אֵיפָה (H374) — Hebrew Lexicon

אֵיפָה

𐤀𐤉𐤐𐤄

ʼêyphâh

H374 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (Egyptian loanword referring to vessel, container, measure)

Definition

A dry measure of capacity, primarily for grain and similar goods, equal to approximately 20-22 liters (about 0.6 bushels); also, a standard vessel or container of this capacity. In some contexts, the term can refer more generally to a standard unit or standard of measurement.

Semantic Range

dry measure of grain (c. 20 liters); standard container or vessel; unit of standard quantity; general measure (rare, always in context of dry goods)

Root / Etymology

Borrowed from Egyptian (likely from 'ip.t' meaning 'basket' or 'box'). The word does not derive from a native Hebrew root, but is an ancient loanword related to Egyptian systems of measurement. The Hebrew form אֵיפָה (ʼêyphâh) preserves this external origin and refers specifically to a unit of dry measure.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The אֵיפָה is used in legal, ritual, and economic texts in the Hebrew Bible, especially in contexts concerning trade, tithes, and offerings, e.g., Exodus, Leviticus, and the Prophets. The ephah is one-tenth of a 'homer' (חֹמֶר), as described in Ezekiel 45:11, and roughly equivalent to the liquid measure 'bath' (בַּת). The word consistently denotes a specific volume rather than a general 'measure,' and context usually makes clear whether it refers to a container or to its capacity. In the Persian and later periods, the ephah is referenced as a fixed standard, reflecting the developing concern for standardized weights and measures in the biblical economy. The term is retained as a technical word in most English translations; however, its meaning as a fixed capacity is sometimes misunderstood by readers. Notably, the term does not refer to measures of length or weight, only to dry capacity; its usage is restricted to exchanges or offerings involving foodstuffs (primarily grain, sometimes flour or meal). The shortened form אֵפָה is attested in later books. In post-biblical times, measurement systems shifted, and the ephah ceased to be a living unit of measurement, remaining primarily a scriptural or historical term. In some English translations, 'ephah' is left untranslated; other translations supply 'bushel' or 'measure,' which can obscure the technical specificity of the term.

Translation Consistency

primary "ephah" 28 occurrences

This term is a specific traditional unit of dry measure (~20–22 liters) and also names the container; using the transliterated noun “ephah” is precise, widely recognized in Bible translation, and preserves the measurement meaning without ambiguous generalizations like “measure.” It is natural as a fixed technical term and fits all occurrences consistently.

Alternatives (12 occurrences):

"ephah-measure" (7x) "ephah-measure of" (3x) "dry-measure of" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) אֵפָה ; of Egyptian derivation; an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general; ephah, (divers) measure(-s).

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Root Family

איפה (ʾ-y-p-h) — dry measure, grain container, standard quantity

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H374-04`	הָ/אֵיפָ֖ה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah	13
`H374-01`	אֵיפָ֣ה	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	ephah	grain dry-measure	an ephah	8
`H374-07`	וְ/אֵיפָ֑ה	veeyfah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-an-ephah	and an ephah-measure	and an ephah-measure	7
`H374-06`	לָ/אֵיפָֽה	laeyfah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	to-an-ephah	to a grain-measure	to an ephah	4
`H374-08`	וְ/אֵיפַת	veeyfat	`HC/Ncfsc`	and an ephah	and an ephah-measure of	and an ephah-measure of	3
`H374-02`	אֵ֥יפַת	eyfat	`HNcfsc`	a just ephah	dry-measure of	dry-measure of	2
`H374-03`	הָ/אֵפָ֛ה	haefah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the dry-measure vessel	the ephah	2
`H374-05`	כְּ/אֵיפָ֥ה	keeyfah	`HR/Ncfsa`	about an ephah	ephah-measure	about an ephah	1

