עֹפֶל
a tumor; also a mound, i.e. fortress
Definition
The Hebrew word עֹפֶל (ʻôphel) has two distinct meanings in the Old Testament. Its primary meaning is a 'tumor' or 'hemorrhoid,' specifically referring to the physical affliction of tumors that struck the Philistines as divine punishment for capturing the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 5:6, 1 Samuel 5:9). In a completely different sense, it also means a 'mound,' 'fortress,' or 'citadel,' referring to a fortified hill or stronghold within a city, often the most defensible area. This meaning is seen in Isaiah 32:14, which prophesies the desolation of Jerusalem's 'fortress' (ʻôphel).
Biblical Usage
The word is used nine times in the Old Testament. In the historical books of Deuteronomy and 1 Samuel, it exclusively refers to the 'tumors' (often translated 'emerods') sent as a plague (Deuteronomy 28:27, 1 Samuel 5-6). In the prophetic and historical books, it refers to a 'fortress' or 'stronghold.' This usage appears in Isaiah 32:14 and 2 Kings 5:24, where it denotes a prominent, fortified place. The context clearly determines which meaning is intended.
Etymology
The noun עֹפֶל (ʻôphel) is derived from the root verb עָפַל (ʻāphal, H6075), which means 'to swell up' or 'to be lifted up.' This root meaning perfectly explains the word's dual semantic range: a physical swelling (a tumor) and a topographical swelling or elevation (a fortified mound or hill).
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects divine judgment with physical and national security. The 'tumors' represent a direct, tangible act of God's judgment against the Philistines for violating His holiness (1 Samuel 5-6), fulfilling the covenant curse warned of in Deuteronomy 28:27. The 'fortress' meaning highlights the false security of human strength; Isaiah 32:14 prophesies that even the most secure stronghold (the ʻôphel) will be abandoned, showing that true security is found only in God.
In its medical sense, the 'tumors' were likely bubonic plague or severe hemorrhoids, viewed in the ancient Near East as a direct curse from a deity. As a 'fortress,' the ʻôphel was a specific, elevated part of an Israelite city, often the original settlement or royal quarter, serving as the final defensive position. The Ophel in Jerusalem was a famous district south of the Temple Mount.
מִבְצָר (mivtzar, H4013) — a general term for a fortress or stronghold, often man-made. מְצוּדָה (metsudah, H4686) — a mountain stronghold or fastness, often a natural defensive position. בָּמָה (bamah, H1116) — a high place, often used for pagan worship, but also simply a topographic height.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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