Epher

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A son of Midian, Genesis 25:4 , located beyond the Jordan, 1 Kings 4:10 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The head of one of the families of trans-Jordanic Manasseh who were carried captive by Tiglath-pileser (1 Chronicles 5:24 ).

Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Epher'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/e/epher.html. 1897.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33.

2. 1 Chronicles 4:17.

3. E. of Jordan (1 Chronicles 5:24). Related to Ophrah, Gideon's native place in Manasseh W. of Jordan.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Genesis 25:421 Chronicles 4:1731 Chronicles 5:24

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

EPHER . 1. The name of the second of the sons of Midian mentioned in Genesis 25:4 , 1 Chronicles 1:33 , and recorded as one of the descendants of Abraham by his wife Keturah ( Genesis 25:1 ). 2. The name of one of the sons of Ezrah ( 1 Chronicles 4:17 ). 3. The first of a group of five heads of fathers’ houses belonging to the half tribe of Manasseh ( 1 Chronicles 5:24 ).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Midian, being the son of Abraham and Keturah. Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33 .

2. Son of Ezra, a descendant of Judah. 1 Chronicles 4:17 .

3. A chief of Manasseh, east of the Jordan. 1 Chronicles 5:24 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

E'pher. (a calf).

1. The second, in order, of the sons of Midian. Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33. (B.C. 1820).

2. A son of Ezra, among the descendants of Judah. 1 Chronicles 4:17.

3. One of the heads of the families of Manasseh, on the east of Jordan. 1 Chronicles 5:24.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ē´fẽr ( עפר , ‛ēpher , "calf," "young deer"; Ἄφερ , Ápher , Ὄφερ , Ópher ̌ :

(1) The second son of Midian, descended from Abraham by his wife Keturah (Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33 ). See further Dillmann's Commentary on Gen ( Jeremiah 25:4 ).

(2) The third son of Ezra, descended from the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:17 ).

(3) The first of five heads of their fathers' houses, "mighty men of valor, famous men," in the halftribe of Manasseh, who dwelt between Bashan and Mt. Hermon (1 Chronicles 5:23 , 1 Chronicles 5:14 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrews id. עֵפֶר, the gopher, so called from its gray or ashy color), the name of a tribe (including that of its founder) and of two men.

1. (Sept. Ἀφείρ v.r. Ο᾿φείρ , in Chron. Ο᾿φέρ, Vulg. Opher and Epher.) The second in order of the sons of Midian (Genesis 25:4; 1 Chronicles 1:33), Abraham's son by Keturah. B.C. post 1988. According to Gesenius, the name is equivalent to the Arabic Ghifr, signifying "a calf," and "a certain little animal, or insect, or animalcule." Two tribes bear a similar appellation, Ghifar; but one was a branch of the first Amalek, the other of the Ishmaelite Kinaneh (comp. Caussin, Essai sur l'Hist. des Arabes, 1:20, 297, 298; and Abulfeda, Hist. Anteislamica, edit. Fleischer, page 196): neither is ascribed to Midian. The first settled about Yethrib (El-Medineh); the second in the neighborhood of Mekkeh. (See Midian).

2. (Sept. Ἀφέρ v.r. Γαφέρ, Vulg. Epher.) The third son of Ezra, a descendant of the tribe of Judah, and apparently of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh (1 Chronicles 4:17). B.C. cir. 1618.

3. (Sept. Ο᾿φέρ , Vulg. Epher.) The head of one of the families of Manasseh cast, who were carried away by Tiglath-Pileser (1 Chronicles 5:24). B.C. ante 740. The name may be compared with that of Ophrah (q.v.), the native place of Gideon, in Manasseh, on the west of Jordan.