Place Old Testament
Shaphir
Also known as Shaphir =ESV, NIV; Saphir =KJV
Shaphir was a town mentioned in Micah's prophecy, urged to pass on in nakedness and shame (Mic. 1:11). Mentioned once in Scripture, at Micah 1:11.
Why it matters. Town addressed in Micah's prophecy
- Primary passages
- Location
- 31.744, 34.694 (approximate, within about 2 km)
Coordinates from STEPBible TIPNR (palopenmaps.org link). Approximate; not independently verified.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
About Shaphir
Shaphir is mentioned only once in the Bible, in the context of the prophet Micah's oracle against the towns of Judah (Mic. 1:11). In his prophecy, Micah addresses Shaphir, urging the inhabitants to pass on in nakedness and shame, a sign of humiliation and judgment. The exact location of Shaphir is unknown, but it was likely situated in the Shephelah region, the western foothills of Judah. The name "Shaphir" is derived from the Hebrew word meaning "beautiful" or "pleasant," possibly indicating the town's attractive appearance or setting. However, the prophecy suggests that Shaphir's beauty would be stripped away as a result of God's judgment on the nation. The mention of Shaphir alongside other towns in Micah's oracle highlights the widespread nature of the divine judgment and the consequences of Judah's unfaithfulness.
Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.
Connections
No reviewed connections yet.
Appears in Scripture
Named in 1 verse across 1 book. Occurrence data from STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0); references only, no translation text.
Micah (1 verse)