Isaiah 13:12

אוֹקִ֥יר אֱנ֖וֹשׁ מִפָּ֑ז וְאָדָ֖ם מִכֶּ֥תֶם אוֹפִֽיר

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Select a Hebrew word above to see its details.

אוֹקִ֥יר

Root word precious, withdraw, at, by

Dictionary form: יָקַר · yaw-KAHR

Verb — Hiphil, Imperfect (Yiqtol), first person singular causative — "he made (someone) do" not-yet-complete action — try "he will ___" or "he ___s" the built-in subject is "I"

In the KJV here: more precious

be precious ×2 and precious ×1 i was prised at ×1 is precious ×1 more precious ×1 precious ×1 set by ×1 thou wast precious ×1

More options

precious — Most natural modern equivalent; widely applicable.

valuable — Emphasizes monetary or practical worth.

rare — Highlights scarcity as the source of value.

prized — Conveys high esteem or personal regard.

honored — Best when worth is relational or reputational.

withdraw — Use only for the verbal sense of holding back.

BDB3698 H3365

[יָקַר] verb be precious, prized, appraised (Late Hebrew id., Pi`el, Hiph`il; Aramaic יְקַר, , be heavy, precious; Pa`el honour; יַקִּיר, weighty, precious, honoured; compare Assyrian a‡âru, be precious, costly, and derivatives, Dl^{HWB 240}; Arabic be heavy, II. honour; dignity; Sabean noun יקר honour DHM^{ZMG 1883, 402}) —

Qal Perfect 3 feminine singular יָָֽקְרָה 1Sam 16:21 2 masculine singular יָקַרְתָּ Isa 43:4 1 singular יָקַרְתִּי Zech 11:13 3 plural יָקְרוּ Ps 139:17 Imperfect וַיִּיקַר 1Sam 18:30 וְיֵקַר Ps 49:9 וְיֵיקַר Ps 72:14 jussive תִּיקַר(נָֿאׅ 2Kgs 1:13; 2Kgs 1:14 —

1. be precious:
a. = highly valued, esteemed, David's name, וַיִּיקַר שְׁמוֺ מְאֹד 1Sam 18:30 of Israel, יָקַרְתָּ בְעֵינַי Isa 43:4 (+ נִכְבַּדְתָּ, אֲהַבְתִּיךָ); of God's thoughts וְלִי מַהיָָּֽֿקִרוּ רֵעֶיךָ Ps 139:17 (Ew Hi Hup render hard, difficult: compare יַקִּירָה Dan 2:11).
b. especially of life (נֶפֶשׁ), in phrase יָָֽקִרָה נַפְשִׁי בְּעֵינֶיךָ 1Sam 26:21, i.e. thou hast spared it; so (jussive) 2Kgs 1:13; 2Kgs 1:14 similarly יֵיקַר דָּמָם בְּעֵינָיו Ps 72:14 (|| מִתּוֺךְ וּמֵחָמָס יִגְאַל נַפְשָׁס).
c. be costly, וְיֵקַר פִּדְיוֺן נַפְשָׁם Ps 49:9.

2. be appraised, valued, אֶדֶר הַיְקָר אֲשֶׁר יָקַרְתִּי מֵעֲלֵיהֶם Zech 11:13 the magnificence of the price at which I was appraised (and dismissed) from them! Hiph`il Imperfect 1 singular אוֺקִיר אֱנוֺשׁ מִפָּ֑ז Isa 13:12 I will make men more rare (literally precious) than fine gold. Imperative הֹקַר Prov 25:17 make rare (i.e. withhold) thy foot from the house of thy friend.

precious, withdraw, at, by

yāqar

properly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e., (figuratively) valuable; causatively, to make rare (figuratively, to inhibit)

to esteem, be prized, be valuable, be precious, be costly, be appraised

(Qal)

to be precious, be highly valued, be esteemed, be costly

אֱנ֖וֹשׁ

Root word man, men, one, husband, mans, …

Dictionary form: אִישׁ · eesh

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: i will make a man

man ×241 men ×209 a man ×163 every man ×120 the men ×118 the man ×107 every one ×81 one ×57

More options

man — Default singular; covers most direct references to an adult male.

person — Gender-neutral; prefer when context stresses individuality over sex.

husband — Use specifically in marriage or household relationship contexts.

someone — Indefinite pronoun; suits partitive or existential constructions.

everyone — Distributive sense; fits 'each/every man' idioms.

fellow — Informal register; good for relational or contemptuous contexts.

