Builder

bild'-er (banah; oikodomeo, technites): "To build," "builder," ete, are in the Old Testament commonly the translation of banah, "to build," occurring very frequently; see Build; Building. The literal significance leads also to several figurative applications, especially to God as Divine Builder:

(1) as establishing, e.g. the nation (Ps 69:35; Ps 102:16; Jer 12:16), the throne of David (Ps 89:4), Jerusalem (Ps 147:2);

(2) in restoration--rebuilding (Isa 58:12; Isa 61:4; Isa 65:21; Jer 31:4; Jer 31:28; Jer 42:10; Ezek 36:36; Amos 9:11; compare Acts 15:16);

(3) as establishing in prosperity (Job 22:23; 1 Sam 2:35; Jer 24:6; compare Gen 16:2 the Revised Version, margin, Hebrew, "be builded by her");

(4) the firm establishment of the Divine attributes (Ps 89:2);

(5) Divine opposition (Lam 3:5, "He hath builded against me"); compare Job 19:8;

(6) the choosing of a corner-stone which the builders rejected (Ps 118:22; Ps 118:23; quoted by Christ (Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17); by Peter (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:7)).

In the New Testament Christians are represented as being:

(1) built by God (1 Cor 3:9; 1 Cor 3:16) on Christ as the one foundation (Matt 16:18, on Jesus as the Christ; 1 Pet 2:5; Acts 9:31 the Revised Version, margin; Rom 15:20; 1 Cor 3:10; 1 Cor 3:12; 1 Cor 3:14 (epoikodomo); Eph 2:20);

(2) as being continuously and progressively built up in their faith and life (Acts 20:32; 1 Cor 8:1 the Revised Version, margin, "buildeth up"; Acts 10:23 margin, Greek "build up"; Acts 14:4; Acts 14:17 m; 1 Thess 5:11; compare Jude 1:20);

(3) they are "builded togethe r" (sunoikodomeo) in Christ (Eph 2:22; Col 2:7 (epoikodomeo); compare 1 Cor 3:9);

(4) "builded up" is used in a bad sense (1 Cor 8:10 the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American), "emboldened," the Revised Version, margin "be builded up");

(6) in Heb 3:4 God is represented as the Builder (establisher) of all things, the Revised Version, margin "established," and in 11:10 as the Builder (technites), of the New Jerusalem; in Heb 9:11 for "building" the Revised Version (British and American) has "creation" (ktisis);

(7) in 1 Cor 3:10-14; Gal 2:18, building represents constructing a system of teaching; Paul speaks of himself as "a wise master-builder" (sophos architekton).

W. L. Walker