### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Biblically, `{{H6084}}` 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]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several individuals and groups are directly linked to the locations named **Ophrah**:
* `{{H1439}}` **Gidʻôwn** (feller (i.e. warrior); Gidon, an Israelite; Gideon): The judge of Israel whose life and ministry are centered in **Ophrah**. He built an altar there [[Judges 6:24]] and was later buried there [[Judges 8:32]].
* `{{H3101}}` **Yôwʼâsh** (Joash, the name of six Israelites; Joash): The father of Gideon. **Ophrah** is identified as his city, and he is described as an Abiezrite [[Judges 6:11]].
* `{{H33}}` **ʼĂbîy hâ-ʻEzrîy** (father of the Ezrite; an Abiezrite or descendant of Abiezer; Abiezrite): This identifies the family clan of Gideon. The town is frequently specified as "**Ophrah** of the Abiezrites" to distinguish it [[Judges 6:24]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H6084}}` 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]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6084}}` 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.
TRV