Definition and Biblical Reference:

Gopher is a term found in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament, and is most notably associated with the construction of Noah's Ark. The reference to gopher wood appears in Genesis 6:14, where God instructs Noah on how to build the Ark: "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out" . The exact nature of gopher wood has been a subject of debate and speculation among scholars and theologians, as it is mentioned only once in the Scriptures and its precise identity remains uncertain.

Interpretations and Theories:

1. Unknown Species: The term "gopher" is unique to the biblical text and does not correspond to any known species of tree or wood in modern taxonomy. Some scholars suggest that it may refer to a type of tree that is now extinct or was specific to the antediluvian world.

2. Translation Variations: Various translations of the Bible have attempted to interpret "gopher wood" differently. Some have suggested it could be a type of cedar, cypress, or pine, based on the characteristics of these woods being suitable for shipbuilding due to their durability and resistance to water.

3. Symbolic Interpretation: From a theological perspective, some interpretations suggest that the specific mention of gopher wood may hold symbolic significance, representing the uniqueness and divine specification of God's instructions to Noah. The use of a rare or unknown material could underscore the extraordinary nature of the Ark and the salvation it provided.

4. Linguistic Considerations: The Hebrew word "gopher" (גֹּפֶר) has no direct parallel in other ancient languages, leading some linguists to propose that it might be a loanword or a term that has lost its original meaning over time. This has led to various conjectures about its etymology and possible connections to other Semitic languages.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the construction of large vessels like the Ark would have required significant resources and knowledge of materials. The specification of gopher wood indicates a divine provision and guidance in the building process, ensuring the Ark's ability to withstand the cataclysmic floodwaters. The Ark's construction, as described in Genesis, reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty and care in preserving humanity and creation through Noah's obedience.

Theological Significance:

The mention of gopher wood in the narrative of Noah's Ark serves as a reminder of God's detailed involvement in His plans for redemption and judgment. It highlights the importance of obedience to divine instructions, even when the specifics may be beyond human understanding. The Ark, built according to God's precise directions, becomes a vessel of salvation, prefiguring the ultimate salvation offered through Jesus Christ.

In summary, while the exact identity of gopher wood remains a mystery, its role in the biblical account of Noah's Ark underscores themes of divine provision, obedience, and salvation that resonate throughout Scripture.Gopher

(pitch) wood. Only once mentioned -- (Genesis 6:14) Two principal conjectures have been proposed --

1. That the "trees of gopher" are any trees of the resinous kind, such as pine, fir, etc.
2. That Gopher is cypress.

Gopher

The name of the wood of which the ark was built. Many suppose it to be the cypress; others, the pine. Gopher may probably be a general name for such trees as abound with resinous inflammable juices, as the cedar, cypress, fir-tree, pine, etc., Genesis 6:14.

A tree from the wood of which Noah was directed to build the ark (Genesis 6:14). It is mentioned only there. The LXX. render this word by "squared beams," and the Vulgate by "planed wood." Other versions have rendered it "pine" and "cedar;" but the weight of authority is in favour of understanding by it the cypress tree, which grows abundantly in Chaldea and Armenia. 1. (n.) One of several North American burrowing rodents of the genera Geomys and Thomomys, of the family Geomyidae; -- called also pocket gopher and pouched rat. See Tucan.

2. (n.) One of several western American species of the genus Spermophilus, of the family Sciuridae; as, the gray gopher (Spermophilus Franklini) and the striped gopher (S. tridecemlineatus); -- called also striped prairie squirrel, leopard marmot, and leopard spermophile. See Spermophile.

3. (n.) A large land tortoise (Testudo Carilina) of the Southern United States, which makes extensive burrows.

4. (n.) A large burrowing snake (Spilotes Couperi) of the Southern United States.

GOPHER WOOD

go'-fer wood (`atse ghopher): The wood from which Noah's ark was made (Genesis 6:14). Gopher is a word unknown elsewhere in Hebrew or allied languages. Lagarde considered that it was connected with gophrith, meaning "brimstone," or "pitch," while others connect it with kopher, also meaning "pitch"; hence, along both lines, we reach the probability of some resinous wood, and pine, cedar, and cypress have all had their supporters. A more probable explanation is that which connects gopher with the modern Arabic kufa, a name given to the boats made of interwoven willow branches and palm leaves with a coating of bitumen outside, used today on the rivers and canals of Mesopotamia. In the Gilgames story of the flood it is specially mentioned that Noah daubed his ark both inside and out with a kind of bitumen.

