Who was Zophah in the Bible?

Zophah was a son of Hotham (also called Helem) and a descendant of Asher, belonging to the tribe of Israel. He is listed in the genealogical records found in 1 Chronicles 7:35-36.

Why is Zophah mentioned in the Bible?

Zophah is mentioned to establish the genealogical line of the tribe of Asher, demonstrating the fulfillment of God's promise to make Israel a great nation. His inclusion helps trace family heritage and tribal identity, which was crucial for land inheritance and priestly roles (1 Chronicles 7:35-36).

What is significant about Zophah's lineage?

As a descendant of Asher, Zophah's lineage connects him to one of the twelve tribes of Israel, which received a territorial inheritance in the Promised Land. This genealogy affirms the continuity and growth of God's chosen people from Jacob's sons (Genesis 49:20).

Zophah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Zophah was a son of Hotham (or 'Helem') and a descendant of Asher (1Ch.7.35,36).

Zophah

Biography

Zophah was a son of Hotham (called Helem in some texts), a descendant of the tribe of Asher, listed in the tribal genealogies of 1 Chronicles 7:35–36. The passage enumerates several sons of Hotham, including Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. Zophah himself is listed as the father of several sons: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera (1 Chronicles 7:36–37). This relatively large enumeration of Zophah's children suggests he was a man of some prominence within the Asherite clans, and that his lineage was numerous enough to merit individual listing in the Chronicler's tribal records. He belongs to the context of the Divided Monarchy period.

Significance

Zophah's genealogical entry in 1 Chronicles 7 contributes to the Chronicler's portrait of the tribe of Asher as a vigorous and well-populated tribal group within Israel. Asher's territory in northern Canaan placed it at the intersection of Israel's engagement with surrounding peoples, and the strength of its clans carried strategic importance for Israel's security. The careful recording of Zophah's extensive family line reflects the broader theological purpose of Chronicles: to demonstrate that God's covenant people are a real, historically rooted community whose genealogical continuity is itself a form of divine faithfulness. Every family recorded within Asher's tribal lists is a thread in the fabric of the people God chose and sustained.

Verse Appearances (2)

1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 7:35 1 Chronicles 7:36

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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