H0374 H0374
ephah — a dry measure of approximately 22 liters, used for grain and flour, especially in offerings
The 'ephah is the principal dry measure of the Hebrew Bible, appearing 40 times primarily in priestly and prophetic contexts. Equal to one-tenth of a homer (Ezek 45:11) and containing ten omers (Exod 16:36), it amounts to roughly 22 liters or three-fifths of a bushel. Most occurrences specify quantities for grain offerings: 'a tenth of an ephah of fine flour' is the standard minchah proportion (Lev 5:11; 6:20; Num 5:15; 28:5). Ezekiel's temple vision prescribes ephah measures extensively for offerings (Ezek 45-46). Beyond the cult, the ephah appears in daily life: Gideon prepares an ephah of flour for the angel (Judg 6:19), Ruth gleans about an ephah of barley (Ruth 2:17), and Isaiah warns that a field yielding only a bath from a homer's seed signals divine judgment (Isa 5:10). The 'ephah and weights must be just — a recurring ethical demand (Lev 19:36; Deut 25:14-15; Amos 8:5).
Senses
1. ephah (dry measure) — A standard unit of dry capacity equal to approximately 22 liters, used for measuring grain, flour, and other dry goods in both cultic and quotidian settings. Most frequently appears in priestly offering regulations as the base from which fractional quantities are specified — 'a tenth of an ephah' (Lev 5:11; Num 5:15; 28:5). Ezekiel's visionary temple mandates exact ephah measures for prince and people (Ezek 45:13, 24; 46:5-14). Outside the cult, Ruth's harvest (Ruth 2:17) and Gideon's offering (Judg 6:19) demonstrate its everyday use. Spanish 'efa,' French 'epha,' German 'Efa' — all transliterations — confirm that no native equivalent existed in target languages. 40×
AR["-الأَيفَةِ", "إِيفَةً", "الْ-إِيفَةُ", "الْ-إِيفَةِ", "الْإِيفَةَ", "الْإِيفَةُ", "الْإِيفَةِ", "الْـ-أَيفَةِ", "الْـإِيفَةِ", "وَمِكْيَالٌ"]·ben["এপা", "এফা", "এফার", "এবং-এফা", "ঐফা", "ঐফার"]·DE["Efa", "das-Efa", "der-ephah", "und-ephah"]·EN["and-ephah", "ephah", "the-ephah"]·FR["et-épha", "le-ephah", "le-épha", "épha"]·heb["איפה", "ה-איפה", "ו-איפה"]·HI["-के-एपा", "एपा", "एपा-का", "एपा-के", "एपाह-का", "और-एक-पा"]·ID["dan-efa", "efa"]·IT["e-ephah", "efa", "il-ephah"]·jav["efa", "efah", "lan-takaran", "Éfah", "èfa", "éfa", "éfah"]·KO["그-에바", "그-에바라", "그-에바를", "그-에바의", "그-에파-의", "그리고-에바가", "에바", "에바의", "에파를"]·PT["A-efa", "a-efa", "a-efah", "e-efa", "efa", "o-'efah"]·RU["-ефа", "-ефу", "-ефы", "и-эфа", "эфа", "эфу", "эфы"]·ES["El-efa", "efa", "el-efa", "es-la-efa", "la-efa", "la-efa?", "y-efa"]·SW["Efa", "Haiph", "efa", "efa-hiyo", "na-efa", "ya-efa"]·TR["-efa", "-efanın", "efa", "efa-", "efanın", "efanın-", "efayı", "efayı-", "ve-efa"]·urd["اور-پیمانہ", "ایفہ", "ایفہ-کا", "ایفہ-کے"]
Exod 16:36, Lev 5:11, Lev 6:20, Lev 19:36, Num 5:15, Num 28:5, Deut 25:14, Deut 25:14, Deut 25:15, Judg 6:19, Ruth 2:17, 1 Sam 1:24 (+28 more)
Related Senses
H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)H4057b 1. wilderness, desert region (270×)H3220 1. sea, body of water (269×)H0520a 1. cubit (unit of length) (246×)H0127 1. ground, land (territory) (210×)H3383 1. Jordan River (proper noun) (183×)G1093 1. earth, the world (176×)H5800a 1. forsake, abandon (Qal active) (166×)H8121 1. sun (celestial body) (133×)H7126 1. offer, present sacrificially (122×)H6828 1. north, cardinal direction (120×)H2351 1. outside, exterior space (119×)H5104 1. river, stream (119×)H7341 1. width, breadth (101×)G1563 1. there (95×)H7126 2. draw near, approach (95×)G2281 1. sea, large body of water (91×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אֵיפָה35, אֵפָה n.f. ephah (etym. dub., 𝔊 οιφι etc., cf. Copt. ôipi, Thes LagOr. ii. 2 & cit.)—א׳ Nu 5:15 +; אֵפָה Ex 16:36 +; cstr. אֵיפַת Lv 19:36 +;—ephah, a grain-measure. 1. a certain quantity of wheat, barley, etc. = ten omers (עֹמֶר) Ex 16:36 (cf. in measure of offerings Lv 5:11; 6:13 Nu 5:15; 28:5, all עֲשִׂירִית הָא׳; = 1/10 chomer (חֹמֶר) Ez 45:11 (= bath, בַּת, liqu. meas. q.v.) cf.…