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Isaiah 13:12 I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.
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even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/13.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/13.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/13.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold, And mankind than the gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />I will make mortal man scarcer than fine gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />I will make mortal man more rare than fine gold, And mankind [scarcer] than the pure gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I will make a human more scarce than fine gold, and mankind more rare than the gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />I will make man scarcer than gold, and mankind more rare than the gold of Ophir. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/13.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Survivors will be harder to find than the purest gold. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/13.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />I will make people harder to find than pure gold and human beings more rare than gold from Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/13.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Those who survive will be scarcer than gold. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/13.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />I'll make people scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than gold from Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/13.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />I will make human beings more scarce than pure gold, and people more scarce than gold from Ophir. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/13.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />I make man more rare than fine gold, "" And a common man than pure gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> I make man more rare than fine gold, And a common man than pure gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />I will make a man precious above pure gold, and a man above the gold of Ophir.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />A man shall be more precious than gold, yea a man than the finest of gold. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />A man will be more precious than gold, and mankind will become like pure refined gold.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/13.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />I will make mortals more rare than pure gold, human beings, than the gold of Ophir. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />I will make mortals more rare than fine gold, and humans than the gold of Ophir.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />I will make a man more precious than gold; even a man than the gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/13.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />I shall make a man rarer than gold and men more so than the gold of Ophir<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/13.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />I will make man more rare than fine gold, Even man than the pure gold of Ophir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/13.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And they that are left shall be more precious than gold tried in the fire; and a man shall be more precious than the stone that is in Suphir.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/13-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=2825" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/13.htm">An Oracle Concerning Babylon</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/582.htm" title="582: ’ĕ·nō·wōš (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'anash; properly, a mortal; hence, a man in general.">I will make man</a> <a href="/hebrew/3365.htm" title="3365: ’ō·w·qîr (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs) -- To be precious, prized or appraised. A primitive root; properly, apparently, to be heavy, i.e. valuable; causatively, to make rare.">scarcer</a> <a href="/hebrew/6337.htm" title="6337: mip·pāz (Prep-m:: N-ms) -- Refined, pure gold. From pazaz; pure; hence, gold itself.">than pure gold,</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: wə·’ā·ḏām (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">and mankind</a> <a href="/hebrew/3800.htm" title="3800: mik·ke·ṯem (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- Gold. From katham; properly, something carved out, i.e. Ore; hence, gold.">rarer than the gold</a> <a href="/hebrew/211.htm" title="211: ’ō·w·p̄îr (N-proper-fs) -- Or pophiyr; and fowphir; of uncertain derivation; Ophir, the name of a son of Joktan, and of a gold region in the East.">of Ophir.</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts on the day of His burning anger.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-21.htm">Matthew 24:21-22</a></span><br />For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. / If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/6-15.htm">Revelation 6:15-17</a></span><br />Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/1-14.htm">Zephaniah 1:14-18</a></span><br />The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/2-1.htm">Joel 2:1-11</a></span><br />Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— / a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. / Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-11.htm">Revelation 18:11-13</a></span><br />And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/7-19.htm">Ezekiel 7:19</a></span><br />They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/3-17.htm">Malachi 3:17</a></span><br />“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/12-1.htm">Daniel 12:1</a></span><br />“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/3-18.htm">Revelation 3:18</a></span><br />I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/14-1.htm">Zechariah 14:1-2</a></span><br />Behold, a