The Hebrew word ʻOphrâh, represented by H6084, translates to female fawn and is used as the name of an Israelite and two places in Palestine. It appears 8 times across 8 unique verses in the Bible. The name primarily designates a significant place in the history of the Judges and the early kingdom of Israel, most notably as the hometown of Gideon.
Biblically, ʻOphrâh is most prominently featured as the hometown of Gideon's family. It is identified as Ophrah of the Abiezrites Judges 6:24. This is the location where an angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon under an oak tree Judges 6:11, where Gideon later built an altar named Jehovahshalom Judges 6:24, and where he was ultimately buried Judges 8:32. The city also became the site of the ephod Gideon made, which became a snare to Israel Judges 8:27. Beyond the narrative of Gideon, Ophrah is mentioned as a city allotted to the tribe of Benjamin Joshua 18:23 and as the name of a person in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 1 Chronicles 4:14.
The significance of ʻOphrâh is tied to the pivotal events that occurred at the location:
- Site of Divine Encounter: Ophrah is the place where the LORD, through his angel, called Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites, marking it as a location of divine commissioning Judges 6:11.
- Center of Contradictory Worship: It is the home of the altar Gideon built to the LORD, Jehovahshalom Judges 6:24. Conversely, it is also where Gideon placed an ephod that led all of Israel into idolatry, becoming a “snare” to his family Judges 8:27.
- Symbol of Family Heritage and Conflict: As the ancestral home of Gideon and his father Joash, it represents their legacy. It is where Gideon was buried Judges 8:32, but it is also the scene of the tragic slaughter of Gideon's sons by their brother Abimelech Judges 9:5.
In summary, ʻOphrâh is a name that represents more than just a geographical point. While it appears as a personal name in a genealogy 1 Chronicles 4:14 and a city in Benjamin's territory Joshua 18:23, its primary importance is as the backdrop for the dramatic narrative of Gideon. It is a place that embodies themes of divine calling, the establishment of proper worship, the descent into idolatry, and the tragic consequences of familial strife.
