669. Ephrayim
Lexical Summary
Ephrayim: Ephraim

Original Word: אֶפְרַיִם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ephrayim
Pronunciation: ef-rah'-yim
Phonetic Spelling: (ef-rah'-yim)
KJV: Ephraim, Ephraimites
NASB: Ephraim, Ephraim's
Word Origin: [dual of masculine form of H672 (אֶפרָת אֶפרָתָה - Ephrath)]

1. double fruit
2. Ephrajim, a son of Joseph
3. (also) the tribe descended from him, and its territory

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ephraim, Ephraimites

Dual of masculine form of 'Ephraath; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory -- Ephraim, Ephraimites.

see HEBREW 'Ephraath

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as apher
Definition
a son of Joseph, also his desc. and their territory
NASB Translation
Ephraim (176), Ephraim's (4).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֶפְרַ֫יִם proper name, masculine Ephraim (Genesis 41:52 connected with הִפְרָה, Hiph`il of פרה, compare פרא Hiph`il Hosea 13:15).

1 2nd son of Joseph Genesis 41:52; Genesis 46:20; reckoned among sons of Jacob, blessed by him, and given preference over Manasseh Genesis 48:1,5,13,14,17 (twice in verse) (compare Genesis 48:19) Genesis 48:20; Genesis 48:20; Genesis 50:23; Numbers 1:10; 1 Chronicles 7:20,22.

2 בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם (= descendants, tribe of east) Numbers 1:32; Numbers 2:18 (twice in verse); Numbers 2:24; Numbers 7:48; Numbers 10:22; Numbers 26:35,37; Joshua 16:5,9 (boundaries of territory), Joshua 17:8; 1 Chronicles 9:3; 1 Chronicles 12:31; 1 Chronicles 27:10,14,20; 2Chronicles 28:12; less often ׳מַטֵּה א Numbers 1:33; Numbers 13:8; Joshua 21:5; 1 Chronicles 6:51; ׳מַטֵּה בְנֵיאֿ Numbers 34:24; Joshua 16:8; compare Joshua 14:4; ׳שֵׁבֶט א Psalm 78:67 ("" אֹהֶל יוֺסֵף); ׳בֵּית א Judges 10:9; also ׳א alone, tribe Ephraim Numbers 26:28; Deuteronomy 33:17; Joshua 16:10 + often; וּמְנַשֶּׁה ׳אֶרֶין א Joshua 17:17 compare Judges 12:15; 2Chronicles 30:10 especially

3 הַראֶֿפְרַיִם the mountain-country of Ephraim, a ridge stretching from north to south through territory assigned to Ephraim, with fruitful land on both slopes, especially the western (compare Di Joshua 16:1) Joshua 17:15; Joshua 19:50; Joshua 20:7; Judges 2:9; Judges 3:27; Judges 4:5 26t.

4 by Hosea & Isaiah (rarely later) אֶפְרַיִם = kingdom of northern Israel (from Ephraim as largest & strongest tribe in it) Hosea 4:17; Hosea 5:3 (twice in verse); Hosea 5:5 ("" יִשְׂרָאֵל) Hosea 5:11; Hosea 5:12 30t. Hosea; Isaiah 7:2,5,8,9,17 9t. Isaiah; also Jeremiah 7:15; Jeremiah 31:9,18,20; Ezekiel 37:16 (strike out Co) Ezekiel 37:19; Psalm 78:9; 2Chronicles 25:7,10; compare 2 Chronicles 30:1; Psalm 60:9 = Psalm 108:9; ׳עָרֵי א2Chronicles 17:2; compare 2 Chronicles 34:6; ׳שְׂדֵה א Obadiah 19; hence ׳א alone in local sense 2 Chronicles 31:1; also Hosea 5:9, where feminine (& perhaps Isaiah 7:2).

5 יִעַר אֶפְרַיִם 2 Samuel 18:6, east of Jordan; ᵐ5L Klo read יער מַחֲנַיִם compare 2 Samuel 17:24,27.

6 name of a city near Baal-hazor 2 Samuel 13:23 (= Ἐφραϊμ John 11:54 & 1 Macc 11:34? Klo compare ᵐ5L Γοφραιμ & עפרון, Qr עֶפְרַיִן2Chronicles 13:9; so previously Bö Th Ke compare Dr).

7 שַׁעַר אֶפְרַיִם a chief gate of Jerusalem 2 Kings 14:13; 2Chronicles 25:23; Nehemiah 8:16; Nehemiah 12:39; perhaps at northwest angle, near Holy Sepulchre, compare Schick-GutheZPV 1885.