day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. / For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/30-7.htm">Jeremiah 30:7</a></span><br />How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/8-11.htm">Amos 8:11-12</a></span><br />Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. / People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/21-25.htm">Luke 21:25-26</a></span><br />There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/16-14.htm">Revelation 16:14-16</a></span><br />These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. / “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.” / And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/28-12.htm">Job 28:12-19</a></span><br />But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell? / No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. / The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’ ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/13-15.htm">Isaiah 13:15-18</a></b></br> Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined <i>unto them</i> shall fall by the sword… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/4-1.htm">Isaiah 4:1</a></b></br> 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.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/24-6.htm">Isaiah 24:6</a></b></br> 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.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/5-9.htm">Fine</a> <a href="/isaiah/2-20.htm">Gold</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/12-6.htm">Golden</a> <a href="/proverbs/18-19.htm">Harder</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-15.htm">Mankind</a> <a href="/psalms/146-3.htm">Mortal</a> <a href="/psalms/45-9.htm">Ophir</a> <a href="/songs/7-13.htm">Precious</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-16.htm">Pure</a> <a href="/proverbs/24-4.htm">Rare</a> <a href="/isaiah/10-22.htm">Small</a> <a href="/joshua/7-24.htm">Wedge</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/19-9.htm">Fine</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-17.htm">Gold</a> <a href="/isaiah/14-4.htm">Golden</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-3.htm">Harder</a> <a href="/isaiah/29-19.htm">Mankind</a> <a href="/isaiah/17-11.htm">Mortal</a> <a href="/genesis/10-29.htm">Ophir</a> <a href="/isaiah/28-16.htm">Precious</a> <a href="/isaiah/27-2.htm">Pure</a> <a href="/daniel/2-11.htm">Rare</a> <a href="/isaiah/16-14.htm">Small</a> <a href="/joshua/7-21.htm">Wedge</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 13</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/13-1.htm">God musters the armies of his wrath</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/13-6.htm">He threatens to destroy Babylon by the Medes</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/13-19.htm">The desolation of Babylon</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/13.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/13.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>I will make man scarcer than pure gold</b><br>This phrase indicates a significant reduction in the population, suggesting a time of great judgment and calamity. In biblical context, this prophecy is directed towards Babylon, symbolizing God's impending judgment on nations that oppose Him. The scarcity of man is likened to pure gold, which was rare and highly valued in ancient times. This scarcity can be seen as a result of war, divine judgment, or natural disaster. The imagery of gold emphasizes the preciousness and rarity of human life during such times. This theme of judgment and reduction in numbers is echoed in other scriptures, such as in the book of Revelation, where similar imagery is used to describe end-time events.<p><b>and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir</b><br>The gold of Ophir was renowned for its quality and rarity, often mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of wealth and splendor (e.g., <a href="/1_kings/10-11.htm">1 Kings 10:11</a>, <a href="/job/28-16.htm">Job 28:16</a>). Ophir's exact location is uncertain, but it is believed to have been a region known for its abundant resources, possibly in Arabia or Africa. By comparing mankind to the gold of Ophir, the text underscores the extreme rarity and value of human life in the face of divine judgment. This phrase also serves as a reminder of the transitory nature of human existence and the ultimate sovereignty of God over creation. The prophetic nature of this statement can be seen as a foreshadowing of the final judgment, where the righteous are separated from the unrighteous, akin to the refining of precious metals.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a></b><br>A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book that bears his name. He prophesied during the reigns of several kings of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylon.htm">Babylon</a></b><br>The context of <a href="/bsb/isaiah/13.htm">Isaiah 13</a> is a prophecy against Babylon, a powerful empire known for its wealth and influence. This chapter predicts its downfall as a divine act of judgment.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/o/ophir.htm">Ophir</a></b><br>A region famous in biblical times for its wealth, particularly its gold. The gold of Ophir was considered extremely valuable and rare, symbolizing the scarcity mentioned in the verse.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/judgment_day.htm">Judgment Day</a></b><br>The broader context of <a href="/bsb/isaiah/13.htm">Isaiah 13</a> speaks to the "Day of the Lord," a time of divine judgment and reckoning for nations, including Babylon.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The Lord (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The sovereign God of Israel, who is depicted as executing judgment on nations and orchestrating events according to His divine plan.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_rarity_of_righteousness.htm">The Rarity of Righteousness</a></b><br>Just as gold is rare, true righteousness and godliness are scarce in a world often dominated by sin. Believers are called to pursue holiness and stand out as precious in God's sight.