### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼÔwphîyr**, represented by `{{H211}}`, refers to both a son of Joktan and a legendary gold-producing region in the East. It appears 13 times across 12 unique verses. While its specific location is of uncertain derivation, its name is consistently synonymous with immense wealth and the highest quality of gold, precious stones, and exotic wood.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H211}}` serves two distinct purposes. Genealogically, Ophir is listed as one of the sons of Joktan, establishing his place in the table of nations ([[Genesis 10:29]], [[1 Chronicles 1:23]]). More prominently, Ophir is the destination for King Solomon's lucrative trade expeditions. Solomon's servants, along with the navy of Hiram, fetched hundreds of talents of gold from there ([[1 Kings 9:28]], [[2 Chronicles 8:18]]), as well as great quantities of almug trees and precious stones [[1 Kings 10:11]]. The gold of Ophir became the standard for extreme value, used to describe the splendor of a queen [[Psalms 45:9]] and the worth of a man in a time of judgment [[Isaiah 13:12]]. However, access to its riches was not guaranteed, as King Jehoshaphat's ships were broken before they could make the journey [[1 Kings 22:48]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the significance of Ophir:
* `{{H2091}}` **zâhâb** (from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold...): Ophir is renowned almost exclusively as a source for **gold**. Expeditions are repeatedly organized to acquire vast quantities of it [[1 Kings 9:28]], and David designated three thousand talents of this specific **gold** to overlay the walls of the temple [[1 Chronicles 29:4]].
* `{{H8010}}` **Shᵉlômôh** (peaceful; Shelomah, David's successor; Solomon): The accounts of Ophir's riches are inextricably linked to the reign of King **Solomon**, whose servants successfully brought its treasures to Israel [[2 Chronicles 8:18]].
* `{{H591}}` **ʼŏnîyâh** (a ship): The great distance to Ophir necessitated maritime travel. The narrative describes the **navy** `{{H590}}` of Hiram bringing goods from there [[1 Kings 10:11]] and the **ships** of Jehoshaphat being broken in an attempt to reach it [[1 Kings 22:48]].
### Theological Significance
The name `{{H211}}` carries significant thematic weight in scripture, often illustrating concepts of value, wealth, and divine judgment.
* **A Benchmark of Supreme Value:** The gold of Ophir is consistently used as a standard for the most precious materials on earth. However, scripture places both wisdom and human life as being of even greater worth, stating that wisdom cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir [[Job 28:16]] and that a **man** `{{H582}}` will be made more precious than its finest gold [[Isaiah 13:12]].
* **A Symbol of Royal Wealth:** The riches from Ophir are a tangible sign of the prosperity and glory of Solomon's kingdom. This wealth was not only brought to King Solomon [[1 Kings 9:28]] but was also used to adorn the queen [[Psalms 45:9]] and for sacred purposes, such as David's provision for the temple [[1 Chronicles 29:4]].
* **A Source of Rare Materials:** Beyond gold, Ophir provided other exotic goods that were central to the splendor of Solomon's building projects. The navy of Hiram brought back great plenty of **almug** `{{H484}}` trees and **precious** `{{H3368}}` stones from this region [[1 Kings 10:11]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H211}}` signifies far more than a person or a place. It functions as a biblical touchstone for ultimate material wealth, representing a source of the finest gold, valuable stones, and rare timber. Its narrative connection to King Solomon highlights a period of unprecedented prosperity, while its use in wisdom literature and prophecy serves to contrast earthly riches with the supreme value of wisdom and human life in the eyes of God.
TRV