אֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim)
eph.ra.yim
Ephraim
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 147 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ephraim, meaning "double fruit" or "doubly fruitful," identifies the second son of Joseph and Asenath. Although he was younger than his brother Manasseh, Jacob deliberately placed Ephraim’s right hand on his head during the blessing, granting him the primary inheritance and precedence (Genesis 48:13-20). This act established Ephraim as the leading tribe within the House of Joseph.
Over time, the name expanded from a person to a people and a place. It refers to the tribal territory in central Canaan, including the mountain region where Joshua was buried (Joshua 24:30). In later biblical history, particularly in the prophetic books like Hosea and Isaiah, "Ephraim" frequently serves as a poetic shorthand for the entire northern kingdom of Israel, highlighting its political and spiritual significance before the exile.
The word appears over 140 times in Scripture, with heavy concentration in Judges, Joshua, and Hosea. Its usage reflects a shift from a specific familial lineage to a national symbol. When prophets address Ephraim, they often critique the northern kingdom’s idolatry or call for its restoration, using the name to evoke both the tribe’s honored status and its subsequent struggles.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Ephraim carries a beautiful promise of fruitfulness even in difficult circumstances. When Joseph named his second son, he declared that God had made him fruitful in the land of affliction. This reminds us that our current struggles do not define our future. God can bring life and growth from places of pain or displacement.
Later, Jacob’s blessing placed Ephraim ahead of his older brother, showing that God often chooses the unexpected path for His purposes. The name became a symbol for a whole nation, reminding us that individual faithfulness contributes to a larger story of grace. We are part of something bigger than ourselves.
This word invites hope. It suggests that no matter where you are or what you have endured, God is capable of producing fruit from your life. His plans often surprise us, turning hardship into a testimony of His goodness and sustaining power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 147 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Ephraim130×
- and/ Ephraim10×
- from/ Ephraim5×
- to/ Ephraim4×
- O Ephraim3×
- of/ Ephraim2×
- [belonged] to/ Ephraim2×
- like/ Ephraim1×
- for/ Ephraim1×
- and/ in/ Ephraim1×
- [is] Ephraim1×
- [belongs] to/ Ephraim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֶפְרָ֑יִם22×
- אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙21×
- אֶפְרַ֔יִם21×
- אֶפְרַ֖יִם19×
- אֶפְרָֽיִם\׃13×
- אֶפְרַ֗יִם9×
- אֶפְרַ֛יִם7×
- לְ/אֶפְרַ֔יִם5×
- מֵֽ/אֶפְרַ֔יִם3×
- אֶפְרָ֖יִם3×
- אֶפְרַ֥יִם3×
- אֶפְרַ֜יִם3×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 41:52
The name of the second, he called Ephraim: “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Joseph explicitly links the name Ephraim to God’s ability to produce fruitfulness during times of affliction.
-
Genesis 48:14
Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Jacob knowingly places his right hand on the younger Ephraim, demonstrating that divine blessing often bypasses human expectations of birth order.
-
Genesis 48:20
He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in your name, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’” He set Ephraim before Manasseh.
The blessing establishes Ephraim as a standard of prosperity and favor for future generations to aspire toward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Ephraim mean?
Why is Ephraim significant in the Bible?
How does Ephraim relate to his brother Manasseh?
Every Occurrence (147 verses across 18 books)
Genesis 9 verses
The name of the second, he called Ephraim: “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Genesis 46:20To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,…
Genesis 48:1After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and…
Genesis 48:5Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and…
Genesis 48:13Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward…
Genesis 48:14Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on…
Genesis 48:17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s…
Genesis 48:20He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in your name, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’”…
Genesis 50:23Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on…