אֶפְרָת see אפרתה. below

Topical Lexicon
Patriarchal Origin and Blessing

Ephraim is the second son born to Joseph in Egypt. Joseph “named the second son Ephraim, saying, ‘God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction’ ” (Genesis 41:52). On Jacob’s death-bed the patriarch adopted both Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons and, crossing his hands, gave the greater blessing to the younger (Genesis 48:14-20). By this act Ephraim received the privileges of the firstborn, a theme later echoed when the Lord says, “I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9). Jacob’s prophetic word—“his descendants will become a multitude of nations” (Genesis 48:19)—gave Ephraim a pre-eminent place in the tribes of Israel and foreshadowed the tribe’s large population (Numbers 1:33; 26:37) and influence.

Settlement and Territorial Boundaries

Following the conquest of Canaan the sons of Joseph received a double inheritance. The tribal boundaries of Ephraim, detailed in Joshua 16 and Joshua 17, occupied the central hill country between Benjamin to the south and Manasseh to the north. Key sites included Bethel, Shiloh, Shechem, and the forested highlands known as the “hill country of Ephraim” (Joshua 17:15). Shiloh, within Ephraim’s territory, became the first long-term resting place of the tabernacle (Joshua 18:1), making the tribe custodian of Israel’s worship for centuries. The verdant uplands fulfilled Jacob’s blessing of fruitfulness (Deuteronomy 33:13-17).

Military and Political Prominence during the United Monarchy

Joshua, the conqueror who succeeded Moses, sprang from Ephraim (Numbers 13:8). In the era of the Judges the tribe’s strategic position and numbers often placed it at the heart of national crises—summoned by Deborah and Barak (Judges 5:14), tardily joining Gideon (Judges 8:1), and tragically clashing with Jephthah (Judges 12:1-6). Samuel’s family lived in “Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim” (1 Samuel 1:1). Under David and Solomon the tribe contributed soldiers and administrators, yet simmering tribal jealousies remained.

When Solomon’s son Rehoboam alienated the northern tribes, an Ephraimite—Jeroboam son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:26)—led the revolt that created the Northern Kingdom. From that point “Ephraim” often serves as a synecdoche for the ten tribes, as in Isaiah 7:2 and Hosea 5:3.

Spiritual Condition and Prophetic Reproofs

Prophets expose a tragic tension between Ephraim’s privileged status and spiritual decline. Hosea concentrates 35 direct mentions on the tribe, mourning, “Ephraim mixes with the nations” (Hosea 7:8) and warning, “Ephraim has surrounded Me with lies” (Hosea 11:12). Yet divine mercy still beckons: “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning… ‘Bring me back that I may be restored’ ” (Jeremiah 31:18). Isaiah rebukes drunkenness in “Ephraim’s proud garland” (Isaiah 28:1-3), but also foretells a remnant that will “look to the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 10:20-21).

The prophets’ alternating tones of judgment and grace show the Lord’s unwavering covenant faithfulness despite Ephraim’s unfaithfulness, highlighting both the severity of sin and the promise of restoration.

Messianic and Eschatological Anticipations

Jeremiah 31 links Ephraim directly to the new covenant: “Set up road markers… return, O virgin Israel” (verses 21-22) and culminates in the promise, “I will forgive their iniquity” (verse 34). Ezekiel’s vision of two sticks (Ezekiel 37:15-28) unites “the stick of Joseph… that is in the hand of Ephraim” with Judah under “one shepherd.” Zechariah foresees a day when “Ephraim will be like a mighty man” (Zechariah 10:7) as the Messiah reigns. These prophecies anticipate the reunification of God’s people and the inclusion of many nations, fulfilling Jacob’s original blessing.

Typological and Geographic References in the New Testament

Although the New Testament rarely mentions the tribe by name, it nods to its legacy. Jesus withdrew to “a town called Ephraim, in a region near the wilderness” before His final Passover (John 11:54), an area identified with the old tribal allotment. The adoption-firstborn motif underlying Ephraim’s account prefigures believers’ adoption in Christ (Romans 8:15-17) and ties to the “church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:23). The prophetic inclusion of “a multitude of nations” hints at Gentile salvation through the gospel.

Lessons for Ministry Today

1. Privilege demands faithfulness. Ephraim’s unparalleled blessings became grounds for sharper rebuke when the tribe turned to idolatry.
2. God disciplines yet woos. The same prophets who pronounce judgment also record the Lord’s tender cry, “Is Ephraim not a dear son to Me?” (Jeremiah 31:20).
3. Leadership shapes nations. From Joshua to Jeroboam, Ephraimite leaders exerted formative influence, for good or ill.
4. The Lord keeps covenant. Despite centuries of rebellion, restoration for Ephraim is guaranteed under Messiah’s rule, encouraging believers to trust divine promises.

