Uphaz
Uphaz is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Arabia in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Known today as southwestern Arabia. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Uphaz is mentioned twice in the Old Testament as a source of fine gold, though its exact identity and location remain uncertain. In Jeremiah 10:9, beaten silver from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz are described as materials used to craft idols — a context emphasizing the vanity of fashioning gods from precious metals. Daniel 10:5 provides the second reference, describing the majestic figure Daniel beheld in his vision as clothed in linen with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz. In both instances, Uphaz gold is invoked as a marker of the highest quality, lending gravity to the idol-making critique in Jeremiah and majesty to the heavenly figure in Daniel. Some scholars have proposed that Uphaz is a corruption of Ophir, the famous biblical gold source of uncertain location (1 Kings 9:28), while others suggest it was a distinct trading region in Arabia. The fact that Uphaz gold adorns a divine messenger in Daniel gives it an ironic dignity — the same material used for lifeless idols also marks the splendor of a heavenly being sent from the living God.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The location of Uphaz remains one of the unresolved geographical puzzles of the Old Testament. Many scholars propose that Uphaz is a textual variant or scribal error for Ophir, another famous gold-producing region referenced frequently in the Hebrew Bible. Ophir itself has been variously identified with southwestern Arabia, East Africa (Somalia/Zimbabwe), or even India. Some ancient manuscripts and versions render the name differently, lending weight to the variant reading. No site in southwestern Arabia has been definitively identified as Uphaz through archaeological excavation. The gold trade in ancient Arabia is well-attested through Sabaean and Minaean inscriptions, but a specific Uphaz remains elusive.
Verse Appearances (2)
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →