Who was Ephah in the Bible?

Ephah was a grandson of Abraham, listed as one of the sons of Midian. Midian was a son born to Abraham and his wife Keturah after Sarah's death (Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33).

What is the significance of Ephah?

Ephah's significance lies in his lineage, as he represents one of the tribes descended from Abraham through Keturah. These tribes, including the Midianites, became prominent peoples in the regions east of Israel, often interacting with the Israelites throughout the Old Testament.

Are there any key events in Ephah's life?

The Bible does not record specific events in Ephah's life. His mention is primarily genealogical, establishing him as a clan head and ancestor of a people group. His name later appears in prophecies concerning the wealth of nations (Isaiah 60:6).

Ephah

Old TestamentPatriarchsMaleSon

Ephah was one of the sons of Midian, who was a son of Abraham through Keturah (Gen.25.4; 1Ch.1.33).

Ephah

Biography

Ephah was a son of Midian and therefore a grandson of Abraham through his second wife Keturah, whom the patriarch married after Sarah's death (Genesis 25:1–4). He is listed among the five sons of Midian, Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah, and his name is repeated in the parallel genealogy of 1 Chronicles 1:33. Ephah gave his name to a clan or region in northwestern Arabia, and the name appears again in Isaiah 60:6, where the prophet envisions a future day when camels from Midian and Ephah will come to Jerusalem bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praise of the LORD. This prophetic reference, likely alluding to Ephaite traders, suggests that Ephah's descendants maintained a distinct identity and played a role in ancient Arabian commerce.

Significance

Ephah's significance extends beyond his genealogical position to encompass the prophetic vision of Isaiah 60:6, where his name is embedded in a sweeping oracle of eschatological restoration. The Midianites and Ephaites bearing tribute to Zion form part of the vision of the nations streaming to worship Israel's God, a vision that the New Testament associates with the coming of the Magi and, more broadly, with the ingathering of the Gentiles into the new covenant community. Ephah thus becomes an unlikely thread in the tapestry of redemptive history: a grandson of Abraham through a non-covenant line whose descendants are drawn back toward Jerusalem in the age of fulfillment, testifying to the universal scope of God's saving purposes.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherMidianSiblingAbidaSiblingEpherSiblingEnochSiblingElda'a

Verse Appearances (2)

Genesis

Genesis 25:4

1Chr

1Chr 1:33

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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