G5481 χαρακτήρ (charaktḗr)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study

Noun, Masculine

Quick Definition

χαρακτήρ, ῆρος, ὁ n.m. an exact reproduction

Strong's Definition

a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving (("character"), the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or (figuratively) representation)

Derivation: from the same as G5482 (χάραξ);

KJV Usage: express image

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

χαρακτήρ (G5481)

noun, m. | -ῆρος | χάραγμα

58.62 · Nature, Class, Example · Pattern, Model, Example, and Corresponding Representation

exact representation a representation as an exact reproduction of a particular form or structure

HEB 1:3

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

χαρακτήρ, -ῆρος, 6, (χαράσσω to engrave, cut into), fr. Aeschyl. and Hdt. down ; 1. prop. the instrument used in engraving or carving, (cf. ζωστήρ, λαμπτήρ. λου™p, φυσητήρ; cf. our ‘stamp’ or ‘die’). 2. the mark (figure or letters) stamped upon that instrument or wrought out on it; hence univ. a mark or figure burned in (Ley. xiii. 28) or stamped on, an impression; the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect (cf. facsimile) : x. τῆς ὑποστάσεως τοῦ θεοῦ, of Christ, ace. to his nature as 6 θεῖος λόγος, Heb. i. 3; σφραγῖδι θεοῦ, ἧς ὁ χαρακτήρ ἐστιν ὁ ἀΐδιος λόγος, Philo de plant. Noé § 5; x: θείας δυνάμεως, of the human mind, Philo, quod det. potiori ins. § 23; God τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἔπλασεν τῆς ἑαυτοῦ εἰκόνος χαρακτῆρα, Clem. Rom. 1 Cor. 33,4; of πιστοὶ ἐν ἀγάπῃ χαρακτῆρα θεοῦ πατρὸς διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (ἔχουσιν), Ignat. ad Magnes. ὅ, 2. the peculiarity, by which things are recognized and distinguished from each other, [ef. Eng. characteristic]: 2 Mace. iv. 10.

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

χαρακτήρ charaktēr 1x

an impress, exact expression, Heb. 1:3*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

χαρακτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ

(< χαράσσω, to engrave), [in LXX: Le 13:28 (צָרֶבֶת), II Mac 4:10, IV Mac 15:4 א R * ;]

a tool for graving.

a stamp or impress: as on a coin or seal; metaph., χ. τ. ὑποστάσεως, He 1:3.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

χαρακτήρ. From denoting ‘‘the tool for engraving,’”’ came to be used of the special reference to any distinguishing peculiarity, and hence = ‘‘an exact reproduction.’” The word is found in the NT only in Heb 1%, cf. OG/S 383°° (mid. i/B.c.) χαρακτῆρα μορφῆς ἐμῆς, of a statue. Other exx. are Sy// 226 (=%495)!® (c. B.C. 320) τοῦ δὲ ξένου φέροντος ἐπὶ τὸν χαρακτῆρα, P Flor I. 61°! (A.D. 85)

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

χαρακτήρ (charaktēr) — reproduction. χᾰρακτήρ, ῆρος, ὁ, (χαράσσω) engraver, [Refs 5th c.AD+]; one who mints coins, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]

2. graving tool, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]

3. die, stamp, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

4. branding-iron, Clara Rhodos [Refs 2nd c.BC+]

II. mark engraved, impress, stamp on coins and seals, ἀργύρου λαμπρὸς χ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; coin type, standard, ἦν δ᾽ ὁ ἀρχαῖος χ. δίδραχμον [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; Κότυος χ. Head [Refs 1st c.BC+]: hence, in plural, ={χάραγμα} 1.2, [Refs 1st c.AD+] set a stamp upon them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Κύπριος (assuming variant) χαρακτὴρ.. ἐν γυναικείοις τύποις εἰκὼς πέπληκται [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II.2. especially of figures or letters, οἱ τῶν γραμμάτων χ. [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ὁ τύπος τῶν χ. [Refs 1st c.BC+]; of the letters used by [Refs 5th c.BC+], compare 524f; of a single letter of the alphabet, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; brand on a camel, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of symbols in a prescription, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; of magical symbols (such as the seven vowels), τῶν χ. ἡ ἀπόρρητος φύσις [Refs 4th c.AD+]; of hieroglyphs, opposed to γράμματα, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

II.3. metaphorically, distinctive mark or token impressed (as it were) on a person or thing, by which it is known from others, characteristic, character, χ. γλώσσης, of a particular dialect, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ Ἑλληνικὸς χ. Greek idiom, [Refs 1st c.BC+]: frequently of persons, feature, ὁ χ. τοῦ προσώπου [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἠθικοὶ χ., title of work by [Refs 4th c.BC+] the features of the face, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; [τοῦ ἐμβρύου] [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

II.4. type or character (regarded as shared with others) of a thing or person, rarely of an individual nature, ἀνδρὸς χ. ἐκ λόγου γνωρίζεται [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of nations, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]

II.5. style, frequently in Rhet., ὁ Δημοσθένους χ. [Refs 1st c.BC+]; χ. optimi the ideal type, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

II.6. impress, image, τῆς ὑποστάσεως [τοῦ θεοῦ] [NT]; πάθους, ἀρετῆς, [Refs 4th c.BC+] the imperial seal, i.e. the emperor himself, [Refs 1st c.BC+]

II.7. Grammars, typical form, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

χαρακτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ (χαράσσω, to engrave), [in LXX: Lev.13:28 (צָרֶבֶת), 2Ma.4:10, 4Ma.15:4 א R * ;] __1. a tool for graving. __2. a stamp or impress: as on a coin or seal; metaphorically, χ. τ. ὑποστάσεως, Heb.1:3.† (AS)

Bible Occurrences (1)

1:3

📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin

Exact representation (5481) charakter

Exact representation (5481) (charakter from charasso = to engrave and source of our English word character which describes one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual) was used in classical Greek of an engraver who mints coins or an engraving tool, a die, a stamp, a branding iron, a mark engraved, an impress or a stamp on coins and seals. Later it came to mean the impression itself, usually engraved, cut in, or stamped on in the form of a character, a letter, a mark or a sign. This impression or mark with its particular features was considered to be the exact representation of the object whose image it bore. Charakter is a die made by an impress, like on a signet ring, the impression being identical although they are two separate entities. As a figure of speech charakter described a distinctive mark "impressed" on a person, by which he is distinguished from others. It is thus a characteristic of that person and was a Greek idiom for a person’s features. The author is saying that whatever the Divine essence is, Jesus is the perfect expression and thus affirms the deity of Jesus Christ and alludes to the the plurality of God. Jesus is distinct from God the Father and yet identical with Him. Charakter conveys the idea of exact correspondence as when Jesus said that "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:9) He who had seen Jesus had seen the Father because Jesus is the exact representation, the exact expression of the Father's attributes, nature, etc so that all that God is, Jesus is, and yet two distinct Persons of the Godhood. Jesus is all that God is, not has been given what He is! God hasn't given Jesus something. He already is! Paul concurs that Jesus "is the image of the invisible God" (see note Col 1:15)