SEPHARAD

(Obad. 1:20), some locality unknown. The modern Jews think that Spain is meant, and hence they designate the Spanish Jews “Sephardim,” as they do the German Jews by the name “Ashkenazim,” because the rabbis call Germany Ashkenaz. Others identify it with Sardis, the capital of Lydia. The Latin father Jerome regarded it as an Assyrian word, meaning “boundary,” and interpreted the sentence, “which is in Sepharad,” by “who are scattered abroad in all the boundaries and regions of the earth.” Perowne says: “Whatever uncertainty attaches to the word Sepharad, the drift of the prophecy is clear, viz., that not only the exiles from Babylon, but Jewish captives from other and distant regions, shall be brought back to live prosperously within the enlarged borders of their own land.”

(separated), a name which occurs in (Obadiah 1:20) only. Its situation has always been a matter of uncertainty.

SEPH'ARAD (separation), a place from whence captive Jews would return to the cities of the South. It is named only in Ob 20. Some identify the place with Sardis in Lydia; others with Zarephath; while modern Jews regard it as Spain, and others identify it with Sipphara. See Sepharvaim.

a book descending

SEPH'ARAD (separation), a place from whence captive Jews would return to the cities of the South. It is named only in Ob 20. Some identify the place with Sardis in Lydia; others with Zarephath; while modern Jews regard it as Spain, and others identify it with Sipphara. See Sepharvaim.