Boy Old Testament Rare
Zophar
rising early; crown
צוֹפַר tso.phar
Zophar (Hebrew: צוֹפַר, tso.phar) means “rising early; crown”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 4 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Bildad in Job 2.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Zophar
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 4 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Job 2:11 |
| Last appears | Job 42:9 |
| Cross-references | 73 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Bildad co-occurrence Appears with Bildad in Job 2.
- Eliphaz co-occurrence Appears with Eliphaz in Job 2.
- Teman co-occurrence Appears with Teman in Job 2.
- Job co-occurrence Appears with Job in Job 2.
- Jemimah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jemimah.
- Keren-happuch co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Keren-happuch.
- Keziah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Keziah.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Job.2.11
§ Zophar = "sparrow"
the 3rd friend of Job
Zophar the Naamathite was one of Job's three friends who came to comfort him during his affliction.
The biblical story
Zophar the Naamathite was one of the three friends of Job who came to comfort him during his time of suffering. Along with Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar visited Job after hearing about his affliction (Job.2.11). Zophar is mentioned as the third speaker in the cycles of dialogue between Job and his friends. In his first speech (Job 11), Zophar rebukes Job for justifying himself and accuses him of mocking God. He asserts that God's wisdom is unsearchable and that Job should repent of his supposed sins. In his second speech (Job 20), Zophar describes the fate of the wicked, implying that Job's suffering is a result of his wrongdoing. Zophar's speeches reflect the traditional belief that suffering is a consequence of sin and that righteousness leads to prosperity. However, the book of Job challenges this simplistic view and presents a more complex understanding of God's justice and human suffering. In the end, God rebukes Zophar and his friends for speaking falsely about Him and instructs them to offer sacrifices and seek Job's intercession (Job.42.7-9).
Key verses
Zophar appears in 4 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
Job 2:11 -
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Job 11:1 -
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Job 20:1 -
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.
Job 42:9
Show all 4 references
Job (4)
- Job 2:11
- Job 11:1
- Job 20:1
- Job 42:9