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Ophir

Historical Location
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A biblical land famed for its gold, possibly in Arabia or East Africa

Detailed Definition
Ophir supplied King Solomon with vast quantities of gold, almug wood, and precious stones (1 Kings 9–10). Its exact location is unknown, enhancing its legendary status. In poetry, Ophir symbolizes unimaginable wealth, distant adventure, and the allure of the exotic—often used to critique materialism or to imagine realms of untainted abundance.
Example
Example in poetry:
In 1 Kings 9–10, Ophir is the legendary source of Solomon’s gold, evoking poetic wealth; The poet John Masefield references Ophir in “Cargoes” as exotic maritime treasure; Modern scholars and poets debate Ophir’s location (Africa, India, Arabia); In allegorical verse, Ophir symbolizes elusive spiritual or material riches; Contemporary poetry uses Ophir to explore colonial extraction and mythical abundance.
Additional Notes
Ophir, source of Solomon’s gold (1 Kings 9–10), symbolizes legendary wealth and maritime mystery. Poets like Masefield evoke it in exotic cargoes. Scholars debate its location (Africa, India, Arabia). Students should note its association with Hiram’s fleet and its use in allegories of elusive riches.
Other Meanings of “Ophir”
Also Known As
Golden Ophir Land of Solomon’s Gold Maritime Mystery Distant Treasure
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