אֵפֹד
𐤀𐤐𐤃
Efod
H641 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Ephod: a type of priestly garment or vestment, particularly associated with the Israelite sanctuary and priesthood. The term can also, in certain contexts, refer to an object used in oracular procedures or even, by extension, a cultic image or idol. The ephod primarily designates the ceremonial garment worn by the high priest, characterized by its distinct construction and role in ritual activity.
Semantic Range
priestly garment, ceremonial vestment, linen garment, oracular object, cultic image or idol, specifically the high priest's ephod
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. The word may be related to an Akkadian cognate epattu, meaning a ceremonial garment, but this is not definitively established. Its form is identical to the related longer spelling אֵפוֹד (’ēphōd), with no meaningful distinction; this entry reflects a variant, possibly contracted or archaic, of the same.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite history, the ephod is most prominently described as the special vestment worn by the high priest as part of his formal regalia (Exodus 28–29), constructed of fine materials and intended for ritual function. In several historical narratives, however, 'ephod' is also used for garments worn by others involved in sanctuary service, such as Samuel and certain Levites—sometimes described as linen ephods. In accounts from the Book of Judges (e.g., Gideon's ephod, Judges 8:27), the word denotes an oracular object or possibly a cultic image, distinct from the priestly garment. Such usage suggests ephod could refer more broadly to objects associated with sanctuary worship and divine inquiry. In later traditions, 'ephod' remains closely connected to priestly identity, but its meaning as a garment is primary. Standard English translations often retain the term 'ephod' in transliteration, reflecting its technical, ritual-specific meaning and the difficulty of rendering its full significance in English. Unlike terms such as 'robe' or 'mantle,' 'ephod' always has a ritual or cultic connotation in the Hebrew Bible. The translation tradition that renders 'ephod' as 'Jew' in some English Bibles is erroneous and likely arises from confusion with proper names or a mistaken assimilation to later Jewish identity; there is no evidence for such a usage in the Hebrew Bible itself.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as אֵפוֹד shortened; Ephod, an Israelite; Ephod.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אפת (ʾ-p-t) — to put on, to wrap (uncertain)
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H641-01 |
אֵפֹֽד | efod | HNp |
Ephod | priestly vestment | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H641-01 |
Numbers 34:23 | אֵפֹֽד | efod | HNp |
Ephod | priestly vestment |