COPPERSMITH, (χαλκεύς, G5906, coppersmith, then generally [black]smith, metal worker. Coppersmith, or better, smith is found only in 2 Tim 4:14 in the NT).

Although χαλκός, G5910, is the metal, copper, brass, or bronze (surely copper in Deut 8:9), the artificer, χαλκεύς, G5906, in the LXX OT is more generally a “worker in metal,” including brass (χαλκός, G5910) and iron (σίδηρος, G4970) (Gen 4:22), this being a tr. of חָרָשׁ, H3093, an “engraver,” “worker in metal” (cf. 2 Chron 24:12) and of צﯴרֵֽף, refiner, (perhaps, “goldsmith”) (Neh 3:32; Isa 41:7).

In the Apostolic Fathers and the papyri χαλκεύς, G5906, is the “smith” (Oxyrynchus Papyrus I 113¹⁸, 2nd cent. a.d.) who works metals (Hermas, Vis 1, 3, 2) and makes idols of brass, silver and iron (Diognetus 2, 3).

There is no conclusive evidence to show that Alexander, the coppersmith of 2 Timothy 4:14, is the same person as in 1 Timothy 1:20 or Acts 19:33.

Bibliography F. D. Gealy, 2 Timothy, IB XI (1955), 517; E. W. Heaton, Everyday Life in Old Testament Times (1956), 125-128; G. E. Wright, Biblical Archaeology (1957), 194, 195.