חֵ֫שֶׁב
che.shev
artwork
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# H2805 (חֵשֶׁב) - Artwork: A Specialized Craft Term The Hebrew word *cheshev* refers to "artwork" and appears eight times in the biblical text, indicating a term for skilled creative work. Based on its limited occurrence and specific definition, this word denotes a specialized category of craftsmanship rather than art in a broad sense. The word's presence in only eight passages suggests it was used to describe particular types of artistic creation that were noteworthy enough to warrant a distinct lexical label in ancient Hebrew. The rarity of this term (appearing only eight times across the entire Hebrew Bible) underscores that *cheshev* likely referred to a particular class of refined or decorative handiwork. Rather than serving as a general word for all artistic expression, it appears to have been reserved for specific contexts where skilled artisanal work was being discussed. This technical precision indicates that ancient Hebrew speakers distinguished between different categories of creative labor, using *cheshev* when referring to work that required particular expertise or aesthetic attention. The specific definition of "artwork" places this term within the domain of material culture and craftsmanship, suggesting it may have been used in contexts involving decoration, adornment, or the creation of beautiful objects for religious or domestic purposes. Its limited biblical presence means the word was employed selectively, likely when describing the products of artis
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences across the text
The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exodus 28:27You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
Exodus 28:28They shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate may not swing out from the ephod.
Exodus 29:5You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and clothe him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
Exodus 39:5The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exodus 39:20They made two more rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
Exodus 39:21They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Leviticus 8:7He put the tunic on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him and fastened it to him with it.