What does אֵפֶר (ʾēp̄er) mean in the Bible?
אֵפֶר (ʾēp̄er) is a Hebrew word meaning "ashes".
Hebrew · H665
אֵפֶר
Ashes
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אֵפֶר H665
Pronunciation ʾēp̄er
What does אֵפֶר (ʾēp̄er) mean in the Bible?
אֵפֶר (ʾēp̄er) is a Hebrew word meaning "ashes".
Full entry for אֵפֶר (H665) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H665?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and ashes (7), ashes (6), the ashes (3), in ashes (2), in the dust (1).
Where does אֵפֶר (ʾēp̄er) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 18:27. Its strongest book concentrations include Job (4), Isaiah (3), Esther (2), Ezekiel (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 It and ashes 7× Genesis 18:27, Esther 4:1, Esther 4:3, Job 30:19
ashes 6× 2 Samuel 13:19, Psalms 102:9, Isaiah 44:20, Isaiah 61:3
the ashes 3× Numbers 19:9, Numbers 19:10, Job 2:8
in ashes 2× Jeremiah 6:26, Ezekiel 27:30
in the dust 1× Lamentations 3:16
like ashes 1× Psalms 147:16
of ashes 1× Job 13:12
you to ashes 1× Ezekiel 28:18
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 18:27 וָאֵֽפֶר׃ to and ashes Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Numbers 19:9 אֵ֣פֶר to the ashes Noun - masculine singular construct Numbers 19:10 אֵ֤פֶר to the ashes Noun - masculine singular construct 2 Samuel 13:19 אֵ֙פֶר֙ to ashes Noun - masculine singular Esther 4:1 וָאֵ֑פֶר to and ashes Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Esther 4:3 וָאֵ֔פֶר to and ashes Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Job 2:8 הָאֵֽפֶר׃ to the ashes Article | Noun - masculine singular Job 13:12 אֵ֑פֶר to of ashes Noun - masculine singular Job 30:19 וָאֵֽפֶר׃ to and ashes Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Job 42:6 וָאֵֽפֶר׃פ to and ashes Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 18:27
Aligned rows 22
Books represented 13
Genesis 1 Numbers 2 2 Samuel 1 Esther 2 Job 4 Psalms 2 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 1 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 2 Daniel 1 Jonah 1 Malachi 1
Source forms
וָאֵֽפֶר׃ 3x wā·’ê·p̄er Genesis 18:27, Job 30:19, Daniel 9:3
אֵ֔פֶר 2x ’ê·p̄er Isaiah 44:20, Malachi 4:3
הָאֵֽפֶר׃ 2x hā·’ê·p̄er Job 2:8, Jonah 3:6
אֵ֣פֶר 1x ’ê·p̄er Numbers 19:9
אֵ֤פֶר 1x ’ê·p̄er Numbers 19:10
אֵ֙פֶר֙ 1x ’ê·p̄er 2 Samuel 13:19
אֵ֑פֶר 1x ’ê·p̄er Job 13:12
אֵ֭פֶר 1x ’ê·p̄er Psalms 102:9
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular 7x Genesis 18:27, Esther 4:1, Esther 4:3, Job 30:19
Noun - masculine singular 6x 2 Samuel 13:19, Job 13:12, Psalms 102:9, Isaiah 44:20
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular 3x Jeremiah 6:26, Lamentations 3:16, Ezekiel 27:30
Article | Noun - masculine singular 2x Job 2:8, Jonah 3:6
Noun - masculine singular construct 2x Numbers 19:9, Numbers 19:10
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular 1x Psalms 147:16
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular 1x Ezekiel 28:18
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. ashes
Source Gloss
ashes
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
ashes Usage: ashes.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Ash or dust.
Showing 1 selected witness from 22 lexical occurrence verses.
Why This Word Matters
Symbolizes emptiness and the futility of idolatrous devotion. Isaiah 44:9-20
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain