feminine of עֹפֶר; female fawn; Ophrah, the name of an Israelite and of two places in Palestine; Ophrah.
Transliteration:ʻOphrâh
Pronunciation:of-raw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term עׇפְרָה (`{{H6084}}`, ʻOphrâh) is the feminine form of עֹפֶר (`{{H6082}}`), which signifies a "fawn" or "young stag." Thus, its core meaning is "female fawn" or "doe." This primary, zoological sense evokes images of youth, grace, and perhaps vulnerability. However, in its biblical occurrences, עׇפְרָה functions exclusively as a proper noun, designating both a personal name and two distinct geographical locations within ancient Israel. The semantic range therefore extends from its literal, descriptive meaning to its onomastic application as a place or personal identifier, where the original meaning may subtly inform the perceived characteristics of the place or person, though not explicitly stated in the text.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
עׇפְרָה (`{{H6084}}`) appears in the Hebrew Bible in two main categories:
1. **A Personal Name:**
* [[1 Chronicles 4:14]]: Here, Ophrah is listed as a son of Meonothai, belonging to the tribe of Judah. This is a genealogical reference, providing no further narrative detail about the individual beyond his lineage.
2. **Place Names:**
* [[Joshua 18:23]]: Ophrah is mentioned as one of the cities allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, located within their tribal inheritance. Its precise geographical identification remains a subject of scholarly debate, but it is generally situated north of Jerusalem. This occurrence is purely descriptive, part of the territorial demarcation.
* [[Judges 6:11]], [[Judges 6:24]], [[Judges 8:27]], [[Judges 8:32]], [[Judges 9:5]]: This refers to "Ophrah of the Abiezrites" (or "Ophrah of Abiezer"), which is distinct from the Benjaminite Ophrah. This Ophrah is prominently featured as the hometown of Gideon, one of Israel's judges. Its narrative significance is profound:
* [[Judges 6:11]]: It is at Ophrah that the Angel of the LORD appears to Gideon while he is threshing wheat, calling him to deliver Israel from Midianite oppression. This marks the beginning of Gideon's divine commission.
* [[Judges 6:24]]: Following his encounter and the destruction of the Baal altar, Gideon builds an altar to the LORD in Ophrah, naming it "Yahweh-Shalom" (The LORD is Peace), commemorating God's assurance of peace despite the fear and conflict.
* [[Judges 8:27]]: After his victory over Midian, Gideon fashions an ephod from the spoils and places it in Ophrah. Tragically, this ephod becomes an object of idolatry and a "snare" for Israel, leading them astray from the LORD.
* [[Judges 8:32]]: Gideon is buried in Ophrah, in the tomb of Joash his father.
* [[Judges 9:5]]: Abimelech, Gideon's son, murders his seventy half-brothers at Ophrah on one stone, a brutal act of usurpation and a testament to the tragic consequences of the ephod's influence and the internal strife that plagued Israel.
The narrative surrounding Ophrah of the Abiezrites thus transforms a simple place name into a locus of divine encounter, covenantal remembrance, human failure, and tragic violence, deeply interwoven with the story of Gideon and the spiritual trajectory of Israel during the period of the Judges.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is עֹפֶר (`{{H6082}}`), the masculine noun for "fawn," from which עׇפְרָה (`{{H6084}}`) is derived. This etymological connection provides the base meaning, though it is largely overshadowed by the proper noun usage.
Concepts related to the biblical occurrences of Ophrah include:
* **Divine Revelation and Calling:** The appearance of the Angel of the LORD to Gideon in Ophrah connects it to themes of God's initiative in human history and His calling of unlikely individuals for His purposes.
* **Altar Building and Worship:** Gideon's construction of "Yahweh-Shalom" in Ophrah links it to acts of worship, memorial, and the declaration of God's character (peace).
* **Idolatry and Apostasy:** The ephod's corruption in Ophrah ties the location to the pervasive problem of idolatry in Israel and the human tendency to turn spiritual objects into snares. This resonates with terms like פֶּסֶל (`{{H6459}}`, "idol") and the broader concept of עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה ("foreign worship").
* **Judgeship and Deliverance:** As Gideon's home, Ophrah is intrinsically linked to the period of the Judges and the cycle of sin, oppression, cry for help, and deliverance (e.g., יָשַׁע - yasha - to save/deliver).
* **Genealogy and Tribal Allotment:** The mentions of Ophrah in [[1 Chronicles 4:14]] and [[Joshua 18:23]] connect it to the broader biblical themes of lineage (יַחַס - yachas - genealogy) and the division of the land (נַחֲלָה - nachalah - inheritance).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of עׇפְרָה (`{{H6084}}`) is primarily concentrated on Ophrah of the Abiezrites, the setting for crucial events in the life of Gideon.
1. **Divine Condescension and Initiative:** The appearance of the Angel of the LORD to Gideon in Ophrah demonstrates God's willingness to meet individuals in their ordinary lives, even in seemingly obscure places. It underscores that God's redemptive plan often begins in unexpected settings, highlighting His sovereign initiative to deliver His people.
2. **The Proclamation of "Yahweh-Shalom":** Gideon's altar, named "Yahweh-Shalom," built in Ophrah, is a profound theological statement. In a time of fear and oppression, it declares that the LORD Himself is the source of true peace—not merely the absence of conflict, but holistic well-being, security, and reconciliation. This name serves as a perpetual reminder of God's character and His desire for the shalom of His people.
3. **The Peril of Spiritual Compromise:** Tragically, Ophrah also becomes a stark reminder of human fallibility and the dangers of spiritual compromise. Gideon's ephod, placed in Ophrah, though perhaps initially intended as a memorial or cultic object, quickly devolves into an object of idolatry, leading Israel astray. This illustrates how even well-intentioned acts can become snares when they deviate from God's explicit commands, underscoring the constant need for vigilance against syncretism and the human tendency to create alternative centers of worship.
4. **Consequences of Disobedience and Internal Strife:** The subsequent massacre of Gideon's sons by Abimelech in Ophrah further highlights the tragic consequences of spiritual decline and internal discord. This act of violence, occurring in the very place where God had initiated deliverance, serves as a sobering testament to the destructive power of human ambition and the ripple effects of spiritual compromise.
Despite these negative associations, Ophrah remains a place where God's presence was undeniably manifested, teaching enduring lessons about divine calling, the nature of true peace, and the constant challenges of faithfulness in the human-divine relationship.
### Summary
עׇפְרָה (`{{H6084}}`), rooted in the Hebrew word for "female fawn," serves primarily as a proper noun in the biblical text, designating a Judahite descendant and two distinct geographical locations. Of these, "Ophrah of the Abiezrites" is of paramount theological significance, being the hometown of the judge Gideon. This site witnessed the pivotal divine encounter where the Angel of the LORD called Gideon to deliver Israel, and where Gideon subsequently built the altar "Yahweh-Shalom," a profound declaration of God as the source of peace. However, Ophrah also became a tragic symbol of human failure, as Gideon's ephod placed there devolved into an object of idolatry, leading Israel astray and ultimately contributing to the internal strife that culminated in the massacre of Gideon's sons. Thus, עׇפְרָה encapsulates a complex narrative of divine initiative and human response, highlighting themes of God's condescension, the declaration of His peace, and the sobering realities of spiritual compromise and its devastating consequences within the unfolding history of God's people.
TRV