Places in the Bible Today:

Shaphir

Data

Translated NamesSaphir, Shaphir
Typesettlement
Geo Data KML (for Google Earth)
GeoJSON (for GIS applications)

5 Possible Identifications

  1. Tell as Sawafir (modern): 25% confidence
    1. panorama of a region including Tell as Sawafir, which is just visible in the distance on the rightTell as Sawafir

  2. Khirbet el Qom (modern): 20% confidence
    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet el QomKhirbet el Qom

  3. Tell Eton (modern): 15% confidence
    1. artifact from Tell EtonTell Eton

  4. not a place (poetic): less than 10% confidence
  5. another name for Shamir 1 (ancient): less than 10% confidence. It may be:
    1. satellite view of the region around Khirbet al BiraKhirbet al Bira

    2. satellite view of the region around Khirbet SumaraKhirbet Sumara

    3. satellite view of the region around Khirbet Anab es SeghirehKhirbet Anab es Seghireh

    4. satellite view of the region around Khirbet Anab al KabirKhirbet Anab al Kabir

    5. satellite view of the region around Khirbet FuqeiqisKhirbet Fuqeiqis

    6. satellite view of the region around Khirbet al SimiaKhirbet al Simia

    7. satellite view of the region around Khirbet RaddanaKhirbet Raddana

Verses (1)

Mic 1:11

Linked Data Identifiers

SourceIdentifier
Biblemapper.com859
Logos FactbookShaphir
OpenBible.info (2007)Shaphir
OpenBible.infoa7b3f5d (Shaphir)
TIPNRShaphir@Mic.1.11
UBS Names Databaseot ID_2968

Sources

  1. Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (1992): Shaphir (place)
  2. ESV Bible Atlas (2010)
  3. Grollenberg, Atlas of the Bible (1957): Shaphir
  4. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2003)
  5. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1979): Shaphir
  6. IVP Old Testament Bible Background Commentary (2000): Mic 1:10-15
  7. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (2014): Shaphir
  8. New Bible Dictionary (1996): Shaphir
  9. New Interpreter’s Bible Dictionary (2009)
  10. New Unger’s Bible Dictionary (1988): Shaphir
  11. Tyndale Bible Dictionary (2001): Shaphir
  12. Tübingen Bible Atlas (2001): Safir
  13. Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (1975): Saphir
  14. Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible (2010)
  15. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (2009): Mic 1:11-12

Confidence Trends over Time

This chart indicates how confidence in the identifications is changing over time. Each dot (connected by a dotted line) reflects the confidence of an identification over the preceding ten years (e.g., the 2009 dot reflects scholarship from 2000 to 2009), and the corresponding solid line reflects a best-fit line for the identification. Confidences that cluster near or below 0% indicate low confidence. Because of the small dataset, it's best to use this chart for general trends; if one identification is trending much higher than the others, for example, then you can probably have higher confidence in the identification. This chart only reflects the sources I consulted (listed above), not an exhaustive review of the literature.

Thumbnail Image Credits

Topazbarziv, Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2019, Hanay

About

This page attempts to identify all the possible locations where this biblical place could be. The confidence levels add up to less than 100%, indicating that the modern location is uncertain. It's best to think about the confidences in relative rather than absolute terms. Often they reflect different schools of thought, each confident in their identifications.