עֹפֶל
𐤏𐤐𐤋
Ofel
H6077 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A defined or fortified raised area, often used to refer to a specific elevated part of a city—especially Jerusalem—associated with a citadel, stronghold, or fortified mound. Also functions as a proper name for a particular site on Jerusalem's eastern hill, sometimes extended to refer to a similar prominent location in Samaria.
Semantic Range
raised area, swelling/knoll, fortified mound, citadel, specific urban sector, proper place name (e.g., Ophel in Jerusalem), part of fortifications
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root עפל (ע-פ-ל), generally understood to mean 'to swell, be high or prominent, rise.' The nominal form עֹפֶל derives from this root, indicating an elevation or a swelling mound within a landscape or settlement. The exact derivation is 'a thing that rises/swells,' leading to its topographical and urban usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, עֹפֶל designates a specific fortified area of Jerusalem, distinct from Zion and the main Temple mount, described as an elevated point on the city's southeastern side. It is notably referenced during both the monarchic period (2 Chronicles 27:3; 33:14) and the post-exilic period (Nehemiah 3:26–27) in connection with urban fortifications and construction activities, indicating its enduring topographical and strategic significance. The term appears also in 2 Kings 5:24 describing a similar feature in Samaria, not as a city name but a structure or mound within a city, suggesting the word could apply more broadly to any raised or fortified urban area. English translations commonly render עֹפֶל as 'Ophel,' treating it as a proper name; however, historically, it functions as both a generic term for an elevated/fortified site and, contextually, as a particular place in Jerusalem and Samaria. It is not a synonym for the general city wall but rather marks a specific, often prominent stronghold or urban quarter.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as עֹפֶל; Ophel, a ridge in Jerusalem; Ophel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עפל (ʿ-p-l) — to be high, to swell, to rise, to be elevated
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6077-01 |
בָּ/עֹ֑פֶל | baofel | HRd/Ncmsa |
in Ophel | in the fortified rise | 2 |
H6077-02 |
הָ/עֹֽפֶל | haofel | HTd/Np |
of Ophel | the raised mound | 2 |
H6077-03 |
לָ/עֹ֔פֶל | laofel | HRd/Np |
the-Ophel | to the Raised Mound | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6077-01 |
Nehemiah 3:26 | בָּ/עֹ֑פֶל | baofel | HRd/Ncmsa |
in Ophel | in the fortified rise |
H6077-02 |
Nehemiah 3:27 | הָ/עֹֽפֶל | haofel | HTd/Np |
the Ophel | the raised mound |
H6077-01 |
Nehemiah 11:21 | בָּ/עֹ֑פֶל | baofel | HRd/Np |
in Ophel | in the fortified rise |
H6077-02 |
2 Chronicles 27:3 | הָ/עֹ֛פֶל | haofel | HTd/Np |
of Ophel | the raised mound |
H6077-03 |
2 Chronicles 33:14 | לָ/עֹ֔פֶל | laofel | HRd/Np |
the-Ophel | to the Raised Mound |