Lexical Summary Ophel: Hill, mound, fortress Original Word: עֹפֶל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ophel The same as ophel; Ophel, a ridge in Jerusalem -- Ophel. see HEBREW ophel NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aphal Definition a fortified mound or hill in Jer. NASB Translation Ophel (5). Topical Lexicon Summary ‘Ophel designates the fortified spur that rises immediately south of the Temple platform in Jerusalem. Though the word can describe any bulging mound or stronghold, Scripture applies it five times to this strategic ridge on the eastern side of the City of David. The passages show successive kings and post-exilic leaders investing in its defense, housing temple-support personnel there, and linking its security to the purity of worship on Mount Moriah. Geographical Setting The Ophel forms the saddle between the higher Temple Mount and the lower City of David, flanked by the Kidron Valley on the east and the Tyropoeon to the west. Whoever controlled this narrow tongue of land controlled access to the sanctuary above and the royal quarters below. Its steep sides invited fortification; its summit offered a vantage point for watchmen, and its proximity to the Gihon Spring ensured water in siege conditions. Old Testament Usage 2 Chronicles 27:3 provides the earliest canonical notice: “Jotham also built the Upper Gate of the house of the Lord and did extensive work on the wall of Ophel.” His construction tied temple worship to military readiness, a pattern that reappears when Manasseh reforms after exile (2 Chronicles 33:14). Nehemiah records three references, all situating the Ophel in post-exilic rebuilding. Temple servants (Nethinim) lived there and repaired its wall and towers (Nehemiah 3:26-27; 11:21). These verses frame the Ophel both as a defensive bulwark and as a ministry quarter that enabled daily sacrifices. Historical Development • Jotham’s expansion (eighth century BC) probably replaced earlier Jebusite defenses with royal masonry, signaling Judah’s stability under a godly king. Theological Significance 1. Interdependence of worship and security: The Ophel’s nearness to the sanctuary reminds readers that spiritual devotion and practical stewardship belong together. Ministry Applications • Church leaders can view facility maintenance as part of honoring God, following Jotham’s and Nehemiah’s example. Archaeological and Scholarly Insights Excavations along Jerusalem’s southeastern ridge have unearthed massive stepped stone structures, LMLK-stamped jar handles, and broad wall segments datable to Iron Age II. These findings align with biblical claims of royal construction under kings of Judah. Later repairs show Persian-period masonry consistent with Nehemiah’s record. Such discoveries corroborate Scripture’s historical reliability and provide tangible context for the Ophel narratives. Related Terms and Concepts • City of David – the lower eastern hill, originally Zion, with which the Ophel forms one continuous ridge. Key Passages for Study and Meditation 2 Chronicles 27:1-6; 2 Chronicles 33:10-16; Nehemiah 3:15-32; Nehemiah 11:15-21. In contemplating the Ophel, believers encounter a physical reminder that the Lord expects His people to guard what He entrusts, labor together for the purity of worship, and trust Him to bless work prayed over and carried out in obedience. Forms and Transliterations בָּעֹ֑פֶל בעפל הָעֹ֛פֶל הָעֹֽפֶל׃ העפל העפל׃ לָעֹ֔פֶל לעפל bā‘ōp̄el bā·‘ō·p̄el baOfel hā‘ōp̄el hā·‘ō·p̄el haOfel lā‘ōp̄el lā·‘ō·p̄el laOfelLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Chronicles 27:3 HEB: הָעֶלְי֑וֹן וּבְחוֹמַ֥ת הָעֹ֛פֶל בָּנָ֖ה לָרֹֽב׃ NAS: extensively the wall of Ophel. KJV: and on the wall of Ophel he built INT: the upper the wall of Ophel built extensively 2 Chronicles 33:14 Nehemiah 3:26 Nehemiah 3:27 Nehemiah 11:21 5 Occurrences |
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