Lexical Definition
סְפָרָד Çᵉphârâd (sef-aw-rawd') Sepharad N:N--L
of foreign derivation
Sepharad.
- § Sepharad = "separated"
- Sepharad, a region of Assyria
1) a place where Israelites were exiled; site unknown
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| בִּסְפָרַ֑ד | in Sepharad | Obad.1.20 |
Extended Information
- Sepharad = "separated"
- a place where Israelites were exiled
- Also named: Sardeis (Σάρδεις "Sardis" Σάρδεις)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[סְפָרֵד?], סְפָרַ֑ד proper name, of a location Obad 1:20 ᵐ5 Εφραθα, Qa Σαφαραδ; location dubious; SpiegAPK 242 NöZMG xxxiii (1879), 323 CheFounders 312 SayMonuments 483 and others compare Sparda in Asia Minor (= Sardis ? Behistuni, 15 Persep. I:12 NRa 28); SchrCOT on the passage (compare KGF 116 ff.) DlPar 249, compare GASm12 Proph. ii. 176, compare Šaparda in southwest Media (time of Sargon); a Saparda also northeast from Nineveh (Esarhaddon's time), compare KnudtzonAss. Gebete, Nos. 8, 11, 30.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Obadiah | 1:20 |
Profile
Sardis • City in Asia Minor; destination of exiled Jews
Sepharad, possibly referring to Sardis, was a destination of exiled Jews (Obad. 1:20) and one of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation (Rev. 1:11; 3:1, 4).
Sepharad is mentioned in the Bible as a place where exiled Jews were located (Obad. 1:20). The exact location of Sepharad is uncertain, but many scholars believe it refers to Sardis, an ancient city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Sardis was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and later became an important city in the Persian and Roman empires.
In the book of Revelation, Sardis is mentioned as one of the seven churches addressed by Jesus (Rev. 1:11; 3:1, 4). The church in Sardis is rebuked for its spiritual deadness and is called to repent and strengthen what remains (Rev. 3:1-3). However, there were a few faithful believers in Sardis who had not defiled their garments, and they are promised to walk with Jesus in white (Rev. 3:4).
If Sepharad and Sardis are indeed the same place, the reference in Obadiah suggests that a Jewish community existed there, possibly as a result of the Babylonian exile. The mention of Sardis in Revelation highlights the city's significance in early Christian history and the challenges faced by the church in that location.