Zophar (he|{{Script/Hebrew|צוֹפַר Ṣōp̄ar, "chirping"; "rising early"; also Tzofar) the Naamathite is one of the three friends of Job who visit him during his illness in the Book of Job, Hebrew Bible / Old Testament. "Naamathite" (na'-a-ma-thit) is a Gentile name,[1] suggesting he was from a city called Naamah, perhaps in Arabia.
Zophar's comments can be found in Job 11:1-20 and Job 20:1-29. He suggests that Job's suffering could be divine punishment, and goes into great detail about the consequences of living a life of sin.
Zophar only speaks twice to Job, unlike friends Bildad and Eliphaz who each give three speeches. Zophar is the most impetuous and dogmatic of Job's three visitors:He is the first to accuse Job directly of wickedness; claiming that Job's punishment is indeed too good for him (Job 11:6), and he rebukes Job's impious presumption in trying to find out the unsearchable secrets of God (Job 11:7-12). Despite his dogmatic speech, Zophar promises Job peace and restoration, on condition of penitence and putting away iniquity (Job 11:13-19), redoubling the promises of Job's other visitors.[2]
Zophar's second speech is a lecture on the fate of the wicked, ending with a summary appraisal, in the same style as his friend Bildad,
This is the portion of the wicked, the heritage appointed him by God.[3]