גֹּפֶר
𐤂𐤐𐤓
gôpher
H1613 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A specific type of tree or wood used for construction, especially noted in Genesis 6:14 as the material for Noah’s ark. The precise identity of the 'gopher' tree or wood is uncertain; it refers to a kind or species of tree suitable for large-scale building, but the term does not specify the botanical species. It should not be strictly equated with later identifications such as 'cypress' or 'pine.'
Semantic Range
a type of tree or wood used for building, wood suitable for large-scale construction, specific (but unidentified) building material for Noah’s ark
Root / Etymology
etymology uncertain. The form גֹּפֶר does not appear to be derived from any securely attested Hebrew root, and is unique to the description of the materials used in Genesis 6:14. Proposals about its root connection (e.g., with גפר or relation to Akkadian giparu) are unproven.
Historical & Contextual Notes
גֹּפֶר appears only in Genesis 6:14, describing the material of Noah's ark, with no further clues as to its meaning elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. The term is generally treated as a hapax legomenon (a word used only once). Ancient translations reflect significant uncertainty: the Septuagint renders it as 'squared timber,' the Vulgate as 'lignis levigatis' (smoothed or planed wood), and the Targum Onkelos transliterates the word, reflecting its opacity even to later interpreters. Some modern proposals identify 'gopher wood' as cypress, cedar, or pine, but none have decisive support. The translation 'gopher wood' is essentially transliterative, preserving the ambiguity of the term in Hebrew. Later English translations and traditions sometimes equate it with specific species, but the Hebrew evidence does not justify a specific botanical identification. The word's rarity outside of Genesis 6:14 precludes analysis of semantic developments over time or comparison with parallel terms for wood in biblical usage. The choice of gopher wood for the ark highlights its importance or suitability for monumental building, but precise characteristics remain unknown. Unlike other Hebrew terms for tree species (e.g., אֶרֶז 'erez' for cedar), גֹּפֶר provides no broader semantic range or contextual associations to clarify its meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root, probably meaning to house in; a kind of tree or wood (as used for building), apparently the cypress; gopher.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גפר (uncertain) (g-p-r (uncertain)) — uncertain; possibly building, covering, housing (unproven)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1613-01 |
גֹ֔פֶר | gofer | HNcmsa |
gopher wood | gopher timber | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1613-01 |
Genesis 6:14 | גֹ֔פֶר | gofer | HNcmsa |
gopher wood | gopher timber |