Original Word: שָׁפִיר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Shaphiyr
Pronunciation: shah-FEER
Phonetic Spelling: (shaf-eer')
KJV: Saphir
NASB: Shaphir
Word Origin: [from H8231 (שָׁפַר - To be beautiful)]

1. beautiful
2. Shaphir, a place in Israel

Saphir

From shaphar; beautiful; Shaphir, a place in Palestine -- Saphir.

see HEBREW shaphar

Word Origin
from shaphar
Definition
"beauty," a place perhaps in Philistia
NASB Translation
Shaphir (1).

שָׁפִיר proper name, of a location in Philistine plain, Micah 1:11 ( = שָׁמִיר Joshua 15:48 ?); ᵐ5 καλῶς (!).

אֶשְׁמָּר see under the word

Geographical Location

Shaphir was a town in the lowland foothills of Judah, apparently situated between the Shephelah and the Judean hill country. Its name, derived from a Hebrew root meaning “beautiful” or “pleasant,” suggests a village of attractive setting or favorable reputation. Although its exact site has not yet been definitively identified, the context of Micah’s lament places it among a chain of communities lying southwest of Jerusalem, likely on or near a key route linking the interior with the Mediterranean coastal plain.

Historical Setting in Micah

Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah (Micah 1:1), a period marked by social injustice, idolatry, and looming Assyrian aggression. The prophet issues a series of wordplays on place–names (Micah 1:10-16) to dramatize the coming judgment. Shaphir, whose pleasant name contrasts starkly with the grim fate announced, typifies the reversal of fortune awaiting Judah’s complacent towns as the Assyrian armies advance.

Prophetic Significance

“Depart in shame, O inhabitants of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame” (Micah 1:11).

1. Reversal of Identity: The town known for its “beauty” is told to go out “in nakedness and shame,” underscoring how sin strips God’s people of honor.
2. Communal Impact: Micah links Shaphir with Zaanan, Beth Ezel, and other nearby towns, revealing that divine judgment is not isolated but communal; the downfall of one settlement destabilizes its neighbors.
3. Covenant Logic: The judgment on Shaphir flows from covenant curses articulated in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Micah shows that the Lord remains consistent: unrepentant covenant breakers will experience humiliation in place of former splendor.

Literary and Theological Themes Highlighted

• Irony: The beauty implied in Shaphir’s name is undone by disgrace.
• Holiness of God: Even pleasant places are not immune to divine scrutiny; geography provides no sanctuary from moral accountability.
• Hope beyond Judgment: While Micah 1 stresses discipline, Micah 4–5 promises restoration. Shaphir’s fall thus participates in a larger narrative arc leading to messianic hope (Micah 5:2-5).

Application for Ministry

• Warning against Complacency: Congregations blessed with prosperity and good reputation must guard against the sins that mar inner beauty and attract divine rebuke (Revelation 3:17).
• Corporate Responsibility: Shaphir’s fate reminds believers that sin’s consequences ripple outward; personal repentance and communal intercession are vital.
• Gospel Contrast: Where Micah pronounces “nakedness and shame,” the Gospel offers “garments of salvation” and “robes of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). The church proclaims Christ who bears our shame (Hebrews 12:2) and restores true beauty.

Christological Horizon

Micah’s oracles culminate in the promise of the ruler from Bethlehem whose greatness will reach “to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4). Shaphir’s disgrace thus functions within a prophetic tapestry that accentuates the need for a Deliverer who can reverse shame permanently. The Messiah fulfills that need, clothing His people with His own righteousness.

Contemporary Lessons

1. Beauty Without Holiness Is Fragile: Cultural or aesthetic acclaim quickly evaporates apart from obedience to God.
2. Honest Lament: Micah’s poetic dirge legitimizes grief over communal sin; churches may employ lament as part of corporate worship and confession.
3. Hope-Fueled Repentance: Awareness of impending judgment should not provoke despair but drive believers to the Savior whose atonement secures mercy.

Shaphir’s single biblical appearance therefore serves as a vivid snapshot of divine justice, communal vulnerability, and the gracious possibility of restored beauty through the redemptive purposes of God.

שָׁפִ֖יר שפיר šā·p̄îr šāp̄îr shaFirInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts