Ophrah

Ophrah is a name in the Hebrew Bible meaning "a fawn", given to:

• A city of Benjamin (Joshua 18:23); probably identical with Ephron (2 Chron 13:19) and Ephraim (John 11:54), the modern Palestinian city of Taybeh. The Israeli settlement of Ofra is close to the site as well.
• "Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites," a city of Manasseh, 6 miles (10km) south-west of Shechem, the residence of Gideon (Judges 6:11; 8:27,32). After his great victory over the Midianites, he slew at this place the captive kings (8:18-21). He then assumed the function of high priest, and sought to make Ophrah what Shiloh should have been. This thing "became a snare" to Gideon and his house. After Gideon's death his family resided here until they were put to death by Abimelech (Judges 9:5). It is identified with Ferata.
• A grandchild of Othniel Ben Kenaz, mentioned in 1 Chr 4:14.

This article incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), a publication now in the public domain.