BDB389 H376 H381 H382

אִישׁ₂₁₆₆ noun masculine man ( = vir) (MI, SI, Phoenician אש, perhaps also Sabean אסם compare Prät^l.c, but DHM^{ZMG 1883, 330}) — ׳א absolute Gen 2:23 +; construct Gen 25:27 +; suffix אִישִׁי Gen 29:32 +, etc.; plural אִישִׁים Ps 141:4 + 2 t. (Phoenician אשם); usually אֲנָשִׁים Gen 12:20 +, from √ אנשׁ q. v.; construct אַנְשֵׁי Judg 6:27 +; suffix אֲנָשַׁי 1Sam 23:12 etc.; — man, opposed to woman Gen 2:23; Gen 2:24; Lev 20:27; Num 5:6; Deut 17:2f; Josh 6:21; Josh 8:25; Jer 40:7, emphasis on sexual distinction & relation Gen 19:8; Gen 24:16; Gen 38:25; Exod 22:15; Lev 15:16 (שִׁכְבַת זָרַ֑ע) vLev 15:18 (וְאִשָּׁה ׳זֿ׳אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁכַּב אִישׁ אֹתָהּ שׁ) Lev 20:10 f; Num 5:13f; Deut 22:22f; Isa 4:1 +; thence = husband, especially with suffix Gen 3:6; Gen 3:16; Gen 16:3; Gen 29:32; Gen 29:34; Lev 21:7; Num 30:7f; Deut 28:56; Judg 13:8f; Ruth 1:3f; 1Sam 25:19; Jer 29:6; Ezek 16:45 +; figurative of ׳י as husband of Israel אִישִׁי Hos 2:18 (opposed to בַּעְלִּי); man as procreator, father Eccl 6:3 of male child Gen 4:1 compare זֶרַע אֲנָשִׁים 1Sam 1:11 man, opposed to beast Exod 11:7; Lev 20:15 (compare אָדָם); compare figurative Ps 22:7 but also of male of animals Gen 7:2 (twice in verse) (אִישׁ וְאִשְׁתּוֺ); man, opposed to God Gen 32:29; Num 23:19 לֹא אִישׁ אֵל וִיכַזֵּב (|| וּבֶןאָֿדָם וְיִתְנֶחָ֑ם); Job 9:32; Job 32:13; Hos 11:9 compare Isa 31:8; Job 12:10 (רוּחַ כָּלבְּֿשַׂר אִישׁ); hence in phrases to denote ordinary, customary, common שֵׁבֶט אֲנָשִׁים 2Sam 7:14 (|| נִגְעֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם); לֶחֶם אֲנָשִׁים Ezek 24:17; Ezek 24:22 [

