גׇּפְרִית (goph.rit)
goph.rit
brimstone
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gophrit refers to brimstone, a substance known for its intense heat and sulfurous odor. In the Old Testament, it appears in only five verses, primarily within poetic books like Psalms and Job, as well as in the prophetic writings of Isaiah. The term is not used here for agricultural or industrial purposes but serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment and destruction.
Lexical sources indicate that gophrit often functions figuratively to describe the severity of Jehovah’s breath or wrath. When paired with fire, it evokes an image of complete consumption, suggesting a judgment that is both purifying and devastating. This imagery appears in passages describing God’s response to wickedness, where the element serves as a tangible representation of His righteous anger against sin.
The word carries significant theological weight by connecting physical phenomena with spiritual reality. Translators typically render it as "brimstone" or "sulfur," preserving the ancient sense of a destructive force from heaven. Its limited usage underscores its role as a rare and potent marker of divine intervention, reserved for moments when God’s justice is executed with overwhelming power.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gophrit, often translated as brimstone or sulfur, appears in Scripture not as a chemical compound for study, but as a vivid symbol of divine justice. In the ancient world, this substance was known for its harsh smell and ability to burn intensely. When paired with fire, it represents a judgment that is thorough and final, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding God’s stance against wickedness.
For believers today, this imagery serves as a sobering reminder of God’s holiness. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality that God does not overlook moral corruption. While the descriptions in Genesis and Isaiah are stark, they point to a God who is just and righteous, ensuring that evil does not go unchecked.
Ultimately, this word invites us to appreciate the balance in God’s character. He is both merciful and just. The threat of brimstone highlights the gravity of our actions and the need for repentance, while also pointing toward the hope of a world where justice prevails and righteousness is established.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sulfur3×
- into/ sulfur1×
- and/ sulfur1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/גָפְרִ֑ית1×
- וְ֭/גָפְרִית1×
- גָּפְרִ֣ית1×
- גָּפְרִ֔ית1×
- גָפְרִֽית\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 19:24
Then Yahweh rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky.
This verse marks the first mention of brimstone in Scripture, describing its descent from heaven to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah as an act of immediate divine judgment.
-
Psalms 11:6
On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
Here, brimstone is part of the 'cup' assigned to the wicked, illustrating that God’s wrath is a destined portion for those who persist in evil.
-
Isaiah 30:33
For his burning place has long been ready. Yes, it is prepared for the king. He has made its pyre deep and large with fire and much wood. Yahweh’s breath, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.
The prophet uses brimstone metaphorically to describe how Yahweh’s breath ignites the Topheth, showing that divine judgment is fueled by His very presence and power.