See DELUGE OF NOAH.

E. W. G. Masterman

1613. gopher -- gopher (a kind of tree or wood)
... 1612, 1613. gopher. 1614 . gopher (a kind of tree or wood). Transliteration:
gopher Phonetic Spelling: (go'-fer) Short Definition: gopher. ...
/hebrew/1613.htm - 6k

1614. gophrith -- brimstone
... Word Origin from the same as gopher Definition brimstone NASB Word Usage brimstone
(7). brimstone. ... see HEBREW gopher. 1613, 1614. gophrith. 1615 . ...
/hebrew/1614.htm - 6k

Christ Precious to Believers
... He is moreover, perfect man without sin. The precious gopher wood of his
humanity is overlaid with the pure gold of his divinity. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/christ precious to believers.htm

The Great Flood.
... The people had destroyed themselves, and so God said to Noah: "The end of
all flesh is come; make thee an ark of gopher wood.". He ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter ii the great flood.htm

The Saint among Sinners
... earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark,
and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the saint among sinners.htm

Self-Examination
... "Ah!" says one, I believe that ark will swim." "Oh!" says another, "I believe that
ark is made of gopher-wood, and is strong from stem to stern; I am quite ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/self-examination.htm

The Form and Spirit of Religion
... the outward form of his religion; he would have men reverently take care that they
did no dishonour even to his ark; it might be nothing but gopher-wood, but ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the form and spirit of.htm

Chapter vi
... basar. 14, 15. Make thyself an ark of gopher-wood; make the ark with cells;
and smear it with pitch within and without. And this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter vi.htm

Some Gospel Truths Opened, According to the Scriptures; Or, the ...
... 'And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me;"make thee an ark
of gopher wood' (Genesis 6:13,14, 7:1). 'The Lord said unto Noah, Come thou ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/some gospel truths opened according.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Gopher (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) One of several North American burrowing rodents of the genera Geomys and
Thomomys, of the family Geomyidae; -- called also pocket gopher and pouched rat ...
/g/gopher.htm - 9k

Gopher-wood (1 Occurrence)
Gopher-wood. Gopher, Gopher-wood. Gore . Multi-Version Concordance
Gopher-wood (1 Occurrence). Genesis 6:14 Make thee ...
/g/gopher-wood.htm - 6k

Wood (226 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) To take or get a supply of wood. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GOPHER
WOOD. ...Gopher is a word unknown elsewhere in Hebrew or allied languages. ...
/w/wood.htm - 42k

Noah (55 Occurrences)
... When the ark of "gopher-wood" (mentioned only here) was at length completed according
to the command of the Lord, the living creatures that were to be ...
/n/noah.htm - 66k

Gore (9 Occurrences)

/g/gore.htm - 11k

Good-will (8 Occurrences)
Good-will. Goodwill, Good-will. Gopher . Multi-Version Concordance Good-will
(8 Occurrences). ... (YLT). Goodwill, Good-will. Gopher . Reference Bible.
/g/good-will.htm - 8k

Rooms (69 Occurrences)
... (BBE RSV NIV). Genesis 6:14 Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms
in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch. ...
/r/rooms.htm - 28k

Pitch (25 Occurrences)
... Pitch (25 Occurrences). Genesis 6:14 Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make
rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch. ...
/p/pitch.htm - 18k

Cypress (17 Occurrences)
... Genesis 6:14 Make for thyself an ark of gopher-wood; rooms dost thou make with the
ark, and thou hast covered it within and without with cypress; (YLT NIV). ...
/c/cypress.htm - 12k

Cells (24 Occurrences)
... Cells (24 Occurrences). Genesis 6:14 Make thyself an ark of gopher wood: with cells
shalt thou make the ark; and pitch it inside and outside with pitch. (DBY). ...
/c/cells.htm - 14k

What is gopher wood? | GotQuestions.org

Questions about Genesis | GotQuestions.org

Would the discovery of Noah's Ark be important? | GotQuestions.org

Gopher: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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