אוּפָז
𐤀𐤅𐤐𐤆
Ufaz
H210 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A geographic name denoting a place or region associated with high-quality gold; used specifically to refer to a source or location of precious gold (often alongside Ophir) in poetic or descriptive contexts. The term is not used for a people, but as a place of origin for gold distinguished by its purity or value.
Semantic Range
name for a distant gold-producing region, synonym or parallel to 'Ophir', poetic or metaphoric place of fine gold, unattested as an ethnic or tribal name
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The term אוּפָז does not have a demonstrated root in Biblical Hebrew and appears only as a proper noun; some scholars have proposed a connection or confusion with אוֹפִיר (Ophir), another famed gold region, due to the similar context of gold and the assonance, but the exact origin remains unknown.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אוּפָז occurs only in Jeremiah 10:9 and Daniel 10:5, both times in poetic or visionary descriptions of exceptional gold or refined metals. In these contexts, אוּפָז is paralleled with fine gold, as a symbol of wealth and purity. The actual location of Uphaz is unknown; various hypotheses have associated it with regions in Arabia, India, or elsewhere, but no consensus exists. The Septuagint renders the name as "Ophaz" or occasionally conflates it with Ophir, further indicating ancient uncertainty. English translations traditionally render it as the place-name "Uphaz," but this obscures the geographic and cultural ambiguity. The term does not refer to an ethnic group or nation, but solely to a possibly legendary or distant source of famed gold.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps a corruption of אוֹפִיר; Uphaz, a famous gold region; Uphaz.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly shining, refining, fine gold (speculative)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H210-02 |
אוּפָֽז | ufaz | HNp |
of Uphaz | Uphaz | 1 |
H210-01 |
מֵֽ/אוּפָ֔ז | meufaz | HR/Np |
from Uphaz | from Uphaz | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H210-01 |
Jeremiah 10:9 | מֵֽ/אוּפָ֔ז | meufaz | HR/Np |
from Uphaz | from Uphaz |
H210-02 |
Daniel 10:5 | אוּפָֽז | ufaz | HNp |
of Uphaz | Uphaz |