**אֲנָשִׁים Ezek 24:17; Ezek 24:22 is textual error; We (apparently Sm) אֲנֻשִׁים; Toy^Hpt אוֺנִים (Hos 9:4).] (compare Isa 8:1); אַמַּתאִֿישׁ Deut 3:11 but also contracted אָדָם Ps 49:3; Ps 62:10 man, as valiant 1Sam 4:9 (twice in verse) (וִהְיוּ לַאֲנָשִׁים) so 1Kgs 2:2 compare 1Sam 26:15 so אִישׁ חַיִל 1Sam 31:12; 2Sam 24:9; 1Kgs 1:42 +; also אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה Num 31:49; Deut 2:14; Deut 2:16; Josh 5:4; Josh 5:6 +; even of ׳י Exod 15:3 יהוה אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה; often prefixed to other nouns in apposition אָדוֺן ׳א Gen 42:30; Gen 42:33, שַׂר וְשֹׁפֵט ׳א Exod 2:14, כֹּהֵן ׳א Lev 21:9, סָרִיס ׳א Jer 38:7 particular before adjective, of a people אִישׁ מִצְרִי Gen 39:1; Exod 2:11; Exod 2:19 compare Gen 37:28; Gen 38:1; Gen 38:2; Gen 39:14; 1Sam 17:12; 1Sam 30:11; 1Sam 30:13 +; a man as resident in, or belonging to a place or people Num 25:6; Judg 10:1 + (so Phoenician); usually plural אַנְשֵׁי יִשְׂרָאֵל 1Sam 7:11; 1Sam 31:7 (twice in verse) compare Josh 7:4; Josh 7:5 +; also singularcollective Deut 27:14; Josh 9:6; Josh 9:7; Judg 20:11; 1Sam 11:8 (see Dr) +; 2Sam 10:6; 2Sam 10:8 (טוֺב ׳א); (so MI¹⁰; MI¹³); men = retainers, followers, soldiers 1Sam 18:27; 1Sam 23:3 f 1Sam 24:3; 1Sam 25:13 + compare Deut 33:8 singular collective see Di; אִישׁ אֱלֹהִים man of God = prophet Deut 33:1; Josh 14:6; 1Sam 9:6f; 1Kgs 12:13f + (see אלהים); in phrase followed by abstract אִישׁ חַיִל, מִלְחָמָה ׳א see above; שֵׂיבָה ׳א Deut 32:25, הַדָּמִים ׳א 2Sam 16:7 compare see 8, הַבְּלִיַּעַל ׳א 2Sam 16:7, מָוֶת ׳א 1Kgs 2:26, חָמָס ׳א Ps 140:12; Prov 3:31 +; followed by word of occupation, etc. שָׂדֶה׳א Gen 25:27, הָאֲדָמָה׳א Gen 9:20 (compare Zech 13:5), ׳א הַבֵּנַיִם champion 1Sam 17:4 (compare Dr) v1Sam 17:23, בְּשׂרָה ׳א 2Sam 18:20, אִישׁ עֲצָתוֺ his counsellor Isa 40:13, compare אִישׁ חֶרְמִי 1Kgs 20:42, רֵעִים ׳א Prov 18:24 often distributive = each, every Gen 9:5; Gen 10:5; Gen 40:5 (twice in verse); Exod 12:3 +; including women Job 42:11; 1Chr 16:3 וַיְחַלֵּק לְכָלאִֿישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאִישׁ וְעַד אִשָּׁה לְאִישׁ כִּכַּרלֶֿחֶם; of inanimate things 1Kgs 7:30; 1Kgs 7:36 also אִישׁ אִישׁ Exod 36:4; Num 4:19; Num 4:49; Ezek 14:4; Ezek 14:7 +; any one Exod 34:3 (twice in verse); Exod 34:24 +; also אִישׁ אִישׁ Lev 15:2; Lev 22:4; Lev 22:18 +; of gods 2Kgs 18:33 = Isa 36:18 one...another וְהִרְגוּ אִישֿׁ אֶתאָֿחִיו וְאִישׁ אֶתרֵֿעֵהוּ וְאִישׁ אֶתקְֿרֹבוֺExod 32:27, אִישׁ ֗֗֗ אָחִיו Deut 1:16; Mic 7:2 (see אָח), אִישׁרֵ֗֗֗עֵהוּ Gen 11:3; Gen 11:7 + (see רֵעַ) of inanimate things Gen 15:10.

man, men, one, husband, mans, …

ʾîš

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

man, male (in contrast to woman, female)

מִ פָּ֑ז

מִ

Prefix — preposition from, out of

פָּ֑ז

Root word gold

Dictionary form: פָּז · pawdz

Noun — Common, masculine singular, absolute state

In the KJV here: than fine gold

fine gold ×2 of fine gold ×2 of pure gold ×1 than fine gold ×1 to fine gold ×1 yea above fine gold ×1 yea than fine gold ×1

More options

pure gold — Emphasizes refinement and freedom from impurity.

refined gold — Highlights the processing/purification aspect.

finest gold — Superlative register; good for poetic or elevated contexts.

choice gold — Suggests selectivity and high quality; slightly formal.

solid gold — Modern idiom for unadulterated gold; accessible register.

gold of the highest quality — Explanatory phrase; useful when precision matters most.

