Ephah
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [1]
( אֵיפָה , Eyphah', rarely אֵפָה , Ephah'), a measure of grain, containing "three seahs or ten omers," and equivalent in capacity to the bath for liquids ( Exodus 16:36; 1 Samuel 17:17; Zechariah 5:6; Judges 6:19; Ruth 2:17; the "double ephah," Proverbs 20:10; Deuteronomy 25:14; Amos 8:5, means two ephahs, the one just, the other false). According to Josephus (Ant. 8:2, 9), the ephah contained 72 sextarii, equal to the Attic (liquid) metretes, or 1933.95 Paris cubic inches, about 1 and one-twelfth bushels English (see Bockh, Metrolog. Untersuch. pages 259, 278). This is also confirmed by other testimony; so that there is doubtless an error in another passage of Josephus (Ant. 15:9, 2), where the ephah seems to be equal to 96 sextarii, or the Attic medimnus. The origin of this word is to be sought in the Egyptian language, where it signifies a Measure, especially of corn, from which comes the Sept. rendering Οἰφί (see Rediger, in Allg. Encyklop. s.v.; Gesenius, Thes. Ling. Hebrews in Append.). (See Measures).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [2]
ē´fa ( איפה , 'ēphāh ): 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 weights ( Leviticus 19:36; Amos 8:5 ) in the injunctions regarding just dealing in trade. In Zechariah 5:6-10 it is used for the utensil itself (see Weights And Measures ).
