Ephah עֵיפָה
Caleb's concubine and mother of three sons.
Who is Ephah in the Bible?
Ephah was a concubine of Caleb, the son of Hezron, and the mother of three sons named Haran, Moza, and Gazez (1 Chronicles 2:46). As a secondary wife, Ephah held a lower social status than Caleb's primary wife but remained a recognized member of the family unit. Her sons are listed in the genealogy of Judah alongside Caleb's other children, indicating their acknowledgment within the family line. The inclusion of Ephah and her sons in the biblical genealogy serves to document the various branches of Judah's descendants and reflects the ancient practice of recording all family members, including those born to concubines.
Biography
Ephah is mentioned in the genealogy of Judah as a concubine of Caleb, the son of Hezron (1Ch.2.46). She bore Caleb three sons: Haran, Moza, and Gazez. The inclusion of Ephah and her sons in the genealogy highlights the importance of recording the various branches of Judah's descendants, even those born to concubines. Concubines were secondary wives who held a lower social status than the primary wife but were still considered part of the family. Ephah's sons are listed alongside Caleb's other children, indicating their recognition within the family line. No further information is provided about Ephah's background, her relationship with Caleb, or the lives of her sons. Her mention in the genealogy serves to provide a comprehensive record of Caleb's descendants and to showcase the diverse family structure within the tribe of Judah.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 2:46
"Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֵיפָה |
Ephah (1)
(1) The son of Midian, descended from Abraham by his wife Keturah (Ge 25:4; 1Ch 1:33), mentioned again in Isa 60:6 as a transporter of gold and frankincense from Sheba, who shall thus bring enlargement to Judah and praise to Yahweh. According to Fried. Delitzsch, Schrader, and Hommel, `Ephah is an abbreviation of `Ayappa, the Kha-yappa Arabs of the time of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon. See treatment of this view in Dillmann's Commentary on Ge (Ge 25:4).
(2) A concubine of Caleb (1Ch 2:46).
(3) The son of Jahdai, a descendant of Judah (1Ch 2:47).
Charles B. Williams
A dry measure of about one bushel capacity. It corresponds to the bath in liquid measure and was the standard for measuring grain and similar articles since it is classed with balances and weig