Lexical Summary Ephron: Ephron Original Word: עֶפְרוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ephron, Ephrain From the same as Epher; fawn-like; Ephron, the name of a Canaanite and of two places in Palestine -- Ephron, Ephrain (from the margin). see HEBREW Epher NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as opher Definition a Hittite, also a mountain and a place in Isr. NASB Translation Ephron (13), Ephron's (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֶפְרוֺן proper name Εφρων: — 1. masculine Hittite, Abraham's time, according to Genesis 23:8,10 (twice in verse); Genesis 23:13,16,17; Genesis 49:29, עֶפְרֹן Genesis 23:6; Genesis 25:9; Genesis 49:30; Genesis 50:13 (all P). 2. location2Chronicles 13:19 Kt (עֶפְיִן Qr), compare עָפְרָה 1a. 3. mont. ׳הַרעֿ, on northern border of Judah Joshua 15:9. עֶפְרַ֫יִן2Chronicles 13:19 Qr see עֶפְרוֺן 2 above Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Scope The name עֶפְרוֹן appears fourteen times, referring to three distinct but related subjects: 1. Ephron the Hittite who sells the cave of Machpelah to Abraham (Genesis 23; Genesis 25:9). Ephron the Hittite: Historical Setting Ephron lived among “the sons of Heth” in Kiriath-arba (Hebron). His interaction with Abraham is the earliest detailed real-estate negotiation recorded in Scripture and provides a valuable window into second-millennium Near-Eastern legal customs: • Public negotiation “at the gate of his city” (Genesis 23:10) ensured witnesses for both parties. The Purchase at Machpelah: Theological Weight Abraham owned none of Canaan until this purchase. By securing a burial place inside the promised land, he testified that God’s covenant would outlive him. Hebrews 11:13-16 draws on this narrative to illustrate faith that looks beyond death to resurrection and final inheritance. Machpelah as Patriarchal Memorial Genesis 49:29-30 records Jacob’s command to be buried “in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite,” linking the patriarchs across generations: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah (Genesis 50:13). The site became a silent proclamation that the covenant family belonged to the land even during subsequent centuries of sojourn and bondage. Legal and Cultural Insights 1. Covenantal Ethics: Abraham insists on paying full price, modeling integrity and avoiding later dispute. Mount Ephron: Boundary Marker Joshua 15:9 names Mount Ephron on Judah’s northern border between the spring of Nephtoah and the city of Kiriath-jearim. The mountain demarcates tribal inheritance, underscoring that God apportions land precisely according to promise. Town of Ephron: Strategic Fortress 2 Chronicles 13:19 recounts King Abijah’s victory over Jeroboam: “He captured Bethel and its villages, Jeshanah and its villages, and Ephron and its villages.” Possession of Ephron secured Judah’s western hill-country routes, illustrating how obedience and reliance on the Lord bring protection and strategic advantage (2 Chronicles 13:18). Ministry Applications • Stewardship: Like Abraham, believers should conduct financial dealings openly and honorably, recognizing that resources advance long-term kingdom purposes. Summary Ephron’s name threads through Scripture from patriarchal purchase to tribal borders and royal campaigns, continually affirming God’s covenant faithfulness, the certainty of resurrection hope, and the call for His people to act with integrity, vision, and courage in every generation. Forms and Transliterations בְּעֶפְר֥וֹן בעפרון וְעֶפְר֥וֹן ועפרון לְעֶפְרֹ֔ן לעפרן עֶפְר֑וֹן עֶפְר֗וֹן עֶפְר֛וֹן עֶפְר֜וֹן עֶפְר֥וֹן עֶפְר֨וֹן עֶפְרַ֖יִן עֶפְרֹ֤ן עֶפְרֹ֥ן עֶפְרוֹן֒ עפרון עפרין עפרן ‘ep̄·ra·yin ‘ep̄·rō·wn ‘ep̄·rōn ‘ep̄rayin ‘ep̄rōn ‘ep̄rōwn bə‘ep̄rōwn bə·‘ep̄·rō·wn beefRon efRayin efRon lə‘ep̄rōn lə·‘ep̄·rōn leefRon veefRon wə‘ep̄rōwn wə·‘ep̄·rō·wnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 23:8 HEB: וּפִגְעוּ־ לִ֖י בְּעֶפְר֥וֹן בֶּן־ צֹֽחַר׃ NAS: me, and approach Ephron the son KJV: me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son INT: hear and approach Ephron the son of Zohar Genesis 23:10 Genesis 23:10 Genesis 23:13 Genesis 23:14 Genesis 23:16 Genesis 23:16 Genesis 23:17 Genesis 25:9 Genesis 49:29 Genesis 49:30 Genesis 50:13 Joshua 15:9 2 Chronicles 13:19 14 Occurrences |
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