Mason

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)

An artificer in stone. The Tyrians seem to have been specially skilled in architecture (1 Kings 5:17, 18; 2 Sam. 5:11). This art the Hebrews no doubt learned in Egypt (Ex. 1:11, 14), where ruins of temples and palaces fill the traveller with wonder at the present day.

Scripture References

ISBE

ma'-s'n: The translation of 4 Hebrew words: (1) charash 'ebhen, "graver of stone" ( 2Sa 5:11 ); (2) (3) gadhar ( 2Ki 12:12 ), charash qur ( 1Ch 14:1 ), "maker of a wall (or hedge)"; (4) chatsabh, "a hewer or digger (of stones)" ( 1Ch 22:2 ; Ezr 3:7 ). Lebanon still supplies the greater number of skilled masons to Palestine and Syria (see 2Sa 5:11 ), those of Shweir being in special repute. See CRAFTS, II, 8; also ARCHITECTURE; BUILDING; GEBAL; HOUSE.