אֵיפָה (e.phah)
e.phah
ephah
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun ephah denotes a dry measure for grain, specifically equal to three seahs or ten omers. Lexical sources suggest an Egyptian origin for the term, and its size is estimated at roughly forty liters, though rabbinic traditions later halved this volume. It functioned as both the quantity of grain and the receptacle used to hold it.
Scripture frequently pairs the ephah with the bath, a liquid measure of equal capacity, establishing a standard of balance in commercial and ritual life. This equivalence highlights the importance of precise measurement in ancient Israelite society, where fairness was a religious obligation rather than merely a practical concern.
The word carries significant theological weight when used to describe dishonesty. Proverbs 20:10 and Deuteronomy 25:14 condemn those who use "divers measures," implying one ephah for buying and another, smaller one for selling. This practice was viewed as a profound injustice against the neighbor.
The prophet Zechariah offers a striking visual of this measure in chapter 5. He describes an ephah with a lead weight being carried away to Shinar, symbolizing the removal of wickedness from the land. Here, the standard unit of trade becomes the vessel for sin itself, illustrating how corruption distorts the very tools meant to ensure equity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The ephah was a standard dry measure for grain in ancient Israel, roughly equal to ten omers or forty liters. It functioned as both the quantity of food and the container that held it. This dual nature highlights how daily life and spiritual integrity were intertwined. Fairness in trade was not just a commercial rule but a religious duty, reflecting God's character.
Scripture warns against dishonest measures, such as using different ephahs for buying and selling. Such deception was seen as a profound injustice against neighbors. Conversely, the prophet Zechariah saw an ephah carrying wickedness away to Shinar, symbolizing God’s removal of sin from the land. This imagery reminds us that God cares deeply about justice in our everyday interactions.
Understanding this word helps us see how ordinary acts like buying bread or sharing a meal can reflect our faith. We are invited to pursue honesty and integrity, trusting that God values fairness as much as He values worship. May your daily exchanges bring glory to Him through truth and love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ ephah5×
- a measure3×
- <the>/ ephah3×
- and/ an ephah of2×
- and/ a measure2×
- an ephah2×
- and/ an ephah1×
- an ephah of1×
- about/ an ephah1×
- [the] ephah of1×
- [is] the/ ephah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אֵיפָ֑ה2×
- הָ/אֵיפָֽה\׃2×
- הָ/אֵיפָ֖ה2×
- אֵיפָ֣ה2×
- כְּ/אֵיפָ֥ה1×
- וְ/אֵיפָ֨ה1×
- וְ/אֵיפַת\־1×
- וְ/אֵיפַ֥ת1×
- הָֽ/אֵיפָה֙1×
- הָֽ/אֵיפָ֑ה1×
- הָ֣/אֵיפָ֔ה1×
- הָ/אֵפָ֛ה1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 25:14
You shall not have in your house diverse measures, one large and one small.
This verse explicitly condemns the use of 'diverse measures,' linking dishonest trade practices directly to disobedience against God.
-
Zechariah 5:8
He said, “This is Wickedness;” and he threw her down into the middle of the ephah basket; and he threw the lead weight on its mouth.
Here the ephah becomes a vessel for Wickedness itself, illustrating how sin corrupts even the standard tools meant for equity.
-
Ruth 2:17
So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
This occurrence shows the ephah as a measure of provision and gleaned barley, highlighting God's care for those in need through honest labor.
-
Leviticus 19:36
You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
God commands a 'just ephah' alongside just weights, establishing that accurate measurement is a core part of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh.