probably feminine of גֹּפֶר; properly, cypress-resin; by analogy, sulphur (as equally inflammable); brimstone.
Transliteration:gophrîyth
Pronunciation:gof-reeth'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term גׇּפְרִית (gophrîyth, `{{H1614}}`) primarily signifies "brimstone" or "sulphur" within the biblical corpus. Its etymological root, as suggested by the base definition, traces back to גֹּפֶר (gopher, `{{H1613}}`), meaning "cypress wood" or "gopher wood." The connection is thought to be through "cypress-resin," a flammable substance derived from the cypress tree. By analogy, this term then extended to "sulphur" due to its equally flammable and combustible properties. Thus, while its original referent may have been botanical, its predominant semantic range in the Bible is that of a mineral substance known for its intense flammability and association with destructive fire. This semantic shift highlights a focus on the shared characteristic of combustibility rather than the specific material origin, leading to its consistent use in contexts of fiery destruction.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of גׇּפְרִית (gophrîyth, `{{H1614}}`) are relatively few but profoundly significant, consistently appearing in contexts of divine judgment and catastrophic destruction.
* **[[Genesis 19:24]]**: This is the foundational text for understanding גׇּפְרִית. "Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur and fire from the LORD out of the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah." Here, brimstone is an immediate instrument of God's wrath, directly causing the obliteration of the cities due to their egregious sin. The pairing with "fire" (אֵשׁ, `{{H784}}`) is crucial, forming the iconic phrase "fire and brimstone."
* **[[Deuteronomy 29:23]]**: In a prophetic warning against apostasy, Moses describes the future desolation of the land if Israel disobeys: "The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing growing, no vegetation." This passage links גׇּפְרִית to irreversible barrenness and a state of utter ruin, echoing the fate of Sodom.
* **[[Psalm 11:6]]**: Depicting God's righteous judgment against the wicked, the Psalmist declares, "On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot." This reinforces the imagery of brimstone as a direct divine punishment.
* **[[Isaiah 30:33]]**: Describing the judgment upon Assyria (or Tophet), the prophet states, "the breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze." Here, גׇּפְרִית is an agent of consuming divine fury.
* **[[Isaiah 34:9]]**: In a prophecy against Edom, the land's desolation is vividly portrayed: "Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch!" Again, brimstone signifies complete and irreversible destruction, rendering the land uninhabitable.
* **[[Ezekiel 38:22]]**: In the judgment against Gog, God declares, "I will execute judgment on him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and his troops and on the many nations with him." This passage broadens the scope of brimstone's use to include a large-scale military judgment.
Across these occurrences, גׇּפְרִית consistently functions as a symbol and instrument of divine, often fiery, judgment, leading to complete desolation and irreversible destruction.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of גׇּפְרִית (gophrîyth, `{{H1614}}`) is enriched by its relationship to several other key biblical terms and concepts:
* **גֹּפֶר (gopher, `{{H1613}}`):** As noted, this is the root from which גׇּפְרִית is thought to derive, referring to "gopher wood" or "cypress wood," famously used for Noah's ark [[Genesis 6:14]]. While the direct material connection is debated, the etymological link highlights the ancient world's awareness of flammable substances derived from trees.
* **אֵשׁ (ʾēsh, `{{H784}}` - Fire):** This is the most frequent and significant companion to גׇּפְרִית. The phrase "fire and brimstone" (אֵשׁ וְגָפְרִית) is a well-established idiom for divine wrath and destructive judgment. Fire provides the consuming power, while brimstone often intensifies or defines the nature of that burning.
* **מָטַר (māṭar, `{{H4305}}` - Rain):** In the context of Sodom and Gomorrah, brimstone "rains down," emphasizing its divine origin and the overwhelming nature of the judgment.
* **חָרְבָּה (ḥorbāh, `{{H2723}}` - Desolation/Waste):** The outcome of judgment by גׇּפְרִית is typically utter desolation, rendering land barren and uninhabitable, as seen in [[Deuteronomy 29:23]] and [[Isaiah 34:9]].
* **עָוֹן (ʿāwōn, `{{H5771}}` - Iniquity/Guilt):** The application of גׇּפְרִית is consistently tied to the punishment of sin and rebellion against God, making it a direct consequence of human wickedness.
* **Theological Concepts:** Divine wrath, judgment, purification, and the consuming holiness of God are all intrinsically linked to the concept of brimstone in the biblical narrative.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of גׇּפְרִית (gophrîyth, `{{H1614}}`) is profound and multifaceted, primarily serving as a potent symbol and instrument of divine judgment.
1. **Symbol of Divine Judgment and Wrath:** Above all, גׇּפְרִית represents the unmitigated wrath of God against sin. Its association with fire underscores the consuming, destructive, and purifying nature of God's justice. The judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah stands as a paradigmatic example, demonstrating God's absolute intolerance for profound wickedness.
2. **Irreversible and Complete Destruction:** The imagery of brimstone implies a judgment that is not merely punitive but utterly annihilating. The land becomes a perpetual waste, incapable of supporting life, signifying the finality and totality of God's decree against the unrighteous. This serves as a stark warning against rebellion.
3. **Divine Sovereignty and Retribution:** The fact that brimstone "rains down from the LORD" emphasizes that this judgment is not random or natural, but a direct, deliberate act of God's sovereign power. It is a manifestation of divine retribution, where the punishment perfectly fits the crime.
4. **Foreshadowing of Eschatological Judgment:** The Old Testament imagery of גׇּפְרִית lays conceptual groundwork for New Testament descriptions of ultimate, eternal judgment. The "lake of burning sulfur" (λίμνη τοῦ πυρὸς τῆς καιομένης θείῳ, *limnē tou pyros tēs kaiomenēs theiou*) in Revelation (e.g., [[Revelation 20:10]]) clearly draws upon this Old Testament motif, extending the concept of fiery, consuming judgment to the final destiny of the wicked. While the Greek word for sulfur is *theion* (`{{G2306}}`), the theological continuity with גׇּפְפְרִית is unmistakable.
5. **Holiness and Purity of God:** The use of brimstone in judgment also implicitly highlights God's absolute holiness. Sin, being an affront to this holiness, must be purged and consumed. The fiery nature of the judgment underscores God's inability to tolerate wickedness in His presence.
### Summary
The Hebrew word גׇּפְרִית (gophrîyth, `{{H1614}}`) primarily denotes "brimstone" or "sulphur," a meaning derived by analogy from "cypress-resin" due to shared flammability. Its biblical occurrences are exclusively linked to contexts of severe divine judgment, most notably the catastrophic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Consistently paired with "fire" (אֵשׁ, `{{H784}}`), גׇּפְרִית symbolizes irreversible desolation and the consuming power of God's wrath. Theologically, it underscores the absolute nature of God's justice against sin, serving as a powerful warning of the consequences of disobedience and prefiguring the eschatological judgments described in the New Testament. It vividly portrays the purity and consuming holiness of a righteous God who will not tolerate wickedness.
TRV