Strong's Concordance charaktér: a tool for engraving Original Word: χαρακτήρ, ῆρος, ὁPart of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: charaktér Phonetic Spelling: (khar-ak-tare') Short Definition: an exact reproduction Definition: an impression, representation, exact reproduction; a graving-tool. HELPS Word-studies 5481 xaraktḗr – properly, an engraving; (figuratively) an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character. [5481 /xaraktḗr was originally a tool (used for engraving) and then came to mean "a die" ("mould"). Finally it stood for a stamp or impress used on a coin or seal (see H, 368). In each case, the stamp conveyed the reality behind the image.] The Greek fathers ( Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5481: χαρακτήρχαρακτήρ, χαρακτηρος, ὁ (χαράσσω to engrave, cut into), from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; 1. properly, the instrument used in engraving or carving (cf. ζωστήρ, λαμπτήρ, λουτήρ, φυσητήρ; cf. our 'stamp' or 'die'). 2. the mark (figure or letters) stamped upon that instrument or wrought out on it; hence, universally, "a mark or figure burned in (Leviticus 13:28) or stamped on, an impression; the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect" (cf. facsimile): χαρακτήρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ, of Christ, accusative to his nature as ὁ θεῖος λόγος, Hebrews 1:3; σφραγῖδι Θεοῦ, ἧς ὁ χαρακτήρ ἐστιν ὁ ἀΐδιος λόγος, Philo de plant. Noë § 5; χαρακτήρ θείας δυνάμεως, of the human mind, Philo, quod det. potiori ins. § 23; God τόν ἄνθρωπον ἔπλασεν τῆς ἑαυτοῦ ἐκονος χαρακτῆρα, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 33, 4 [ET]; οἱ πιστοί ἐν ἀγάπη χαρακτῆρα Θεοῦ πατρός διά Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (ἔχουσιν), Ignatius ad Magnes. 5, 2 [ET]. the peculiarity, by which things are recognized and distinguished from each other (cf. English characteristic): 2 Macc. 4:10. From the same as charax; a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving (("character"), the figure stamped, i.e. An exact copy or (figuratively) representation) -- express image. see GREEK charax Englishman's Concordance Strong's Greek 54811 Occurrence χαρακτὴρ — 1 Occ. Hebrews 1:3 N-NMS GRK: δόξης καὶ χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως NAS: of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, KJV: and the express image of his INT: glory and [the] exact expression of the substance |