🔼The name Zophar: Summary
- Meaning
- Chirper, Leaper, Bird
- Etymology
- From the noun צפור (sippor), to chirp or to leap.
🔼The name Zophar in the Bible
There's only one Zophar in the Bible. Zophar the Naamathite is one of the three (and later four) friends who discuss with the unfortunate Job the finer points of righteousness and divine intervention (Job 2:11).
But the Book of Job is obviously more than a fictional debate between five fictional friends. It's obviously presented as a fable, with Zophar the Naamathite as bird, Eliphaz the Temanite as elephant and Bildad the Shuhite as herdling (and satan as prowling lion), and functions as a piece of comparative theology, which looks at the dominant theologies of the Levant during the patriarchal period.
Which strand of wisdom tradition Zophar represents is unclear, but possibly one that primarily aimed at peace and prosperity. Zophar is the last of the three to speak. When the three friends are done speaking at Job, Job begins to be part of the new threesome of characters that speak with Job: Job, Elihu the Buzite and YHWH apparently using Elihu has mouthpiece.
Zophar's name is spelled צופר in Job 2:11 and צפר everywhere else.
🔼Etymology of the name Zophar
The origin of the name Zophar can be traced back to the root cluster צפר:
צפר
The most fundamental meaning of the unused verb צפר (sapar) appears to be to skewer or pierce through, whether by fear, a shrieking sound or a sharp point. From this verb comes the often used noun צפור (sippor), which is a common word for bird and appears to refer to birds' signature piercing shrieks.
Then there is the noun צפירה (sepira), which apparently denoted a kind of head gear, like a crown or diadem, but which also served as a symbol for looming doom. Noun צפרן (sipporen) means finger nail or stylus point.
However, there is another verb in cognate languages, which is identical to the previous and which means to leap. From it stem the noun צפיר (sapir), which describes a kind of goat, and צפרדע (separdea'), which means frog.
🔼Zophar meaning
For a meaning of the name Zophar, both NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names derive it from the first verb צפר (sapar) and read Chirper (NOBSE) and Chirping, Insolence (Jones).
BDB Theological Dictionary does not offer an interpretation of the name Zophar but does list it under the second verb צפר (sapar). That would possibly give Zophar the meaning of Leaper.