Ophrah עׇפְרָה
Son of Meonothai
Who is Ophrah in the Bible?
Ophrah in the Bible refers to the son of Meonothai, a descendant of Judah through the line of Caleb, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:14. He appears in the genealogical records of the tribe of Judah, which document the family lines and descendants of Judah's sons and grandsons. While Ophrah is included in this genealogy, no further details about his life, accomplishments, or role are provided in Scripture. His mention suggests he held some significance within his family or clan during the period of Judah's tribal history. Though other biblical figures and places share the name Ophrah, this Ophrah is distinguished as a member of Judah's genealogical line during the post-patriarchal period.
Biography
Ophrah was the son of Meonothai, a descendant of Judah through the line of Caleb (1Ch.4.14). He is mentioned in the genealogy of Judah, which lists the descendants of Judah's sons and grandsons. The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 4 provides insight into the family lines and clans within the tribe of Judah. Ophrah's mention in this genealogy suggests that he was a significant figure within his family or clan. However, no further details about Ophrah's life or role are provided in the Bible. It is worth noting that there are other individuals and places in the Bible that share the name Ophrah, but they are not related to this particular Ophrah, the son of Meonothai.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 4:14
"Meonothai was the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of those living in Ge-harashim, which was given this name because its people were craftsmen."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עׇפְרָה |
Ophrah
>). It is mentioned again in 1Sa 13:17. The Philistines who were encamped at Michmash sent out marauding bands, one of which went westward, another eastward, down "the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness"; the third "turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual." This must have been northward, as Saul commanded the passage to the South. Eusebius, Onomasticon places it 5 Roman miles East of Bethel. A site which comes near to fulfilling these conditions is eT-Taiyebeh, which stands on a conical hill some 5 miles Northeast of Beitin. This is possibly identical with "Ephron" (2Ch 13:19), and "Ephraim" (Jn. 11:54).
(2) A city in the tribal lot of Manasseh West of Jordan. It is mentioned only in connection with Gideon, whose native place it was, and with his son Abimelech (Jud 6:11, etc.). It was, indeed, family property, belonging to Joash the Abiezrite, the father of Gideon. It was apparently not far from the plain of Esdraelon (Jud 6:33 f), so that Gideon and his kinsmen smarted under the near presence of the oppressing Midianites. Manasseh, of course, as bordering on the southern edge of the plain, was in close touch with the invaders. At Ophrah, Gideon reared his altar to Yahweh, and made thorough cleansing of the instruments of idolatry. After his great victory, he set up here the golden ephod made from the spoils of the enemy, which proved a snare to himself and to his house (Jud 8:27). Here he was finally laid to rest. It was at Ophrah that Abimelech, aspiring to the kingdom, put to death upon one stone three score and ten of his brethren, as possible rivals, Jotham alone escaping alive (Jud 9:5). Apparently the mother of Abimelech belonged to Shechem; this established a relationship with that town, his connection with which does not therefore mean that Ophrah was near it.
No quite satisfactory identification has yet been suggested. Conder (PEFS, 1876, 1971) quotes the Samaritan Chronicle as identifying Ferata, which is 6 miles West of Nablus, with an ancient Ophra, "and the one that suggests itself as most probably identical is Ophrah of the Abiezerite." But this seems too far to the South.
(3) A man of the tribe of Judah, son of Meonothai (1Ch 4:14).
W. Ewing
o-pin'-yun (dea`, ce`ippim): "Opinion" occurs only 5 times, thrice in Job (32:6,10,17) as the translation of dea`, "knowledge," "opinion" (in the address of Elihu), and once of ce`ippim, from ca`aph, "to divide or bra