What does אֵפוֹד (ʾēpwōd) mean in the Bible?
אֵפוֹד (ʾēpwōd): Priestly garment that evolved from functional girdle to symbolic object embodying divine presence and judgment.
Hebrew · H646
אֵפוֹד
A girdle ; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image
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אֵפוֹדH646
Pronunciationʾēpwōd
What does אֵפוֹד (ʾēpwōd) mean in the Bible?
אֵפוֹד (ʾēpwōd): Priestly garment that evolved from functional girdle to symbolic object embodying divine presence and judgment.
Full entry for אֵפוֹד (H646) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H646?
The BSB source-word alignment has 49 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the ephod (15), of the ephod (14), an ephod (6), ephod (5), on the ephod (3).
Where does אֵפוֹד (ʾēpwōd) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 25:7. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (29), 1 Samuel (9), Judges (6), Leviticus (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itthe ephod15×Exodus 28:6, Exodus 28:26, Exodus 28:28, Exodus 29:5
of the ephod14×Exodus 28:12, Exodus 28:25, Exodus 28:27, Exodus 28:28
an ephod6×Exodus 28:4, Judges 8:27, Judges 17:5, Judges 18:14
ephod5×1 Samuel 2:18, 1 Samuel 22:18, 2 Samuel 6:14, 1 Chronicles 15:27
on the ephod3×Exodus 25:7, Exodus 35:9, Exodus 35:27
. . .2×Exodus 28:27, Exodus 39:20
as the ephod2×Exodus 28:15, Exodus 39:8
it1×1 Samuel 30:7
the ephod itself1×Exodus 29:5
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 25:7לָאֵפֹ֖דtoon the ephodPreposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:4וְאֵפוֹד֙toan ephodConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:6הָאֵפֹ֑דtothe ephodArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:12הָֽאֵפֹ֔דtoof the ephodArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:15אֵפֹ֖דtoas the ephodNoun - masculine singularExodus 28:25הָאֵפֹ֖דtoof the ephodArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:26הָאֵפֹ֖דtothe ephodArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:27הָאֵפ֤וֹדtoof the ephodArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:27הָאֵפֽוֹד׃to. . .Article | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:28הָאֵפֹד֙toof the ephodArticle | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 25:7
Aligned rows49
Books represented7
Exodus29Leviticus2Judges61 Samuel92 Samuel11 Chronicles1Hosea1
Source forms
הָאֵפֹ֖ד7xhā·’ê·p̄ōḏExodus 28:25, Exodus 28:26, Exodus 29:5, Exodus 39:18
הָאֵפֹ֑ד5xhā·’ê·p̄ōḏExodus 28:6, Exodus 39:2, Exodus 39:21, Leviticus 8:7
אֵפ֥וֹד4x’ê·p̄ō·wḏ1 Samuel 2:18, 1 Samuel 22:18, 2 Samuel 6:14, 1 Chronicles 15:27
אֵפ֖וֹד3x’ê·p̄ō·wḏ1 Samuel 2:28, 1 Samuel 23:6, Hosea 3:4
הָאֵפֹ֔ד3xhā·’ê·p̄ōḏExodus 29:5, Exodus 39:7, Exodus 39:21
הָֽאֵפֹ֔ד2xhā·’ê·p̄ōḏExodus 28:12, Leviticus 8:7
הָאֵפֹֽד׃2xhā·’ê·p̄ōḏExodus 29:5, Exodus 39:20
הָ֣אֵפ֔וֹד2xhā·’ê·p̄ō·wḏJudges 18:17, Judges 18:20
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine singular32xExodus 28:6, Exodus 28:12, Exodus 28:25, Exodus 28:26
Noun - masculine singular8xExodus 28:15, Exodus 39:8, Judges 17:5, Judges 18:14
Noun - masculine singular construct4x1 Samuel 2:18, 1 Samuel 22:18, 2 Samuel 6:14, 1 Chronicles 15:27
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular3xExodus 25:7, Exodus 35:9, Exodus 35:27
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular1xExodus 28:4
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular1xJudges 8:27
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Priestly garment that evolved from functional girdle to symbolic object embodying divine presence and judgment.
Source Gloss
a girdle ; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Priestly garment that evolved from functional girdle to symbolic object embodying divine presence and judgment.
a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image BDB: ephod Usage: ephod.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
אֵפוֹד is of foreign origin - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.