2187. Ephraim

Lexicon

Ephraim: Ephraim

Original Word: Ἐφραΐμ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Ephraim
Pronunciation: ef-rah-EEM
Phonetic Spelling: (ef-rah-im')
Definition: Ephraim
Meaning: Ephraim, a city.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Ephraim.

Of Hebrew origin ('Ephrayim or better Ephrown); Ephraim, a place in Palestine -- Ephraim.

see HEBREW 'Ephrayim

see HEBREW Ephrown

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
probably of Hebrew origin
Definition
Ephraim, a city near Jer.
NASB Translation
Ephraim (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2187: Αφραιμ

Αφραιμ or (so R Tr) Αφραιμ (cf. Iota, at the end) (א L H Ἐφρεμ, Vulg.Ephrem,Efrem), Ephraim, proper name of a city situated, according to Eusebius, eight (but edition Larsow and Parthey, p. 196, 18, twenty), according to Jerome twenty miles from Jerusalem; according to Josephus, b. j. 4, 9, 9 not far from Bethel; conjectured by Robinson (Palest. i. 444f (cf. Bib. Sacr. for May 1845, p. 398f)), Ewald, et al., dissenting, to be the same as the village now called et-Taiyibeh, a short day's journey N. E. of Jerusalem: John 11:54. Cf. Winers RWB under the word; Keim, iii., p. 7f (English translation, 5:9).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from Hebrew אֶפְרָיִם (Ephraim)

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H669 אֶפְרָיִם (Ephraim) • Refers to the son of Joseph and the tribe.
• H672 אֶפְרָתִי (Ephrathite) • Sometimes used to denote someone from Ephraim or Bethlehem.

Ephraim's role in biblical history underscores the themes of blessing, leadership, and the consequences of turning away from God. The tribe's prominence and eventual decline serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant.

Usage: The term Ἐφραΐμ is used in the New Testament to refer to the region or tribe of Ephraim, one of the tribes of Israel, and occasionally to the individual Ephraim, the son of Joseph.

Context: Ephraim is a significant figure and region in biblical history. Ephraim was the second son of Joseph, born to him in Egypt by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (Genesis 41:50-52). The name Ephraim means "fruitful," reflecting Joseph's prosperity in the land of his affliction. Ephraim, along with his brother Manasseh, was adopted by Jacob as his own sons, thus receiving an inheritance among the tribes of Israel (Genesis 48:5).

The tribe of Ephraim became one of the most prominent tribes in Israel, often representing the northern kingdom as a whole due to its size and influence. The territory of Ephraim was centrally located in the land of Canaan, encompassing significant sites such as Shiloh, where the tabernacle was located for many years (Joshua 18:1).

In the New Testament, the region of Ephraim is mentioned in John 11:54, where Jesus withdrew to a town called Ephraim near the wilderness after raising Lazarus from the dead: "As a result, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, where He stayed with the disciples" (BSB).

Ephraim's legacy is complex, as the tribe is often associated with both blessing and rebellion. The prophet Hosea frequently addresses Ephraim, symbolizing the northern kingdom's idolatry and eventual downfall (Hosea 4:17).

Forms and Transliterations

Εφραιμ Ἐφραὶμ Ephraim Ephraìm

Englishman's Concordance

John 11:54 N
GRK: ἐρήμου εἰς Ἐφραὶμ λεγομένην πόλιν
NAS: called Ephraim; and there
KJV: called Ephraim, and there
INT: wilderness to Ephraim called a city

Strong's Greek 2187
1 Occurrence

Ἐφραὶμ — 1 Occ.