Ephraim’s narrative—commencing with gracious adoption, marked by fruitfulness and failure, and concluding in promised restoration—illustrates the unbreakable fidelity of God’s redemptive plan across Scripture’s unfolding story.

Forms and Transliterations
אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם אֶ֠פְרַיִם אֶפְרַ֔יִם אֶפְרַ֕יִם אֶפְרַ֖יִם אֶפְרַ֗יִם אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ אֶפְרַ֛יִם אֶפְרַ֜יִם אֶפְרַ֣יִם אֶפְרַ֤יִם אֶפְרַ֥יִם אֶפְרַ֨יִם ׀ אֶפְרַיִם֒ אֶפְרַיִם֮ אֶפְרָ֑יִם אֶפְרָ֔יִם אֶפְרָ֖יִם אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ אפרים אפרים׃ וְ֭אֶפְרַיִם וְאֶפְרַ֕יִם וְאֶפְרַ֖יִם וְאֶפְרַ֗יִם וְאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְאֶפְרַ֛יִם וְאֶפְרַ֜יִם וְאֶפְרָ֑יִם וְאֶפְרָֽיִם׃ וּבְאֶפְרַ֥יִם ואפרים ואפרים׃ ובאפרים כְּאֶפְרַ֖יִם כאפרים לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם לְאֶפְרַ֕יִם לְאֶפְרַ֗יִם לְאֶפְרַ֥יִם לְאֶפְרָ֑יִם לאפרים מֵֽאֶפְרַ֔יִם מֵֽאֶפְרַ֨יִם מֵאֶפְרַ֗יִם מֵאֶפְרַ֥יִם מאפרים ’ep̄·ra·yim ’ep̄·rā·yim ’ep̄rayim ’ep̄rāyim efRayim kə’ep̄rayim kə·’ep̄·ra·yim keefRayim lə’ep̄rayim lə’ep̄rāyim lə·’ep̄·ra·yim lə·’ep̄·rā·yim leefRayim mê’ep̄rayim mê·’ep̄·ra·yim meefRayim ū·ḇə·’ep̄·ra·yim ūḇə’ep̄rayim uveefRayim veefRayim wə’ep̄rayim wə’ep̄rāyim wə·’ep̄·ra·yim wə·’ep̄·rā·yim
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 41:52
HEB: הַשֵּׁנִ֖י קָרָ֣א אֶפְרָ֑יִם כִּֽי־ הִפְרַ֥נִי
NAS: the second Ephraim, For, [he said], God
KJV: called he Ephraim: For God
INT: the second called Ephraim for has made

Genesis 46:20
HEB: מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־ אֶפְרָֽיִם׃
NAS: Manasseh and Ephraim, whom
KJV: Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath
INT: of On Manasseh and Ephraim

Genesis 48:1
HEB: מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־ אֶפְרָֽיִם׃
NAS: sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.
KJV: sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
INT: with Manasseh and Ephraim

Genesis 48:5
HEB: לִי־ הֵ֑ם אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וּמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה כִּרְאוּבֵ֥ן
NAS: to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh
KJV: sons, Ephraim and Manasseh,
INT: Egypt are mine Ephraim and Manasseh Reuben

Genesis 48:13
HEB: שְׁנֵיהֶם֒ אֶת־ אֶפְרַ֤יִם בִּֽימִינוֹ֙ מִשְּׂמֹ֣אל
NAS: them both, Ephraim with his right
KJV: them both, Ephraim in his right hand
INT: Joseph both Ephraim his right left

Genesis 48:14
HEB: עַל־ רֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְה֣וּא הַצָּעִ֔יר
NAS: it on the head of Ephraim, who
KJV: and laid [it] upon Ephraim's head,
INT: on the head of Ephraim who was the younger

Genesis 48:17
HEB: עַל־ רֹ֥אשׁ אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣רַע בְּעֵינָ֑יו
NAS: hand on Ephraim's head,
KJV: upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased
INT: and head Ephraim's displeased affliction

Genesis 48:17
HEB: מֵעַ֥ל רֹאשׁ־ אֶפְרַ֖יִם עַל־ רֹ֥אשׁ
NAS: to remove it from Ephraim's head
KJV: to remove it from Ephraim's head
INT: and head Ephraim's and head

Genesis 48:20
HEB: יְשִֽׂמְךָ֣ אֱלֹהִ֔ים כְּאֶפְרַ֖יִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם
NAS: make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!'
KJV: make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh:
INT: make may God Ephraim Manasseh make

Genesis 48:20
HEB: וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־ אֶפְרַ֖יִם לִפְנֵ֥י מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃
NAS: Thus he put Ephraim before
KJV: and he set Ephraim before
INT: Manasseh make Ephraim before Manasseh

