סְפָרַ֑ד (se.pha.rad)
se.pha.rad
Sepharad
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun Sepharad appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Obadiah 20. It names a distant land to which exiled Israelites would flee after the destruction of Jerusalem. The term is generally understood as a place name rather than a common noun, marking a specific destination for those scattered by war.
Etymologically, the word is linked to the idea of separation or being set apart. Most modern scholars identify it with Sardis, an ancient city in Lydia (modern-day Turkey), known from Greek sources as Sardis. This connection suggests that the prophet was pointing his audience toward a real, distant community where Jewish exiles had already settled.
Obadiah uses this reference to offer hope: even in judgment, God preserves a remnant. The verse promises that survivors will inhabit cities not yet destroyed, reaching as far as Sepharad. This single mention highlights the wide reach of Israel’s diaspora and God’s care for those dispersed across foreign lands.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Sepharad appears just once in Scripture, tucked inside a prophecy of judgment that ultimately points toward preservation. Obadiah describes a time when Jerusalem falls and people are scattered to the far corners of the earth. Yet even in this displacement, there is a promise: those who end up in distant lands will not be forgotten. God’s care extends beyond the borders of Israel to the exiles living in Sepharad.
This single word reminds us that our faith is not limited by geography or political boundaries. When life feels chaotic and we feel pushed away from home, Scripture assures us that God is present with those who are far off. The promise is simple but profound: survivors will inherit land again. Your current situation does not define your future.
We can take comfort in knowing that the same God who watches over the scattered remnant watches over you today. No matter how far you feel from home or from peace, you are held by a purpose that stretches across distances. Hope remains for those who wait on the Lord.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [are] in/ Sepharad1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בִּ/סְפָרַ֑ד1×
Key Verses
-
Obadiah 1:20
The captives of this army of the children of Israel, who are among the Canaanites, will possess even to Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad, will possess the cities of the Negev.
This verse uniquely identifies Sepharad as the destination for Jerusalem's exiles, showing that even in judgment, God provides a specific place of safety and future inheritance.