Lexical Definition
אוֹפִיר ʼÔwphîyr (o-feer') Ophir N:N-M-P
or (shortened) אֹפִיר ʼÔphîyr (ofeer'); and אוֹפִר ʼÔwphir (o-feer'); of uncertain derivation
Ophir.
- § Ophir = "reducing to ashes"
- Ophir, the name of a son of Joktan, and of a gold region in the East
1) eleventh son of Joktan
2) a land or city in southern Arabia in Solomon's trade route where gold evidently was traded for goods
3) characteristic of fine gold
4) fine gold
Extended Information
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.29
- son of: Joktan (יׇקְטָן)
- brother of: Almodad (אַלְמוֹדָד), Sheleph (שֶׁלֶף), Hazarmaveth (חֲצַרְמָוֶת), Jerah (יֶרַח), Hadoram (הֲדוֹרָם), Uzal (אוּזָל), Diklah (דִּקְלָה), Obal (עוֹבָל), Abimael (אֲבִימָאֵל), Sheba (שְׁבָא), Havilah (חֲוִילָה) and Jobab (יוֹבָב)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אוֺפִיר proper name Ophir — ׳א 1Kgs 10:11 +; אוֺפִ֫ירָה 1Kgs 9:28 + אוֺפִר Gen 10:29 אֹפִיר 1Kgs 10:11 —
1. proper name, masculine 11th son of Joktan Gen 10:29 (J) = 1Chr 1:23 ᵐ5 Οὐφειρ, Ὠφειρ, name of an Arabian tribe, see Gen 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 1Kgs 22:49* A Ὠφειρδε, B omitted) place whither Solomon's ships went from Ezion Geber, bringing thence gold 1Kgs 9:28 — compare 1Kgs 22:49* — 2Chr 8:18 gold, almug- (sandal-?) wood & gems 2Chr 10:11 (twice in verse), compare 2Chr 9:10 probably 1Kgs 10:22 reference to same ships; they came once in three years with gold, silver, ivory, apes & peacocks (all from Ophir ?); 2Chr 9:21 makes these ships go to Tarshish (but on Tarshish-ships, i.e. large, sea-going vessels, merchantmen, see 1Kgs 22:49* & below תַּרְשִׁישׁ).
3. characteristic of fine gold (in poetry & late) ׳זְהַב א 1Chr 29:4 ׳כֶּתֶם א Isa 13:12; Job 28:16; Ps 45:10*.
4. hence for fine gold itself Job 22:24 (|| בֶּצֶר). — (If 2 = 1, then southern, probably south-eastern, Arabia (compare Di Gen 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. «JOSEPHUS:Antiquities 8:6»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 Gen 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.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 10:29 · 10:30 |
| 1 Kings | 9:28 · 10:11 · 10:22 · 22:49* |
| 1 Chronicles | 1:23 · 29:4 |
| 2 Chronicles | 8:18 · 9:10 · 9:21 · 10:11 |
| Job | 22:24 · 28:16 |
| Psalms | 45:10* |
| Isaiah | 13:12 |
Profile
Male • Son of Joktan • Son of Joktan
Man living at the time of the Patriarchs
Ophir was a son of Joktan, a descendant of Shem, mentioned in the Table of Nations.
- A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.10.29;
- only referred to as Ophir אוֹפִיר;
- son of Joktan יׇקְטָן;
- a brother of Almodad אַלְמוֹדָד, Sheleph שֶׁלֶף, Hazarmaveth חֲצַרְמָוֶת, Jerah יֶרַח, Hadoram הֲדוֹרָם, Uzal אוּזָל, Diklah דִּקְלָה, Obal עוֹבָל, Abimael אֲבִימָאֵל, Sheba שְׁבָא, Havilah חֲוִילָה and Jobab יוֹבָב.
Ophir was one of the sons of Joktan, a descendant of Shem through Eber (Genesis 10:29; 1 Chronicles 1:23). He is mentioned in the Table of Nations, which lists the descendants of Noah's sons after the flood. Joktan's descendants, including Ophir, are said to have settled in the region "from Mesha all the way to Sephar, the eastern hill country" (Genesis 10:30). The exact location of this region is uncertain, but it is generally believed to be in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The name Ophir is also associated with a land famous for its wealth and gold (e.g., 1 Kings 9:28; 10:11; 22:48; 1 Chronicles 29:4; 2 Chronicles 8:18; 9:10; Job 22:24; 28:16; Psalm 45:9; Isaiah 13:12), but it is unclear if this land was named after Joktan's son or another individual.
All entries for Ophir: אוֹפִיר