Quick Definition
an exact reproduction
Strong's Definition
a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving (("character"), the figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or (figuratively) representation)
Derivation: from the same as G5482 (χάραξ);
KJV Usage: express image
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
χαρακτήρ, 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 (Lev_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, Heb_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): 2Ma_4:10.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
χαρακτήρ charaktēr 1x
an impress, exact expression, Heb_1:3
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
χαρακτήρ , -ῆρος , ὁ
( < χαράσσω , to engrave ),
[in LXX : Lev_13:28 ( H6867 ), 2Ma_4:10 , 4Ma_15:4 ΰ R * ;]
1. a tool for graving.
2. a stamp or impress: as on a coin or seal; metaph ., χ . τ . ὑποστάσεως , Heb_1:3 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
χαρακτήρ [page 683]
From denoting the tool for engraving, χαρακτήρ came to be used of the mark, impress made, with special reference to any distinguishing peculiarity, and hence = an exact reproduction. The word is found in the NT only in Heb. 1:3, cf. OGIS 383 .60 (mid. i/B.C.) χαρακτῆρα μορφῆς ἐμῆς , of a statue.
Other exx. are Syll 226 (= .3 495) .16 ( c , B.C. 320) τοῦ δὲ ξένου φέροντος ἐπὶ τὸν χαρακτῆρα , P. Flor I. 61 .21 (A.D. 85) (= Chrest. II. p. 88 ) οὐ τῶν χαρα [κτή ]ρων μόνων κληρο [ν ]όμους δεῖ εἶναι , and P Leid W xxiv. 11 (ii/iii A.D.) (= II. p. 159) τέλει τέ μοι κύριε , τὸν μέγαν , κύριον , ἄφθεγτον χαρακτῆρα ( notam ), ἵνα αὐτὸν ἔχω . In the case of Syll .3 783 .23 (after B.C. 27) μέχρι τῶν Σεβαστείων εὐπλόησεν χαρακτήρων , Deissmann ( LAE 2 p. 341 n. .1 ) translates he made a successful voyage to the August Persons (Augustus and Livia), taking χαρακτήρ thus early in the transferred sense of person. See also notes on the word by J. Geffcken in Exp T xxi. p. 426 f., and by A. Kφrte in Hermes lxiv. (1929), p. 69 ff.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
χαρακτήρ χα^ρακτήρ, ῆρος, ὁ, [Etym: χαράσσω] "a mark engraved or impressed, the impress or stamp" on coins and seals, Eur. ; εὐδοξίας χαρακτῆρα τοῖς ἔργοις ἐπέβαλεν set "a stamp" of good repute upon them, Isocr. metaph. "the mark impressed" (as it were) "on" a person or thing, "a distinctive mark, characteristic, character", χ. γλώσσης of a particular language or dialect, Hdt. ; of persons, ὁ χ. τοῦ προσώπου id=Hdt. ; ἀνδρῶν οὐδεὶς χ. ἐμπέφυκε σώματι no "outward mark" has been set by nature on the person of men, Eur. ; φανερὸς χ. ἀρετᾶς id=Eur.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
χαρακτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ
(χαράσσω, to engrave), [in LXX: Lev.13:28 (צָרֶבֶת), 2Ma.4:10, 4Ma.15:4 א R * ;]
__1. a tool for graving.
__2. a stamp or impress: as on a coin or seal; metaphorically, χ. τ. ὑποστάσεως, Heb.1:3.†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Exact representation (5481) charakter
Exact representation (5481) (charakter from charasso = to engrave and source of our English word character which describes one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual) was used in classical Greek of an engraver who mints coins or an engraving tool, a die, a stamp, a branding iron, a mark engraved, an impress or a stamp on coins and seals. Later it came to mean the impression itself, usually engraved, cut in, or stamped on in the form of a character, a letter, a mark or a sign. This impression or mark with its particular features was considered to be the exact representation of the object whose image it bore.
Charakter is a die made by an impress, like on a signet ring, the impression being identical although they are two separate entities. As a figure of speech charakter described a distinctive mark "impressed" on a person, by which he is distinguished from others. It is thus a characteristic of that person and was a Greek idiom for a person’s features. The author is saying that whatever the Divine essence is, Jesus is the perfect expression and thus affirms the deity of Jesus Christ and alludes to the the plurality of God. Jesus is distinct from God the Father and yet identical with Him. Charakter conveys the idea of exact correspondence as when Jesus said that
"He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:9)
He who had seen Jesus had seen the Father because Jesus is the exact representation, the exact expression of the Father's attributes, nature, etc so that all that God is, Jesus is, and yet two distinct Persons of the Godhood. Jesus is all that God is, not has been given what He is! God hasn't given Jesus something. He already is! Paul concurs that Jesus "is the image of the invisible God" (see note Col 1:15)