עֵיפָה

עֵיפָה

Ephah, the name of a son of Midian, and of the region settled by him; also of an Israelite and of an Israelitess

Definition

Ephah (עֵיפָה) is a proper noun used primarily as a personal and geographical name in the Old Testament. It first appears as the name of a son of Midian, a descendant of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:4, 1 Chronicles 1:33). The name also appears in the genealogies of Judah, referring to an Israelite man (1 Chronicles 2:46) and an Israelitess (1 Chronicles 2:47). In its final and most significant usage, 'Ephah' refers to a region or people group associated with Midian, mentioned in Isaiah 60:6 as a source of wealth and tribute brought to a glorified Zion.

Biblical Usage

The word is used five times across three biblical books. In Genesis 25:4 and 1 Chronicles 1:33, it identifies a son of Midian, establishing a tribal lineage. In 1 Chronicles 2:46-47, it functions as the name of two individuals within the tribe of Judah. Its most theologically charged usage is in Isaiah 60:6, where 'the multitude of camels...and the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah' symbolize distant nations bringing their wealth to Jerusalem in a prophetic vision of restoration and universal homage to God's glory.

Etymology

The name 'Ephah' is identical to the common noun עֵיפָה (H5890), which means 'darkness' or 'gloom.' It is derived from the root עוּף, meaning 'to fly' or 'to be dark/faint.' As a proper name, it likely carried a descriptive or symbolic meaning, perhaps related to the character of the person or the nature of the territory. The connection to 'darkness' may hint at a geographical association or serve as a traditional name without a direct positive or negative theological connotation in its personal uses.

Semantic Range

While primarily a name, Ephah gains theological significance in Isaiah 60:6. Here, it represents a Gentile nation—descendants of Abraham through Midian—participating in the eschatological pilgrimage of nations to worship the God of Israel. This fulfills the promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3) and illustrates the prophetic vision of the nations streaming to Zion's light. Understanding Ephah as a specific people group enriches the reading of this prophecy, showing God's intent to include historically distant or even rival groups in His redemptive plan. In the ancient Near East, names often conveyed meaning about a person's character, destiny, or the circumstances of their birth. As a descendant of Midian, Ephah's name connects him to a nomadic trading people from the Arabian Peninsula. The mention of Ephah alongside Midian in Isaiah 60:6, with their camels and dromedaries, accurately reflects their historical identity as desert-dwelling traders. The tribute they bring—gold and frankincense—are commodities associated with the Arabian trade routes, grounding the prophecy in a recognizable cultural and economic reality. Midian (מִדְיָן, H4080) — Ephah is a sub-group or descendant of the larger Midianite people. Sheba (שְׁבָא, H7614) — Another distant trading nation mentioned alongside Ephah in Isaiah 60:6 as bringing tribute to Zion.

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