Human Made vs Divine Reality: χειροποίητος (Strong’s G5499: cheiropoietos) Contrasts Eternal Truth

Strong’s G5499: An adjective meaning “made by hands,” derived from χείρ (hand) and ποιέω (to make/do). Used to contrast human-made objects, particularly idols and temples, with divine, eternal realities. In NT theology, emphasizes the superiority of God’s spiritual dwelling over physical structures.

U- Unveiling the Word

χειροποίητος captures a profound theological concept that runs throughout Scripture. This compound adjective literally means “made by hands” but carries deeper implications about the limitations of human craftsmanship versus divine creation. In New Testament usage, it often appears in contexts contrasting temporary, physical structures with eternal, spiritual realities. The early church particularly employed this term to emphasize that God’s true dwelling is not in physical temples but in the hearts of believers. This understanding remains crucial today as we navigate a world that often prioritizes human achievements over divine truth.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χειροποίητος, cheiropoietos, khei-rop-oy’-ay-tos
• Pronunciation: “kay-ro-poy-AY-tos” (stress on AY)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• χείρ (cheir) – hand, prefix
• ποιέω (poieō) – to make/do, root
• -τος (-tos) – verbal adjective suffix indicating completion/possibility

D – Defining Meanings

• Made by human hands
• Manufactured
• Artificially produced

For compound words:
χείρ (hand) + ποιέω (to make) + -τος (completion suffix) combines to indicate something completed through human handiwork

Translation Options:

• “Made by hands” – Most literal translation capturing the compound nature
• “Human-made” – Modern equivalent emphasizing human origin
• “Manufactured” – Broader term reflecting artificial creation

E – Exploring Similar Words

• αὐτοποίητος (autopoietos) – self-made – See G830
• θεοποίητος (theopoietos) – God-made – See G2316
• ἀχειροποίητος (acheiropoietos) – not made with hands – See G886

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Adjective Features:

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter
• Declension: 2-1-2 pattern

The word follows standard Greek adjectival patterns. For example:

• Masculine nominative singular: χειροποίητος
• Feminine nominative singular: χειροποίητη
• Neuter nominative singular: χειροποίητον

Related words:

• χειροποιέω (verb) – to make with hands
• χειροποίησις (noun) – handiwork

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

According to major lexicons, χειροποίητος carries significant theological weight in biblical usage. BDAG emphasizes its frequent appearance in contexts contrasting human and divine works. Thayer’s highlights its use in the Septuagint for idol worship critique. LSJ notes its classical usage in describing artificial versus natural objects. Vine’s emphasizes its metaphorical application to spiritual truths. Moulton and Milligan document its usage in papyri describing manufactured goods. This term consistently carries implications of the temporal and limited nature of human creation versus divine eternal reality.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple [χειροποίητος] made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'” Mark 14:58

Additional References:
Acts 7:48
Acts 17:24
Ephesians 2:11
Hebrews 9:11
Hebrews 9:24

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

χειροποίητος serves as a powerful reminder of the limitations of human effort compared to divine work. Its usage in the New Testament consistently points to the superiority of God’s spiritual reality over human constructs. The term beautifully proclaims the good news of King Jesus by highlighting how He supersedes physical temples with His spiritual presence, establishing an eternal dwelling place through His sacrifice. This word teaches us to look beyond physical structures to the eternal spiritual temple that the Messiah is building in believers’ hearts.

D – Did You Know?

1. The term appears in ancient medical texts describing artificial remedies versus natural cures
2. Early Christian apologetics used this word to argue against pagan temple worship
3. The concept influenced early church architecture, emphasizing simplicity over grandeur

Strong’s G5499: An adjective meaning “made by hands,” derived from χείρ (hand) and ποιέω (to make/do). Used to contrast human-made objects, particularly idols and temples, with divine, eternal realities. In NT theology, emphasizes the superiority of God’s spiritual dwelling over physical structures.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: temple, handmade, artificial, worship, divine-contrast, idolatry, craftsmanship, human-effort, spiritual-reality, biblical-greek​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​