Ophrah in the Bible
Gideon's hometown where the angel of the LORD appeared and commissioned him to save Israel.
Ophrah was a town in the territory of Manasseh belonging to the clan of Abiezer. It was Gideon's hometown, where the angel of the LORD appeared to him as he secretly threshed wheat in a winepress, hiding from the Midianites — and called this fearful man a 'mighty man of valor.'
Modern Location
Uncertain — possibly Afula or et-Taiyibeh in the Jezreel Valley
Key Biblical Events
- 1Angel of the LORD appears to Gideon (Judges 6:11–12)
- 2Gideon tears down his father's Baal altar (Judges 6:25–27)
- 3Gideon makes an ephod that becomes an idol (Judges 8:27)
- 4Gideon buried at Ophrah (Judges 8:32)
Key KJV Scriptures
"And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah... and the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour."
Spiritual Significance
Ophrah shows that God sees potential where we see weakness. Gideon was hiding in fear, but God called him a warrior. God names us according to what we will become, not what we currently are.
Why Ophrah Matters
Ophrah holds a unique place in Scripture because it stands at the crossroads of God's covenant promises to His chosen people. With 4 major biblical events connected to this site — and key figures like Gideon linked to its story — Ophrah is far more than a point on an ancient map. It is a place where God acted decisively in human history.
Rooted in the Old Testament narrative, Ophrah is referenced in 1 key scriptures that reveal God's faithfulness across generations. Ophrah shows that God sees potential where we see weakness. Gideon was hiding in fear, but God called him a warrior. God names us according to what we will become, not what we currently are.
For today's believer, studying Ophrah is more than a geography lesson — it is an invitation to see God's faithfulness written across real places and real people. Every mountain, city, and river in Scripture reminds us that God works within history, not apart from it. When you read about Ophrah, you are standing on the same spiritual ground where Gideon encountered the living God.
Related Bible Characters
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress?
To hide from Midianite raiders who had been stealing Israel's crops for seven years. Threshing normally happened on an open hilltop; Gideon's winepress hiding revealed the nation's desperate condition.
Explore Related Content
Related Bible Locations
Shechem
An ancient city where God first promised Canaan to Abraham and where Joshua renewed the covenant.
Mount Tabor
Traditionally identified as the site of Jesus' Transfiguration.
Shechem
Where Abraham first received God's promise in Canaan and Joshua renewed Israel's covenant.
Mount Tabor
The rallying point for Deborah and Barak's victory and a traditional site of the Transfiguration.
Jezreel Valley
The great agricultural plain where many of Israel's most decisive battles were fought.
Miracles at Ophrah
Every miracle in Scripture tied to Ophrah.
Where to go next
Finished reading about Ophrah? Keep exploring the places and people of Scripture.
- Explore the full Bible locations mapEvery place in Scripture, by region.Continue
- See where this fits on the Bible timelineFrom creation to the early church.Continue
- Meet the people of the BibleProfiles with verses for every major figure.Continue
- Test yourself with a Bible quizFree quizzes — every answer cites a verse.Continue
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