עֶפְרוֹן
𐤏𐤐𐤓𐤅𐤍
Eferon
H6085 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Ephrōn. (1) The personal name 'Ephron,' most notably referring to a Hittite man who owned a field and cave at Machpelah near Hebron, known from the patriarchal narratives as the individual from whom Abraham purchased a family burial site (Genesis 23; 25:9; 49:29–32; 50:13). (2) A geographic name: a town allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, located between Bethel and Beth-aven (Joshua 15:9; 18:13), and also a fortified town east of the Jordan River mentioned in connection with events during the reign of the Israelite king Asa (2 Chronicles 13:19). The meaning of the name is traditionally thought to be connected to 'fawn' or dust, but as a proper name it primarily identifies individuals and places.
Semantic Range
proper masculine personal name; place name; possibly 'fawn-like' in the sense of diminutive or youthfulness (as a secondary, etymological association)
Root / Etymology
From the root עֵפֶר (ʿefer), generally meaning 'dust, ashes'; the form עֶפְרוֹן (Ephrōn) is a diminutive or derivative meaning possibly 'small fawn' or 'young one like dust.' However, as a personal and place name, the etymological meaning is secondary to its use as a proper noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the biblical texts, 'Ephron' primarily functions as a personal and place name. As a personal name, Ephron the Hittite appears as a landowner in the narrative of Abraham’s acquisition of a family burial tomb, a story of foundational importance in Israelite memory (Genesis 23). The narrative highlights Ephron’s social status as a resident of Hebron and as part of the local Hittite population (children of Heth), reflecting the multi-ethnic composition of Canaanite cities in the patriarchal period. As a place name, Ephron designates distinct locales: in the tribal allotments (Joshua 15; 18) and in military accounts (2 Chronicles 13). In Second Temple literature and later Greek translations, name forms like 'Ephron' and 'Ephrain' may occasionally be rendered differently, and some English translations have, since the KJV, equated Ephron with the later term 'Ephrain,' reflecting translation traditions rather than distinct ancient usage. The root meaning 'dust' or 'fawn-like' is largely secondary to the onomastic (name) function in these passages. The personal and place name has no direct relation to later ethnic or religious identities; accordingly, it is important not to conflate the Ephron of Genesis with later Judean or Jewish traditions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as עֵפֶר; fawn-like; Ephron, the name of a Canaanite and of two places in Palestine; Ephron, Ephrain (from the margin).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עפר (ʿ-p-r) — dust, ashes, powder, dusty matter
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5777 | עוֹפֶרֶת | the dusty-metal (lead) |
| H6080 | עָפַר | and he dusted |
| H6081 | עֵפֶר | Epher |
| H6082 | עֹפֶר | fawn of |
| H6083 | עָפָר | dust |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6085-03 |
עֶפְר֨וֹן | eferon | HNp |
Ephron | Dustling | 10 |
H6085-05 |
לְ/עֶפְרֹ֔ן | leeferon | HR/Np |
for Ephron | to Ephron | 1 |
H6085-04 |
עפרון | frvn | HNp |
Ephron | Ephron | 1 |
H6085-02 |
עֶפְרַ֖יִן | eferayin | HNp |
Ephraim | Dust-born Ephron | 1 |
H6085-01 |
בְּ/עֶפְר֥וֹן | beeferon | HR/Np |
with Ephron | in Ephrōn | 1 |
H6085-06 |
וְ/עֶפְר֥וֹן | veeferon | HC/Np |
Now Ephron | Ephrōn | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
15 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6085-01 |
Genesis 23:8 | בְּ/עֶפְר֥וֹן | beeferon | HR/Np |
with Ephron | in Ephrōn |
H6085-06 |
Genesis 23:10 | וְ/עֶפְר֥וֹן | veeferon | HC/Np |
Now Ephron | Ephrōn |
H6085-03 |
Genesis 23:10 | עֶפְר֨וֹן | eferon | HNp |
Ephron | Dustling |
H6085-03 |
Genesis 23:13 | עֶפְר֜וֹן | eferon | HNp |
Ephron | Dustling |
H6085-03 |
Genesis 23:14 | עֶפְר֛וֹן | eferon | HNp |
Ephron | Dustling |
H6085-03 |
Genesis 23:16 | עֶפְרוֹן֒ | eferon | HNp |
Ephron | Dustling |
H6085-05 |
Genesis 23:16 | לְ/עֶפְרֹ֔ן | leeferon | HR/Np |
for Ephron | to Ephron |
H6085-03 |
Genesis 23:17 | עֶפְר֗וֹן | eferon | HNp |
Ephron's | Dustling |
H6085-03 |
Genesis 25:9 | עֶפְרֹ֤ן | eferon | HNp |
Ephron | Dustling |
H6085-03 |
Genesis 49:29 | עֶפְר֥וֹן | eferon | HNp |
of Ephron | Dustling |