BDB6572 H6337

פַּז noun masculine^{Ps 19:11} refined, pure gold (Talmud פִּיזָּא; ᵑ7 פִּיזּוּזָא); — עֲטֶרֶת פָּ֑ז Ps 21:4 in comparison of value or beauty: Lam 4:2, ׳אַדְנֵיפֿ Song 5:15 || (or +) זהב Job 28:17 (׳כְּלִיפֿ), Ps 19:11 (+ רָ֑ב), Ps 119:127 || כֶּתֶם Isa 13:12, compare ׳כֶּתֶם פ Song 5:11 + חָרוּץ Prov 8:19.

gold

pāz

pure (gold); hence, gold itself (as refined)

refined or pure gold

מִ כֶּ֥תֶם

מִ

Prefix — preposition from, out of

כֶּ֥תֶם

Root word gold, most, wedge

Dictionary form: כֶּתֶם · keh-TEM

Noun — Common, masculine singular, construct state "___ of …" — bound to the next word

In the KJV here: than the golden wedge

fine gold ×1 gold ×1 in gold ×1 is as the most ×1 of fine gold ×1 than the golden wedge ×1 to the fine gold ×1 with fine gold ×1

More options

pure gold — Highlights refined quality; good default rendering.

fine gold — Modernized from KJV; signals highest purity grade.

precious gold — Emphasizes value and rarity in poetic contexts.

refined gold — Stresses processing/purity; suits technical or craft contexts.

gold of highest quality — Explanatory phrase; use when clarity outweighs concision.

gleaming gold — Captures visual/aesthetic nuance in poetry or imagery.

BDB4250 H3800

כֶּ֫תֶם noun masculine^{Lam 4:1} gold, in poetry and late (perhaps loan-word in Hebrew; Phoenician has proper name, masculine כתם; Sabean כתם Hal^{Et. Sab. 190}; kaθam¹ as loan-word in Egyptian, Bondi^{80 f.}); — ׳כ absolute Job 28:19 + 3 t., כָּ֑תֶם Prov 25:12 construct כֶּתֶם Isa 13:12 + 3 t.; — אוֺפִיר ׳כ Isa 13:12 gold of Ophir (|| פָּ֑ז), so Job 28:16; Ps 45:10 אוּפָ֑ז ׳כ Dan 10:5 (read perhaps אוֺפִיר for אוּפָז q. v.); ׳כ alone Job 31:24 ׅ || (זָהָב ׳חֲלִיכֿ Prov 25:12 ornament of gold ׅ || (זָהָבנֶזֶם פָּ֑ז ׳כ Song 5:11 טָהוֺר ׳כ Job 28:19 הַטּוֺב ׳הַכּ Lam 4:1 || זָהָב.

gold, most, wedge

ketem

properly, something carved out, i.e., ore; hence, gold (pure as originally mined)

gold, pure gold

אוֹפִֽיר

Root word a name — transliterate it ("Of ophir")

Dictionary form: אוֹפִיר · oh-PEER

Noun — Proper Name

In the KJV here: of ophir

of ophir ×4 from ophir ×3 to ophir ×3 and ophir ×1 and the gold of ophir ×1 ophir ×1

More options

Ophir — Standard proper noun; use in nearly all contexts.

the land of Ophir — Clarifies geographic reference for general audiences.

Ophir's gold — Use when context emphasizes the famous gold of Ophir.

the region of Ophir — Neutral geographic term when exact nature is uncertain.

BDB234 H211

אוֺפִיר proper name Ophir — ׳א 1Kgs 10:11 +; אוֺפִ֫ירָה 1Kgs 9:28 + אוֺפִר Gen 10:29 אֹפִיר 1Kgs 10:11 —

1. proper name, masculine 11th son of Joktan Gen 10:29 (J) = 1Chr 1:23 ᵐ5 Οὐφειρ, Ὠφειρ, name of an Arabian tribe, see Gen 10:30 & Di.

2. proper name, of a location (land or city south or southeast from Palestine, exact position unknown, compare below; ᵐ5 Σωφηρα, Σωφειρα, Σουφειρ, etc.; Job 28:16 Ὠφειρ AC, compare 1Kgs 22:49 A Ὠφειρδε, B omitted) place whither Solomon's ships went from Ezion Geber, bringing thence gold 1Kgs 9:28 — compare 1Kgs 22:49 — 2Chr 8:18 gold, almug- (sandal-?) wood & gems 2Chr 10:11 (twice in verse), compare 2Chr 9:10 probably 1Kgs 10:22 reference to same ships; they came once in three years with gold, silver, ivory, apes & peacocks (all from Ophir ?); 2Chr 9:21 makes these ships go to Tarshish (but on Tarshish-ships, i.e. large, sea-going vessels, merchantmen, see 1Kgs 22:49 & below תַּרְשִׁישׁ).

