גֹּ֫פֶר (go.pher)
go.pher
gopher
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gofer appears only once in the entire Bible, in Genesis 6:14, where God instructs Noah to build the ark using "gopher wood." Because the word does not appear elsewhere in Scripture or in known ancient Near Eastern texts, its precise meaning remains a mystery. Scholars have long debated whether it refers to a specific type of timber, such as cypress or cedar, or if it is a loanword from another language describing the material’s quality.
The uncertainty lies not in the word’s importance but in its definition. The text simply calls it the wood chosen for the vessel that would preserve life through the flood. Translators often retain "gopher" to acknowledge this lack of certainty, rather than guessing at a specific tree species. This preserves the focus on the divine command and the resulting obedience, rather than on botanical details that are lost to history.
Despite the gap in lexical knowledge, the theological weight of the word is clear. It represents the material means by which God’s judgment and mercy intersected with human history. The specific type of wood matters less than the fact that it was used to construct a refuge, demonstrating that God provided the resources necessary for salvation even when the details of those resources remain obscure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When God gave Noah instructions for the ark, He specified a material called "gopher wood." We do not know exactly which tree this was, as the word appears nowhere else in Scripture or ancient history. This silence might feel frustrating if we want every detail to be clear. Yet, the text does not dwell on the botanical specifics. Instead, it focuses on the command itself and the obedience that followed.
This obscurity offers a gentle reminder for our own lives. We often seek complete understanding before we can trust God's direction. But here, the material is secondary to the purpose: preservation and salvation. God provided what was needed, even if we cannot identify it today. Our faith rests not in knowing every technical detail, but in trusting the One who gives the instruction.
Ultimately, the ark stands as a testament to divine provision. The specific wood matters less than the fact that it created a safe refuge. We can find comfort in knowing that God's plans are secure, regardless of whether we fully grasp every element involved. His word remains reliable, guiding us through uncertainty with steady grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- gopher1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֹ֔פֶר1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:14
Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch.
This verse uniquely introduces the term to describe the specific material God commanded for building the vessel of salvation.