Lexical Summary Ophir: Ophir Original Word: אוֹפִיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ophir Or (shortened) pophiyr {o-feer'}; and fowphir {o- feer'}; of uncertain derivation; Ophir, the name of a son of Joktan, and of a gold region in the East -- Ophir. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a son of Joktan, also his desc., also a region from which gold comes NASB Translation Ophir (13). Brown-Driver-Briggs אוֺפִיר proper name Ophir — ׳א 1 Kings 10:11 +; אוֺפִ֫ירָה 1 Kings 9:28 + אוֺפִר Genesis 10:29; אֹפִיר 1 Kings 10:11 — 1. proper name, masculine 11th son of Joktan Genesis 10:29 (J) = 1 Chronicles 1:23; ᵐ5 Οὐφειρ, Ὠφειρ, name of an Arabian tribe, see Genesis 10:30 & Di. 2. proper name, of a location (land or city south or southeast from Palestine, exact position unknown, compare below; ᵐ5 Σωφηρα, Σωφειρα, Σουφειρ, etc.; Job 28:16 Ὠφειρ AC, compare 1 Kings 22:49 A Ὠφειρδε, B omitted) place whither Solomon's ships went from Ezion Geber, bringing thence gold 1 Kings 9:28 — compare 1 Kings 22:49 — 2 Chronicles 8:18; gold, almug- (sandal-?) wood & gems 2 Chronicles 10:11 (twice in verse), compare 2Chronicles 9:10; probably 1 Kings 10:22 reference to same ships; they came once in three years with gold, silver, ivory, apes & peacocks (all from Ophir ?); 2 Chronicles 9:21 makes these ships go to Tarshish (but on Tarshish-ships, i.e. large, sea-going vessels, merchantmen, see 1 Kings 22:49 & below תַּרְשִׁישׁ). 3 characteristic of fine gold (in poetry & late) ׳זְהַב א 1 Chronicles 29:4; ׳כֶּתֶם א Isaiah 13:12; Job 28:16; Psalm 45:10. 4 hence for fine gold itself Job 22:24 ("" בֶּצֶר). — (If 2 = 1, then southern, probably south-eastern, Arabia (compare Di Genesis 10:29) furnished the gold; and other articles, which point farther east (e.g. to India, toward which the words קוֺפִים apes & תֻּכִּיִּים peacocks seem to lead), were either brought to Ophir by traders, & so found there by Solomon's men, or were found elsewhere by the latter, whose cruise may have taken them beyond Ophir, the name of Ophir alone, as source of gold-supply, being preserved. If (less likely) 1 & 2 are not the same, the only data for determining location of 2 are the articles brought, & one may look toward India, Ceylon or other islands, or even lower Africa. Particular theories have as yet no adequate support; e.g. (a) old city Supara, or Uppara, in the region of Goa, Malabar coast (compare ᵐ5 above 2, but also 1; form with Σ said on Coptic authority to denote India, see JablonskiiOpusc. ed. te Water i. 337; compare also JosAnt. viii. 6. 4; in that case its use by ᵐ5 may indicate a theory of the location of Ophir); (b) peninsula Malacca; (c) island Sumatra; (d) Sofâla, with city Zimbabye (southeast Africa); (e) west coast of Arabia (where gold & silver formerly found), etc. On these & other theories, see Di Genesis 10:29 RiHWB, Herzog, SmithDict. Bib.; compare GlasSkizze ii. 367 ff.) **WMMAs.u.Eur.111 identifies with Egyptian Punt, on western coast of Red Sea. Topical Lexicon Genealogical Origin Genesis 10:29 and 1 Chronicles 1:23 name Ophir as a son of Joktan in the Shemite line, locating the clan within the earliest post-Flood dispersion and giving the later territory its ancestral name. Geographical Considerations Ophir is always reached by sea. Solomon’s fleet “sailed to Ophir, and took from there four hundred twenty talents of gold” (1 Kings 9:28). Ships left from Ezion Geber on the Gulf of Aqaba, indicating an Indian Ocean route. Candidates include southern Arabia, eastern Africa, and western India, each fitting the biblical requirements of (1) Red Sea access, (2) abundant gold, and (3) exotic timber such as algum wood (1 Kings 10:11). Scripture’s concern, however, is not cartography but God’s providential supply. Maritime Commerce in the Monarchy Solomon’s partnership with Hiram of Tyre inaugurated regular voyages that furnished gold, precious stones, and timber (1 Kings 10:11; 2 Chronicles 9:10). David had earlier dedicated “three thousand talents of gold (the gold of Ophir)” for the temple (1 Chronicles 29:4). The combined testimony underscores that temple worship and royal glory were materially underwritten by Ophir’s wealth. Jehoshaphat’s later attempt to revive the trade failed when “the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber” (1 Kings 22:48), proving that prosperity depends on divine blessing, not mere enterprise. Literary and Poetic Usage • Job 22:24—“consign your gold to the dust and your gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines.” In each case Ophir embodies incomparable worth, serving as the benchmark against which wisdom, royal splendor, or coming judgment is measured. Symbolic and Theological Significance 1. Purity and Excellence—Ophir’s refined gold illustrates the holiness befitting God’s house (1 Chronicles 29:4) and the matchless value of wisdom (Job 28:16). Christological Foreshadowing Psalm 45 presents the Messianic Bridegroom whose consort is clothed in Ophir gold, prefiguring the Church robed in the righteousness of Christ. Just as Solomon enriched Jerusalem from Ophir, the greater Son of David endows His people with “every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). Practical Applications for Ministry • Stewardship—Believers should, like David, dedicate their finest resources to God’s service. Key References Genesis 10:29; 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:11; 1 Kings 22:48; 1 Chronicles 29:4; 2 Chronicles 8:18; 2 Chronicles 9:10; Job 22:24; Job 28:16; Psalm 45:9; Isaiah 13:12. Forms and Transliterations אוֹפִ֑יר אוֹפִ֔ירָה אוֹפִ֛ירָה אוֹפִ֥יר אוֹפִ֥ר אוֹפִֽיר׃ אופיר אופיר׃ אופירה אופר מֵאֹפִ֜יר מֵאוֹפִ֑יר מאופיר מאפיר ’ō·w·p̄î·rāh ’ō·w·p̄ir ’ō·w·p̄îr ’ōwp̄ir ’ōwp̄îr ’ōwp̄îrāh mê’ōp̄îr mê’ōwp̄îr mê·’ō·p̄îr mê·’ō·w·p̄îr meoFir oFir oFirahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 10:29 HEB: וְאֶת־ אוֹפִ֥ר וְאֶת־ חֲוִילָ֖ה NAS: and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; KJV: And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: INT: and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab 1 Kings 9:28 1 Kings 10:11 1 Kings 10:11 1 Kings 22:48 1 Chronicles 1:23 1 Chronicles 29:4 2 Chronicles 8:18 2 Chronicles 9:10 Job 22:24 Job 28:16 Psalm 45:9 Isaiah 13:12 13 Occurrences |
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