Lexical Definition

‎אֵפוֹד‎ ʼêphôwd (ay-fode') ephod ^H:N-M
rarely אֵפֹד ʼêphôd (ay-fode'); probably of foreign derivation

ephod.

• a girdle
• specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece
• also generally, an image

1) ephod
1a) priestly garment, shoulder-cape or mantle, outer garment
1a1) worn by an ordinary priest and made of white stuff
1a2) worn by the high priest-more costly, woven of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and linen threads provided with shoulder-pieces and a breast piece of like material, ornamented with gems and gold

See Greek: ἱερατεία · ποδήρης · στολή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎אֵפוֺד‎ (28 t.) & ‎אֵפֹד‎ (20 t.) noun masculine^{Exod 28:7} ephod (Ethiopic compare Aramaic id. (on meaning see Lag^l.c.), perhaps also Assyrian pid, pittu Zim^{BP 39}; on form see Ges^{«GKC:84a»§ 84a} 12. R. but Lag^l.c. compares , & thinks ‎אֵפוֺד‎ shortened from ‎׳‎‎חֵשֶׁב הָא‎ 'robe of approach' to God) — ‎׳‎‎א‎ absolute Exod 25:7 +; construct 1Sam 2:18 +; —

1. ephod, priestly garment, shoulder-cape or mantle;
a. as worn by ordinary priest made of white stuff (‎בַּד‎) 1Sam 22:18 ‎׳‎‎נֹשֵׂא א‎ compare 2; so Samuel as a temple-servant 1Sam 2:8 ‎׳‎‎חָגוּר א‎ girt with an eph.; so David when dancing before ark 2Sam 6:14 (id.) 1Chr 15:27 ‎׳‎‎וְעַל דוד א‎;
b. as prescribed in P for high priest, more costly, woven of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, & linen (? ‎שֵׁשׁ‎)threads, provided with shoulder-pieces & breast-piece of like material, ornamented with gems and gold, Exod 25:7; Exod 28:4; Exod 28:6; Exod 28:12; Exod 28:15; Exod 29:5; Exod 35:9; Exod 35:27 + 17 t. , also Lev 8:7 compare probably 1Sam 2:28 (‎׳‎‎נֹשֵׂא א‎) 1Sam 14:3; 1Sam 21:10* (see below 2); ‎׳‎‎חֵשֶׁב הָא‎ Exod 28:27; Exod 28:28; Exod 29:5; Exod 39:20; Exod 39:21; Lev 8:7 ‎׳‎‎מְעִיל הָא‎ Lev 29:5; Lev 39:22 (compare Lev 8:7); with verb ‎עַלֿ‎ ‎׳‎‎נָתַן אֶתהָֿא‎ put the ephod on Aaron Lev 8:7.

2. ephod used in consulting ‎׳‎‎י‎ 1Sam 23:6 ‎׳‎‎א‎ borne in hand (read ‎בְּיָדוֺ‎ ‎׳‎‎יָרַד וְהָא‎ ᵐ5 We Dr) v1Sam 23:9; 1Sam 30:7 (twice in verse) (all with ‎חִגִּישׁ‎) + 1Sam 14:18 (‎הגישׁ‎) & v1Sam 14:18, in both read ‎׳‎‎הָא‎ for ‎ארון‎ & v1Sam 14:18 also ‎נֹשֵׂא‎ ᵐ5 Klo Dr;
a. according to Thes MV Di Exod 28:6 and elsewhere properly below 1 b; consultation of ‎׳‎‎י‎ in that case by Urim & Thummim in the breast-piece attached to the ephod (compare Exod 28:28-30 & see ‎אוּרִים‎); if so, in view of ‎נשׂא‎ 1Sam 2:28; 1Sam 14:3; 1Sam 14:18 (compare above), not used elsewhere = wear except 1Sam 22:18, & of 1Sam 23:6, the word might be used by metonymy for the breast-piece itself;
b. others, e.g. Sta^{Geschichte i. 466, 471} Bu^{RS 115} and others, think of an image representing ‎׳‎‎י‎; compare following.

3. a. ephod of gold made by Gideon Judg 8:27 for a local sanctuary, by which Israel was ensnared; = 2 b according to ᵑ6 Thes ('sine controversia') Stu and others + Sta Bu 1.c.; originally = gold sheathing of an image (compare etymology above & Isa 30:22 below ‎אֲפֻדָּה‎); MV Be Kö^{Hauptprobleme 59} think of garment, as below 1 see above
b. made (material not given) for a private, local sanctuary Judg 17:5; Judg 18:14; Judg 18:17; Judg 18:18; Judg 18:20 (|| ‎פֶּסֶל‎, ‎מַסֵּכָה‎, ‎תְּרָפִים‎ in all, for ᵐ5 gives ‎מַסֵּכָה‎ vJudg 18:20, omitted by HCT); compare Hos 3:4 Israel shall abide without king, prince, sacrifice, pillar, ephod or teraphim; according to Thes and others + Sta Bu l.c. = 2 b; Stu Be Ry and others regard as below 1; in view of distinction from ‎פסל‎, ‎מסכה‎ & ‎תרפים‎ it seems more likely that this is not an image, but some means of consulting deity, perhaps in imitation of Urim & Thummim.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References