אֵפֹד (e.phod)
e.phod
Ephod
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ephod, or e.phod in transliteration, identifies a specific individual mentioned only once in the Hebrew Bible: as the father of Hanniel, the leader from the tribe of Manasseh during the wilderness census (Numbers 34:23). While this personal reference is brief, the word itself carries significant weight in Israel’s religious history due to its homonymy with a sacred object.
Lexicographers note that e.phod also means "a special girdle" or apron-like garment. This dual meaning distinguishes the person from the priestly vestment worn by high priests, which was often associated with seeking divine guidance. In this single occurrence, however, the name functions purely as a proper noun for a tribal chief’s father, anchoring him in the genealogical records of Israel’s early settlement.
The rarity of this usage highlights how personal names in Scripture often reflect tangible objects or roles. Here, the connection to the "girdle" suggests a possible occupational origin or symbolic identity for the family line, though the text does not elaborate further. The name stands as a quiet marker of Manasseh’s presence in the wilderness generation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Hanniel, the leader from the tribe of Manasseh, is introduced in Numbers 34:23 as the son of Ephod. This brief mention anchors him within the genealogical records of Israel’s wilderness generation. The name itself connects to a tangible object—a girdle or apron-like garment—suggesting that personal identity in Scripture often reflects the practical realities of daily life.
While the text does not elaborate on Ephod’s character, his inclusion highlights how every individual mattered in God’s plan for His people. These names serve as quiet markers of faithfulness, reminding us that our ancestors were real people with specific roles and identities. Their presence in the biblical record assures us that God knows each person by name.
This connection to a garment may hint at an occupational origin or symbolic identity for the family line. Though we do not know the full story of Ephod’s life, his legacy endures through his son’s leadership. It is a gentle reminder that our own lives, however ordinary they may seem, are woven into a larger narrative of purpose and divine care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ephod1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֵפֹֽד\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 34:23
Of the children of Joseph: of the tribe of the children of Manasseh a prince, Hanniel the son of Ephod.
This verse identifies Ephod as the father of Hanniel, the tribal leader from Manasseh, anchoring him in the census records.