"And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Ophir Meaning in the Bible
Ophir
boy
Ophir means "Rich; Fruitful; Gold region", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Ophir appears in the King James Bible, and 1 Kings 9:28 is the passage most often tied to it. Ophir — the land of gold — became Scripture's standard for supreme value. Yet Job declared that wisdom surpasses even Ophir's gold, teaching that true wealth is found in knowing God, not in possessing treasures.
Is Ophir in the Bible?
Yes — Ophir appears in the King James Bible, including 1 Kings 9:28.
Pronunciation:/OH-fir/
OriginHebrew
MeaningRich; Fruitful; Gold region
What does Ophir mean?
Ophir is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Rich; Fruitful; Gold region". Ophir means "rich" or "fruitful" in Hebrew. It was both a person (a descendant of Joktan in Genesis 10) and, more famously, a legendary region known for producing the finest gold in the ancient world.
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Editor’s reflection
The place Solomon's ships sailed to for gold — and nobody is certain where it was.
Ophir (Hebrew אוֹפִיר) is first a person: a son of Joktan in the table of nations, descended from Shem (Genesis 10:29). As usually happens in that chapter, the man's name becomes the name of the region his descendants settled, and it is the region that made the word famous.
Ophir means gold in the Hebrew imagination the way Eldorado does in Spanish. Solomon's fleet, crewed with Hiram's Phoenician sailors, 'came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon' (1 Kings 9:28). The gold of Ophir becomes proverbial for the finest there is: Job says wisdom 'cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir' (Job 28:16), and Isaiah promises to 'make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir' (Isaiah 13:12).
Where it actually was remains unsettled. Proposals include south-west Arabia, the Horn of Africa, and the Indian coast, based on the three-year round trip and the cargo — gold, almug wood, ivory, apes and peacocks. No site has been confirmed, which is itself part of the name's atmosphere.
As a given name Ophir is used in modern Hebrew for boys and occasionally girls. It is short, unmistakably scriptural, and carries a sense of far distance and great worth without being a virtue name.
“It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.”
What does Ophir mean in the Bible?
Ophir means "Rich; Fruitful; Gold region" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Ophir means "rich" or "fruitful" in Hebrew. It was both a person (a descendant of Joktan in Genesis 10) and, more famously, a legendary region known for producing the finest gold in the ancient world. "Gold of Ophir" became a standard of supreme quality in Scripture.
Solomon's fleet sailed to Ophir and returned with 420 talents of gold — an enormous fortune that funded the temple's construction and the king's legendary wealth. The voyage took three years round-trip, and the ships also brought back precious stones, almug wood, and other exotic goods.
The Psalms use Ophir gold as a metaphor for supreme value: "Upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir." Job contrasted earthly wealth with divine wisdom: "It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire."
The exact location of Ophir has been debated for millennia — candidates include India, Arabia, East Africa, and even South America. This mystery has only enhanced its legendary status. As a name, Ophir carries associations of extraordinary value, distant wonder, and divinely-provided abundance.
Where does Ophir appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Ophir is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with 1 Kings 9:28. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"Upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Ophir?
Ophir has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Which books of the Bible mention Ophir?
Ophir is mentioned across 6 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Ophir?
Ophir — the land of gold — became Scripture's standard for supreme value. Yet Job declared that wisdom surpasses even Ophir's gold, teaching that true wealth is found in knowing God, not in possessing treasures.
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Promises connected to the meaning of the name Ophir:
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What names are related to Ophir?
Names like Ophir
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Rich; Fruitful; Gold region" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Ophir
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Ophir
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Ophir name meaning: frequently asked questions
Ophir was the distant region Solomon's fleet sailed to for gold, almug wood, ivory, apes and peacocks (1 Kings 9:28, 10:11). Its location is unknown; south-west Arabia, east Africa and India have all been proposed. Ophir is also named as a son of Joktan in Genesis 10:29, and 'gold of Ophir' became a byword for the finest gold.
Yes — Ophir appears in the King James Bible, including 1 Kings 9:28.
Ophir means "Rich; Fruitful; Gold region." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in 1 Kings 9:28, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Ophir
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Ophir?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Ophir?
You can read every verse where Ophir appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.