Lexical Summary Ephlal: Ephlal Original Word: אֶפְלָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ephlal From palal; judge; Ephlal, an Israelite -- Ephlal. see HEBREW palal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom palal Definition an Isr. NASB Translation Ephlal (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֶפְלָל proper name, masculine in Judah 1 Chronicles 2:37 (twice in verse), Αφαμηλ, etc., ᵐ5L Ελφαελ. מַּלְמֹנִי see I. מְּלֹנִי below פלה Topical Lexicon EphlalBiblical occurrences Ephlal appears twice in the Masoretic text, both within the same sentence of the Judahite genealogy in 1 Chronicles 2:37: “Zabad was the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal was the father of Obed” (Berean Standard Bible). Though brief, the inclusion in the inspired record affirms his historic place among the descendants of Judah. Genealogical setting 1 Chronicles 2 traces the line of Hezron through Jerahmeel and then through an unusual branch that begins with Sheshan. Because Sheshan had no sons, he gave his daughter to his Egyptian servant Jarha (1 Chronicles 2:34-35). Their lineage—Jarha, Attai, Nathan, Zabad, Ephlal, Obed, and beyond—reveals the gracious grafting of a foreigner into Judah. Ephlal occupies the pivotal position between Zabad and Obed, preserving the succession at a point where the family line could have disappeared. Historical significance Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile to re-establish the tribes’ credentials and to encourage a renewed covenant identity. Every link mattered. By listing Ephlal, the Chronicler testifies that God had preserved even the quieter, less-known branches of Judah during centuries of upheaval. The record also shows that Israel’s history was never ethnically closed; faith and covenant obedience, not bloodline alone, determined inclusion (cf. Exodus 12:48-49; Isaiah 56:3-7). Ministry insights 1. Value of the ordinary believer. Ephlal’s sole biblical footprint is a name in a list, yet his life was indispensable for the continuance of his family. The Chronicles genealogy warns modern readers against measuring importance by public visibility; God sees and rewards hidden faithfulness. Lessons for contemporary believers • Your name may never be famous, yet your obedience can stand as a crucial link in God’s unfolding purposes. Related passages 1 Chronicles 2:34-41; Exodus 12:48-49; Ruth 4:13-22; Matthew 1:1-6; Isaiah 56:3-7 Forms and Transliterations אֶפְלָ֔ל אפלל וְאֶפְלָ֖ל ואפלל ’ep̄·lāl ’ep̄lāl efLal veefLal wə’ep̄lāl wə·’ep̄·lālLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 2:37 HEB: הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־ אֶפְלָ֔ל וְאֶפְלָ֖ל הוֹלִ֥יד NAS: the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal KJV: begat Ephlal, and Ephlal INT: and Zabad became of Ephlal and Ephlal the father 1 Chronicles 2:37 2 Occurrences |
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