Lexical Summary ophan: Wheel Original Word: אוֹפָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wheel Or (shortened) pophan {o-fawn'}; from an unused root meaning to revolve; a wheel -- wheel. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a wheel NASB Translation another (1), wheel (9), wheel (1), wheels (22). Brown-Driver-Briggs אוֺפַן אוֺפָן noun masculineEzekiel 1:20 wheel. — absolute אוֺפַן 1 Kings 7:32 +; אוֺפָן Exodus 1:16 +; cstr אוֺפַן 1 Kings 7:33; Isaiah 28:27 אוֺפָן Exodus 14:25 plural אוֺפַנִּים 1 Kings 7:32+; construct אוֺפַנֵּי 1 Kings 7:30; אוֺפַנֵּיהֶם Ezekiel 10:12, etc. — a. wheel of chariot (מֶרְכָּבָה) Exodus 14:25; 1 Kings 7:33; Nahum 3:2; of (threshing) cart (עֲגָלָה) Isaiah 28:27 compare Proverbs 20:26 (as instrument of punishment). b. wheels in Ezekiel's vision Ezekiel 1:15,16 (twice in verse); verse); 1.19; Ezekiel 1:19,20 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 1:21. (strike out Co) 21; Ezekiel 3:13; Ezekiel 10:6,9 (3 t. in verse); Ezekiel 10:10 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 10:12 (3 t. in verse); Ezekiel 10:13,16 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 10:19; Ezekiel 11:22. c. wheels of the ten bases beneath the lavers in Solomon's temple 1 Kings 7:30,32 (3 t. in verse); 1 Kings 7:33. Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Distribution Approximately thirty-five passages employ אוֹפָן, stretching from the Exodus narrative through the prophetic books. The word is never detached from action; every text portrays movement, craftsmanship, or divine intervention. Five main settings emerge: (1) the Red Sea crossing, (2) the engineering of Solomon’s temple furnishings, (3) royal boasts of military power, (4) the great throne-vision of Ezekiel, and (5) metaphoric language for God’s judgment or deliverance in the prophets and Psalms. Wheels of Divine Deliverance (Exodus 14:25) At the Red Sea the Lord personally interferes with Egyptian technology: “He caused their chariot wheels to wobble” (Exodus 14:25). The spinning symbols of human might are rendered useless, highlighting Yahweh’s sovereignty over history and equipment alike. The episode lays a hermeneutical foundation: whenever אוֹפָן reappears, the informed reader hears an echo of God overturning hostile power. Wheels of Sacred Craftsmanship (1 Kings 7:27-37) Solomon’s ten bronze stands supporting the temple lavers each possessed “four wheels of bronze” (1 Kings 7:30). Their design is intentionally chariot-like (7:33), marrying mobility to holiness. The temple is presented as a movable reality within a fixed structure—an earthly hint that true worship is not static. The elaborate description affirms that artistic excellence belongs inside covenant life and anticipates the later, even more intricate, vision of Ezekiel. Boasts of Earthly Kings (2 Kings 19:23-24; Isaiah 37:24-25) Assyria’s Sennacherib flaunts his presumed invincibility: “I have ridden the heights… I dried up with the soles of my feet all the streams of Egypt.” The context (paralleled in Isaiah) includes אוֹפָן in the imagery of military machines rolling over nations. The prophetic rebuttal is swift: God controls the wheels, not the king. The Lord’s reply reminds every generation that no empire’s momentum outruns providence. Wheels within Wheels: Ezekiel’s Throne Vision (Ezekiel 1; 10-11) No passage exploits אוֹפָן more than Ezekiel 1:15-21; 10:2-13, 16-19; 11:22. These wheels are not mere parts; they form the lower section of a celestial chariot, bearing the glory of the Lord. Their synchrony with the cherubim demonstrates perfect harmony between creation and Creator. When God departs the temple (10:18-19), the wheels carry His glory eastward, affirming that holiness is transportable and mission-oriented. Ezekiel’s audience—exiles by the Kebar River—gains assurance that Yahweh’s throne is never confined to geographical Jerusalem. Metaphoric Uses in Prophetic and Poetic Texts Isaiah applies אוֹפָן to arrows that “fly like a whirlwind” (Isaiah 5:28), underlining rapid judgment. In Isaiah 28:27-28 the wheel becomes an agricultural tool that threshes cumin—imagery showing God’s measured discipline of His people. Psalms employ the word for the swirling dust stirred up by God’s pursuing presence (for example Psalm 83:13). These poetic wheels depict swift, unstoppable processes—either salvation for the faithful or retribution for the rebellious. Theological Themes 1. Sovereign Mobility: Whether disabling Egyptian chariots or conveying divine glory, the wheel underscores God’s freedom to intervene anywhere. Ministerial and Devotional Application • Deliverance: Believers facing overwhelming odds recall Exodus 14:25—God can still jam the wheels of oppressors. Principal References Exodus 14:25; 1 Kings 7:30-33; 2 Kings 19:23-24; Isaiah 5:28; Isaiah 28:27-28; Ezekiel 1:15-21; Ezekiel 10:2-19; Ezekiel 11:22; Isaiah 37:24-25; Psalm 83:13. Forms and Transliterations אֹפַ֣ן אוֹפַ֣ן אוֹפַ֨ן אוֹפַנִּים֮ אוֹפַנֵּ֨י אוֹפַנֵּיהֶֽם׃ אוֹפָ֑ן אוֹפָֽן׃ אופן אופן׃ אופני אופניהם׃ אופנים אפן בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ באופנים׃ הָא֣וֹפַנִּ֔ים הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֖ים הָאֽוֹפַנִּ֗ים הָאֽוֹפַנִּים֙ הָאוֹפַ֖ן הָאוֹפַ֣ן הָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים הָאוֹפַנִּ֛ים הָאוֹפַנִּ֤ים הָאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ הָאוֹפָֽן׃ האופן האופן׃ האופנים האופנים׃ וְאוֹפַ֣ן וְהָאֽוֹפַנִּ֖ים וְהָאֽוֹפַנִּ֗ים וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֗ים ואופן והאופנים לָא֖וֹפַנִּ֑ים לאופנים ’ō·p̄an ’ō·w·p̄an ’ō·w·p̄ān ’ō·w·p̄an·nê ’ō·w·p̄an·nê·hem ’ō·w·p̄an·nîm ’ōp̄an ’ōwp̄an ’ōwp̄ān ’ōwp̄annê ’ōwp̄annêhem ’ōwp̄annîm bā’ōwp̄annîm bā·’ō·w·p̄an·nîm baofanNim hā’ōwp̄an hā’ōwp̄ān hā’ōwp̄annîm hā·’ō·w·p̄an hā·’ō·w·p̄ān hā·’ō·w·p̄an·nîm haoFan haofanNim lā’ōwp̄annîm lā·’ō·w·p̄an·nîm laofanNim oFan ofanNei ofanneiHem ofanNim vehaofanNim veoFan wə’ōwp̄an wə·’ō·w·p̄an wə·hā·’ō·w·p̄an·nîm wəhā’ōwp̄annîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 14:25 HEB: וַיָּ֗סַר אֵ֚ת אֹפַ֣ן מַרְכְּבֹתָ֔יו וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֖הוּ NAS: He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, KJV: their chariot wheels, that they drave INT: to swerve wheels their chariot drive 1 Kings 7:30 1 Kings 7:32 1 Kings 7:32 1 Kings 7:32 1 Kings 7:33 1 Kings 7:33 Proverbs 20:26 Isaiah 28:27 Ezekiel 1:15 Ezekiel 1:16 Ezekiel 1:16 Ezekiel 1:16 Ezekiel 1:19 Ezekiel 1:19 Ezekiel 1:20 Ezekiel 1:20 Ezekiel 1:21 Ezekiel 1:21 Ezekiel 3:13 Ezekiel 10:6 Ezekiel 10:9 Ezekiel 10:9 Ezekiel 10:9 Ezekiel 10:9 35 Occurrences |
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