Chapter 2 | Biblical Foundation of Ophir Hebrew: Ôwphîyr: אופיר: o-feer’: reducing to ashes, fine gold. of uncertain derivation; Ophir, the name of a son of Joktan, and of a gold region in the East: –Ophir. [6] Ancient Hebrew: ()אA, ()וU, ()פP, ()יY, ()רR.
The shroud of confusion regarding ancient Ophir begins with it’s name rendered from the Hebrew in all modern Bibles and Bible dictionaries, we have reviewed, improperly. It begins with an Hebrew “A” or Aleph ()א, not an “O.” This letter is always “A” in sound and translation. It is never “O” nor “U.” In fact, the second letter is an Ancient Hebrew WAW or U ( )וthough “W” is also correct as a “W” is simply “UU” or “Double U.” Thus, you are looking at the actual origin of the chemical symbol for gold in this word as it begins with “AU” not “OW.” It should be rendered in Ancient Hebrew to English as AUPYR, AUPIR, AUPHYR or similar. They certainly did attempt to reduce Ophir to ashes but this meaning is erroneous and appears spurious perhaps exposing their intent. The origin of the chemical symbol for gold, AU, is said to be the Latin Aurum or Aurea which we will determine in the next chapter is the equivalent of Ophir. This is the kingdom of gold for the Greeks which carried over into Latin but AUPYR is the origin of that reference as you will find thus the true origin of the chemical symbol for gold – AU. It is used twelve times in the Bible and with brilliance. The Bible offers markers along the way which lead us to the isles of the East in the Philippines and nowhere else. Scholars have been confused about the origin of this word but when you truly look at the Ancient Hebrew, you 24
