Berean Strong's Lexicon Ophir: Ophir Original Word: אוֹפִיר Word Origin: The origin of the name "Ophir" is uncertain, but it is a proper noun used to denote a specific region or land. Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for Ophir in the Strong's Greek Dictionary, as it is a proper noun specific to Hebrew texts. Usage: Ophir is primarily known as a region famous for its wealth and fine gold. It is often mentioned in the context of trade and the acquisition of precious materials, particularly gold, which was considered of the highest quality. Cultural and Historical Background: Ophir is traditionally associated with a distant and wealthy land, renowned for its abundant resources, especially gold. The exact location of Ophir has been a subject of debate among scholars and historians, with suggestions ranging from regions in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, to parts of India. In the biblical narrative, Ophir represents a place of great prosperity and is often linked to the trade expeditions of King Solomon and other ancient rulers. 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. 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. 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 |