3. characteristic of fine gold (in poetry & late) ׳זְהַב א 1Chr 29:4 ׳כֶּתֶם א Isa 13:12; Job 28:16; Ps 45:10.

4. hence for fine gold itself Job 22:24 (|| בֶּצֶר). — (If 2 = 1, then southern, probably south-eastern, Arabia (compare Di Gen 10:29) furnished the gold; and other articles, which point farther east (e.g. to India, toward which the words קוֺפִים apes & תֻּכִּיִּים peacocks seem to lead), were either brought to Ophir by traders, & so found there by Solomon's men, or were found elsewhere by the latter, whose cruise may have taken them beyond Ophir, the name of Ophir alone, as source of gold-supply, being preserved. If (less likely) 1 & 2 are not the same, the only data for determining location of 2 are the articles brought, & one may look toward India, Ceylon or other islands, or even lower Africa. Particular theories have as yet no adequate support; e.g.
(a) old city Supara, or Uppara, in the region of Goa, Malabar coast (compare ᵐ5 above 2, but also 1; form with Σ said on Coptic authority to denote India, see Jablonskii^{Opusc. ed. te Water i. 337}; compare also Jos^{Ant. «JOSEPHUS:Antiquities 8:6»viii. 6}. 4; in that case its use by ᵐ5 may indicate a theory of the location of Ophir);
(b) peninsula Malacca;
(c) island Sumatra;
(d) Sofâla, with city Zimbabye (southeast Africa);
(e) west coast of Arabia (where gold & silver formerly found), etc. On these & other theories, see Di Gen 10:29 Ri^{HWB, Herzog}, Smith^{Dict. Bib}.; compare Glas^{Skizze ii. 367 ff}.)

**WMM^As.u.Eur.111 identifies with Egyptian Punt, on western coast of Red Sea.

ophir

ʾôpîr

reducing to ashes

Ophir, the name of a son of Joktan, and of a gold region in the East

eleventh son of Joktan

The cantillation accents are the Masoretes' punctuation: each group below ends at a pausing accent. Translate a group as one unit.

אוֹקִ֥יר אֱנ֖וֹשׁ Tipeha — a lesser break מִפָּ֑ז Etnahta — the verse's main pause — take a breath here וְאָדָ֖ם Tipeha — a lesser break מִכֶּ֥תֶם אוֹפִֽיר Silluq — end of the verse

אוֹקִיר אֱנוֹשׁ מִפָּז וְאָדָם מִכֶּתֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Cross References

Isaiah 4:1

וְהֶחֱזִיקוּ שֶׁבַע נָשִׁים בְּאִישׁ אֶחָד בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר לַחְמֵנוּ נֹאכֵל וְשִׂמְלָתֵנוּ נִלְבָּשׁ רַק יִקָּרֵא שִׁמְךָ עָלֵינוּ אֱסֹף חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Isaiah 24:6

עַל-כֵּן אָלָה אָכְלָה אֶרֶץ וַֽיֶּאְשְׁמוּ יֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ עַל-כֵּן חָרוּ יֹשְׁבֵי אֶרֶץ וְנִשְׁאַר אֱנוֹשׁ מִזְעָֽר׃

Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Job 28:16

לֹֽא-תְסֻלֶּה בְּכֶתֶם אוֹפִיר בְּשֹׁהַם יָקָר וְסַפִּֽיר׃

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Psalms 137:9

אַשְׁרֵי׀ שֶׁיֹּאחֵז וְנִפֵּץ אֶֽת-עֹלָלַיִךְ אֶל-הַסָּֽלַע׃

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Isaiah 13:15

כָּל-הַנִּמְצָא יִדָּקֵר וְכָל-הַנִּסְפֶּה יִפּוֹל בֶּחָֽרֶב׃

Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.

Isaiah 13:11

Read Isaiah 13

Isaiah 13:13

Isaiah 13:12

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Vhi1cs

Verb Chart

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H3365

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Ncmsa

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H376

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Ncmsa

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H6337

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar C/Ncmsa

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H120

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar R/Ncmsc

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H3800

Word Breakdown

Vowels & Accents

Grammar Np

English Options

Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)

Strong's Definition H211

Masoretic Phrasing

KJV