsman was Tubal-cain, 'an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron' (Genesis 4:22). This descendant of Cain established metalworking in the antediluvian world, demonstrating that mechanical skills developed early in human history.
☩Bezaleel and Oholiab
God specifically called and gifted Bezaleel for constructing the Tabernacle: 'I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber' (Exodus 31:3-5). Oholiab assisted him (Exodus 31:6; 35:30-35).
☩Various Crafts
Scripture references numerous mechanical trades: metalworking (2 Timothy 4:14), carpentry (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), tentmaking (Acts 18:3), pottery (Jeremiah 18:3), masonry (2 Samuel 5:11), tanning (Acts 9:43), and weaving (Exodus 35:35). These crafts were essential to ancient society and often passed from father to son.
