Very possible. I've also read some commentaries that speculate that the carpentry actually applied to Joseph, and was used by early writers in order to give Jesus more of a down-to-earth aura, so to speak. Then again, as all educated Jewish men of the time were required to also learn a trade in order to later support a family, it's possible that carpentry was what he learned, albeit at a higher level than most.

Whatever, it is still not easy to imagine him actually pounding nails, at least on a regular basis, and no evidence that I can recall from my few readings of the Gospels that he ever did so.

Sal

On Oct 18, 2005, at 10:39 AM, authfriend wrote:

I've read that the words used to describe the occupation
of Joseph, Jesus' "worldly" father, are mistranslated as
"carpenter."  They actually mean something more like
"cabinet maker," i.e., not just a common laborer but a
highly skilled craftsman who makes quality furniture.  That
in itself might put Jesus in the middle class (especially
if Joseph had employees doing the actual work).

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