Occurrences in Scripture

40 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H374-04`	Exodus 16:36	הָ/אֵיפָ֖ה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-03`	Leviticus 5:11	הָ/אֵפָ֛ה	haefah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the dry-measure vessel	the ephah
`H374-03`	Leviticus 6:13	הָ/אֵפָ֥ה	haefah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the dry-measure vessel	the ephah
`H374-02`	Leviticus 19:36	אֵ֥יפַת	eyfat	`HNcfsc`	a just ephah	dry-measure of	dry-measure of
`H374-04`	Numbers 5:15	הָ/אֵיפָ֖ה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	an ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-04`	Numbers 28:5	הָ/אֵיפָ֛ה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-01`	Deuteronomy 25:14	אֵיפָ֣ה	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	ephah	grain dry-measure	an ephah
`H374-07`	Deuteronomy 25:14	וְ/אֵיפָ֑ה	veeyfah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and ephah	and an ephah-measure	and an ephah-measure
`H374-01`	Deuteronomy 25:15	אֵיפָ֧ה	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	a full measure	grain dry-measure	an ephah
`H374-08`	Judges 6:19	וְ/אֵיפַת	veeyfat	`HC/Ncfsc`	and an ephah	and an ephah-measure of	and an ephah-measure of
`H374-07`	1 Samuel 1:24	וְ/אֵיפָ֨ה	veeyfah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and an ephah	and an ephah-measure	and an ephah-measure
`H374-02`	1 Samuel 17:17	אֵיפַ֤ת	eyfat	`HNcfsc`	an ephah	dry-measure of	dry-measure of
`H374-01`	Isaiah 5:10	אֵיפָֽה	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	ephah	grain dry-measure	an ephah
`H374-08`	Ezekiel 45:10	וְ/אֵֽיפַת	veeyfat	`HC/Ncfsc`	and an ephah	and an ephah-measure of	and an ephah-measure of
`H374-04`	Ezekiel 45:11	הָ/אֵיפָ֣ה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-04`	Ezekiel 45:11	הָֽ/אֵיפָ֔ה	haeyfah-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-04`	Ezekiel 45:13	הָֽ/אֵיפָה֙	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-04`	Ezekiel 45:13	הָֽ/אֵיפָ֔ה	haeyfah-2	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-01`	Ezekiel 45:24	אֵיפָ֥ה	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	an-ephah	grain dry-measure	an ephah
`H374-07`	Ezekiel 45:24	וְ/אֵיפָ֥ה	veeyfah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-an-ephah	and an ephah-measure	and an ephah-measure
`H374-06`	Ezekiel 45:24	לָ/אֵיפָֽה	laeyfah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for-the-ephah	to a grain-measure	to an ephah
`H374-01`	Ezekiel 46:5	אֵיפָ֣ה	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	an ephah	grain dry-measure	an ephah
`H374-06`	Ezekiel 46:5	לָ/אֵיפָֽה	laeyfah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	for the ephah	to a grain-measure	to an ephah
`H374-07`	Ezekiel 46:7	וְ/אֵיפָ֨ה	veeyfah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-an-ephah	and an ephah-measure	and an ephah-measure
`H374-07`	Ezekiel 46:7	וְ/אֵיפָ֤ה	veeyfah-2	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-an-ephah	and an ephah-measure	and an ephah-measure
`H374-06`	Ezekiel 46:7	לָ/אֵיפָֽה	laeyfah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	to-an-ephah	to a grain-measure	to an ephah
`H374-01`	Ezekiel 46:11	אֵיפָ֤ה	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	an-ephah	grain dry-measure	an ephah
`H374-07`	Ezekiel 46:11	וְ/אֵיפָ֣ה	veeyfah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and-an-ephah	and an ephah-measure	and an ephah-measure
`H374-06`	Ezekiel 46:11	לָ/אֵיפָֽה	laeyfah	`HRd/Ncfsa`	to-an-ephah	to a grain-measure	to an ephah
`H374-04`	Ezekiel 46:14	הָֽ/אֵיפָ֔ה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of an ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-01`	Amos 8:5	אֵיפָה֙	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	the ephah	grain dry-measure	an ephah
`H374-08`	Micah 6:10	וְ/אֵיפַ֥ת	veeyfat	`HC/Ncfsc`	and ephah	and an ephah-measure of	and an ephah-measure of
`H374-04`	Zechariah 5:6	הָֽ/אֵיפָה֙	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	is the ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-04`	Zechariah 5:7	הָ/אֵיפָֽה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-04`	Zechariah 5:8	הָֽ/אֵיפָ֑ה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	of the ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-04`	Zechariah 5:9	הָ֣/אֵיפָ֔ה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-04`	Zechariah 5:10	הָ/אֵיפָֽה	haeyfah	`HTd/Ncfsa`	the ephah	the grain-measure	the ephah
`H374-01`	Proverbs 20:10	אֵיפָ֣ה	eyfah	`HNcfsa`	ephah (measure)	grain dry-measure	an ephah
`H374-07`	Proverbs 20:10	וְ/אֵיפָ֑ה	veeyfah	`HC/Ncfsa`	and ephah (measure)	and an ephah-measure	and an ephah-measure
`H374-05`	Ruth 2:17	כְּ/אֵיפָ֥ה	keeyfah	`HR/Ncfsa`	about an ephah	ephah-measure	about an ephah

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