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_judgment_is_certain.htm">Divine Judgment is Certain</a></b><br>The prophecy against Babylon serves as a reminder that God's judgment is inevitable for those who oppose Him. This should encourage believers to live in a way that honors God and aligns with His will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/v/value_in_god's_eyes.htm">Value in God's Eyes</a></b><br>The comparison to gold signifies the immense value God places on human life. Despite the coming judgment, each person is precious to God, and He desires all to come to repentance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_the_day_of_the_lord.htm">Preparation for the Day of the Lord</a></b><br>Believers should live with an awareness of the coming "Day of the Lord," preparing their hearts and lives for Christ's return by living faithfully and sharing the gospel.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_13.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 13</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_was_the_confessing_church's_goal.htm">What is Ophir's significance in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_jesus_christ.htm">Who is Jesus Christ?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_ophir's_role_in_the_bible.htm">What is Ophir's significance in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_extra-biblical_proof_of_his_visit.htm">2 Kings 20:12-18: If Merodach-Baladan's visit is historically accurate, why don't extra-biblical sources confirm these events?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/13.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) <span class= "bld">I will make a man more precious.</span>--Both the words for man (<span class= "ital">e</span>?<span class= "ital">nosh </span>and <span class= "ital">a?dam</span>) express, as in <a href="/psalms/8-2.htm" title="Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings have you ordained strength because of your enemies, that you might still the enemy and the avenger.">Psalm 8:2</a>, the frailty of man's nature. The words may point to the utter destruction, in which but few men should be left. The "gold of Ophir" (the gold coast near the mouth of the Indus) was proverbial for its preciousness (<a href="/job/22-24.htm" title="Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.">Job 22:24</a>; <a href="/job/28-16.htm" title="It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.">Job 28:16</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/29-4.htm" title="Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses with:">1Chronicles 29:4</a>; <a href="/1_kings/9-28.htm" title="And they came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.">1Kings 9:28</a>; <a href="/1_kings/22-48.htm" title="Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.">1Kings 22:48</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I will make a man more precious than fine gold</span> (comp. <a href="/isaiah/4-1.htm">Isaiah 4:1</a>). Population shall he so diminished that man shall be the most highly esteemed of commodities. The more scanty the supply of a thing, the greater its value. <span class="cmt_word">The golden wedge of Ophir</span>; rather, <span class="accented">pure gold of Ophir</span>. Ophir is mentioned as a gold-region in <a href="/1_kings/9-28.htm">1 Kings 9:28</a>; <a href="/1_kings/10-11.htm">1 Kings 10:11</a>; <a href="/1_kings/22-48.htm">1 Kings 22:48</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/29-4.htm">1 Chronicles 29:4</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/8-18.htm">2 Chronicles 8:18</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/9-10.htm">2 Chronicles 9:10</a>; <a href="/job/22-24.htm">Job 22:24</a>; <a href="/job/28-16.htm">Job 28:16</a>; <a href="/psalms/45-9.htm">Psalm 45:9</a>. Its locality is uncertain. Gold of Ophir appears to have been considered especially pure. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/13-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">{I will make} man</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱנ֖וֹשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·nō·wōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">scarcer</span><br /><span class="heb">אוֹקִ֥יר</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·w·qîr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3365.htm">Strong's 3365: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be heavy, valuable, to make rare</span><br /><br /><span class="word">than pure gold,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִפָּ֑ז</span> <span class="translit">(mip·pāz)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6337.htm">Strong's 6337: </a> </span><span class="str2">Refined, pure gold</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and mankind</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאָדָ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">rarer than the gold</span><br /><span class="heb">מִכֶּ֥תֶם</span> <span class="translit">(mik·ke·ṯem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3800.htm">Strong's 3800: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something carved out, ore, gold</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Ophir.</span><br /><span class="heb">אוֹפִֽיר׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·w·p̄îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_211.htm">Strong's 211: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ophir -- a son of Joktan, also his descendants, also a region from which gold comes</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/13-12.htm">Isaiah 13:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/13-12.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 13:12 I will make people more rare than (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/13-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 13:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 13:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/13-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 13:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 13:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>