Genesis 50:23
HEB: וַיַּ֤רְא יוֹסֵף֙ לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם בְּנֵ֖י שִׁלֵּשִׁ֑ים
NAS: the third generation of Ephraim's sons;
KJV: saw Ephraim's children
INT: saw Joseph of Ephraim's sons the third

Numbers 1:10
HEB: לִבְנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לְאֶפְרַ֕יִם אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־
NAS: of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama
KJV: of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama
INT: of the sons of Joseph of Ephraim Elishama the son

Numbers 1:32
HEB: יוֹסֵף֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם תּוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם
NAS: [namely], of the sons of Ephraim, their genealogical registration
KJV: [namely], of the children of Ephraim, by their generations,
INT: of Joseph the sons of Ephraim their genealogical their families

Numbers 1:33
HEB: פְּקֻדֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַטֵּ֣ה אֶפְרָ֑יִם אַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף
NAS: men of the tribe of Ephraim [were] 40,500.
KJV: of them, [even] of the tribe of Ephraim, [were] forty
INT: were numbered the tribe of Ephraim forty thousand

Numbers 2:18
HEB: דֶּ֣גֶל מַחֲנֵ֥ה אֶפְרַ֛יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֖ם יָ֑מָּה
NAS: of the camp of Ephraim by their armies,
KJV: of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies:
INT: the standard of the camp of Ephraim their armies the west

Numbers 2:18
HEB: וְנָשִׂיא֙ לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרַ֔יִם אֱלִישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־
NAS: of the sons of Ephraim [shall be] Elishama
KJV: of the sons of Ephraim [shall be] Elishama
INT: and the leader of the sons of Ephraim Elishama the son

Numbers 2:24
HEB: הַפְּקֻדִ֞ים לְמַחֲנֵ֣ה אֶפְרַ֗יִם מְאַ֥ת אֶ֛לֶף
NAS: men of the camp of Ephraim: 108,100,
KJV: of the camp of Ephraim [were] an hundred
INT: were numbered of the camp of Ephraim an hundred thousand

Numbers 7:48
HEB: נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרָ֑יִם אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־
NAS: leader of the sons of Ephraim;
KJV: of the children of Ephraim, [offered]:
INT: leader the son of Ephraim Elishama of the sons

Numbers 10:22
HEB: מַחֲנֵ֥ה בְנֵֽי־ אֶפְרַ֖יִם לְצִבְאֹתָ֑ם וְעַל־
NAS: of the sons of Ephraim, according to their armies,
KJV: of the children of Ephraim set forward
INT: of the camp of the sons of Ephraim to their armies over

Numbers 13:8
HEB: לְמַטֵּ֥ה אֶפְרָ֖יִם הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־
NAS: from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea
KJV: Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son
INT: the tribe of Ephraim Hoshea the son

Numbers 26:28
HEB: לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶפְרָֽיִם׃
NAS: Manasseh and Ephraim.
KJV: [were] Manasseh and Ephraim.
INT: to their families Manasseh and Ephraim

Numbers 26:35
HEB: אֵ֣לֶּה בְנֵי־ אֶפְרַיִם֮ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם֒ לְשׁוּתֶ֗לַח
NAS: are the sons of Ephraim according to their families:
KJV: These [are] the sons of Ephraim after their families:
INT: These are the sons of Ephraim to their families of Shuthelah

Numbers 26:37
HEB: מִשְׁפְּחֹ֤ת בְּנֵי־ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ לִפְקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔ם שְׁנַ֧יִם
NAS: of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered
KJV: of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered
INT: to their families are the sons of Ephraim were numbered and two

Numbers 34:24
HEB: וּלְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־ אֶפְרַ֖יִם נָשִׂ֑יא קְמוּאֵ֖ל
NAS: of the sons of Ephraim a leader,
KJV: of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel
INT: of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim A leader Kemuel

Deuteronomy 33:17
HEB: וְהֵם֙ רִבְב֣וֹת אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְהֵ֖ם אַלְפֵ֥י
NAS: are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those
KJV: and they [are] the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they [are] the thousands
INT: and those are the ten of Ephraim and those are the thousands

180 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 669
180 Occurrences


’ep̄·rā·yim — 149 Occ.
kə·’ep̄·ra·yim — 1 Occ.
lə·’ep̄·ra·yim — 10 Occ.
mê·’ep̄·ra·yim — 6 Occ.
ū·ḇə·’ep̄·ra·yim — 1 Occ.
wə·’ep̄·rā·yim — 13 Occ.

668
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