Bible Encyclopedias
Parvaim

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Parva'yim, פִּרְוִיַם, a dual form from some unknown פִּרְוִי; Sept. Φαρουίμ ), a region producing gold used in adorning, Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 3:6). There is very strong reason to conclude with Bochart (Can. 1:46) that it is the same with Ophir. Castell, however (Lexic. Heptagl. col. 3062), identifies it with Barbatia on the Tigris, which is named by Pliny (Hist. Nat. 6:32); and Gesenius, seeking the root of the name in the Sanscrit puriva, "before," i.e. "eastern," concludes it to be a general term, corresponding to our Levant, meaning east country; so that "gold of Parvaim" means Eastern gold (Thesaur. 2:25; so Wilford in the Asiat. Research. 8:276). Knobel conjectures (Volkert. p. 191) that it is an abbreviated form of Sepharvaim, which stands in the Syriac version and the Targum of Jonathan for the Sephar of Genesis 10:30. Hitzig maintains (on Daniel 10:5) that the name is derived from the Sanscrit parna, "hill," and betokens the δίδυμα ὄρη in Arabia mentioned by Ptolemy (6:7, § 11).

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Parvaim'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​p/parvaim.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.