אֲפֻדָּה (e.phud.dah)
e.phud.dah
ephod
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun ephud refers to a distinctive garment worn in ancient Israel, primarily associated with priestly service. In the context of the tabernacle and temple, it functioned as a shoulder-cape or mantle that served as an outer layer for priests. While ordinary priests wore simpler versions made of white fabric, the high priest’s ephod was far more elaborate, woven from gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen threads.
This sacred vestment was not merely decorative; it held significant ritual weight. The high priest’s version included shoulder pieces and a breastpiece adorned with precious stones, symbolizing the bearing of the tribes of Israel before God. Interestingly, the same word is used in Isaiah to describe a metallic covering or plating on idol images, highlighting a sharp contrast between true worship and pagan practice.
With only three occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, the term appears most frequently in Exodus where its construction is detailed, and in Isaiah where it serves as a symbol of false religion. The word underscores the importance of proper attire in approaching the divine, distinguishing between the holy service prescribed by God and the empty rituals of other cultures.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The ephod was a sacred garment woven with gold and fine linen, designed to help the high priest carry the names of Israel’s tribes before God. It reminds us that approaching the divine requires reverence and specific instruction. This detail shows how much God cares about the way we honor Him, ensuring our worship reflects His holiness rather than our own ideas.
In Isaiah, the same word describes the metal covering on idols, highlighting a sharp contrast between true service and empty ritual. The ephod teaches us to distinguish between genuine devotion and practices that lack spiritual substance. It invites us to examine our hearts, ensuring our worship is rooted in truth and aligned with God’s will.
Understanding this garment helps us appreciate the seriousness of our faith. We are called to offer sincere worship, grounded in Scripture and guided by God’s commands. This perspective encourages a life of humility and devotion, where every act of service reflects our trust in His guidance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ephod/ its2×
- [the] sheathing of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲפֻדָּת֜/וֹ1×
- אֲפֻדָּת/וֹ֙1×
- אֲפֻדַּ֖ת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 28:8
The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
This verse details the intricate construction of the ephod’s band, emphasizing the precision and sacred materials required for priestly service.
-
Exodus 39:5
The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work: of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Here the text confirms that the ephod was made exactly as Yahweh commanded Moses, highlighting obedience to divine instruction in worship.
-
Isaiah 30:22
You shall defile the overlaying of your engraved images of silver, and the plating of your molten images of gold. You shall cast them away as an unclean thing. You shall tell it, “Go away!”
This passage uses the term for idol plating to contrast false worship with the true service prescribed by God, urging believers to reject empty rituals.