Silversmith

4 sources

New and Concise Bible Dictionary by George Morrish (1899)

Only referred to in scripture as those who formed the silver representations of the temple at Ephesus. Act 19:24.

Jewish Encyclopedia by Isidore Singer (ed.) (1906) ↑

See GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS:

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia by James Orr (ed.) (1915) ↑

sil´vẽr-smith (ἀργυροκόπος, argurokópos): Mentioned only once (Act 19:24), where reference is made to Demetrius, a leading member of the silversmiths’ guild of Ephesus.

Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary by Mission Mutual, adapted from the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary (2023)

A silversmith is a person who works with silver to make different objects. These skilled workers take raw silver ore, clean it to remove impurities, and then shape it into many useful items.

In the Bible, silversmiths produced musical instruments like trumpets (Numbers 10:2). They also made bases that supported the frame of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:19–25). They formed objects to use in the tabernacle and temple (Numbers 7:13–85).

Silversmiths fashioned ornaments for private use as well. Some also made religious statues for false worship (Exodus 20:23; Judges 17:4). Demetrius was a silversmith at Ephesus. He made silver shrines for the goddess Artemis (also called Diana) (Acts 19:24). This profession was well known in New Testament times (2 Timothy 2:20; Revelation 9:20).