Boy Old Testament Rare
Epher
dust; lead
עֵ֫פֶר e.pher
Epher (Hebrew: עֵ֫פֶר, e.pher) means “dust; lead”, by traditional interpretation. Three men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Patriarchal period. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Abida in 1 Chronicles 1.
Which Epher?
Three men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Epher
son of Abraham
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Epher
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Epher
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 4 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 3 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 25:4 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 5:24 |
| Cross-references | 15 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Isaac attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Ishbak attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Ishmael attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Midian attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Mishma attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Ephah attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Shuah attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
- Medan attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Abraham.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Judah(?) living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.17;
son of: Ezrah (H5834);
brother of: Jether (H3500J), Mered (H4778) and Jalon (H3210)
§ Epher = "a calf"
1) the 2nd son of Midian
2) a son of Ezra, among the descendants of Judah
3) one of the heads of the families of Manasseh on the east of the Jordan
Epher was one of the sons of Ezrah, mentioned in the genealogy of Judah.
The biblical story
Epher is mentioned briefly in the genealogy of Judah as one of the sons of Ezrah (1Ch.4.17). The genealogy lists several descendants of Judah, including Ezrah and his sons. Epher is named alongside his brothers, but no further details are provided about his life, his role within the family, or any descendants he may have had. The inclusion of Epher in the genealogy serves to provide a comprehensive record of Judah's lineage and to highlight the various branches of his family tree. The mention of Ezrah and his sons, including Epher, demonstrates the importance of documenting even the minor figures within the genealogies, as they contribute to the overall understanding of the family structure and the relationships between individuals within the tribe of Judah.
Key verses
Epher appears in 1 verse. Here are some of the most notable:
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And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
1 Chronicles 4:17
Show all 1 reference
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 4:17