H6081 H6081
Epher; personal name meaning 'young deer' or 'calf,' borne by descendants of Midian, Judah, and Manasseh
A personal name appearing in genealogies across three tribal lines. Genesis 25:4 and its parallel in 1 Chronicles 1:33 identify Epher as a son of Midian (Abraham's son through Keturah), making him Abraham's grandson. In Judah's genealogy (1 Chr 4:17), another Epher appears among the descendants. A third instance occurs in Manasseh's genealogy (1 Chr 5:24) among the heads of families. The LXX transliterations vary (Gopher, Gapher, Apher), typical for proper names. The name likely derives from a word meaning 'young deer' or 'calf,' common in ancient Semitic naming.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Personal name occurring in multiple genealogical contexts. Genesis 25:4 = 1 Chronicles 1:33 identifies Epher as Midian's son. 1 Chronicles 4:17 lists an Epher in Judah's line, while 5:24 mentions one in Manasseh. The repeated name across different tribes suggests its popularity, possibly meaning 'young deer/calf' based on the root. 4×
AR["وَ-عيفِر", "وَ-عِفِر", "وَعَفَرُ"]·ben["এবং-ঐফর", "ও-এফর"]·DE["[ועפר]", "und-Efer"]·EN["and-Epher"]·FR["et-Epher", "et-Épher"]·heb["ו-עפר"]·HI["और-एपेर", "और-एफ़ेर"]·ID["dan-Efer"]·IT["e-Efer", "e-Epher"]·jav["lan-Efer", "lan-Èfèr", "lan-Éfèr"]·KO["그-와-에베르", "그-와-에벨", "그리고-에디르와"]·PT["e-'Efer", "e-'Epher", "e-Efer"]·RU["и-Эфер"]·ES["y-Efer", "y-Epher"]·SW["na-Eferi"]·TR["ve-Efer"]·urd["اور-عیفر", "و-عفر"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† עֵ֫פֶר n.pr.m. Αφερ, etc.;— 1. ‘son’ of Midian Gn 25:4 = 1 Ch 1:33 (𝔊L Γοφερ). 2. in Judah 1 Ch 4:17 (A Γαφερ). 3. in Manasseh 5:24.