Lexical Definition
אֶפְרַיִם ʼEphrayim (ef-rah'-yim) Ephraim N:N-M-P
dual of masculine form of אֶפְרָת; double fruit
Ephraim, Ephraimites.
- § Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"
- Ephrajim, a son of Joseph
- also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh
2) the tribe, Ephraim
3) the mountain country of Ephraim
4) sometimes used name for the northern kingdom (Hosea or Isaiah)
5) a city near Baal-hazor
6) a chief gate of Jerusalem
See Greek: Ἐφραίμ
Extended Information
- a chief gate of Nehemiah's Jerusalem
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֶפְרַ֫יִם proper name, masculine Ephraim (Gen 41:52 connected with הִפְרָה, Hiph`il of פרה, compare פרא Hiph`il Hos 13:15).
1. 2nd son of Joseph Gen 41:52; Gen 46:20 reckoned among sons of Jacob, blessed by him, and given preference over Manasseh Gen 48:1; Gen 48:5; Gen 48:13; Gen 48:14; Gen 48:17 (twice in verse) (compare vGen 48:19) vGen 48:20 vGen 48:20; Gen 50:23; Num 1:10; 1Chr 7:20; 1Chr 7:22.
2. בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם (= descendants, tribe of east) Num 1:32; Num 2:18 (twice in verse); Num 2:24; Num 7:48; Num 10:22; Num 26:35; Num 26:37; Josh 16:5; Josh 16:9 (boundaries of territory), Josh 17:8; 1Chr 9:3; 1Chr 12:31*; 1Chr 27:10; 1Chr 27:14; 1Chr 27:20; 1Chr 2:12 less often ׳מַטֵּה א Num 1:33; Num 13:8; Josh 21:5; 1Chr 6:51* ׳מַטֵּה בְנֵיאֿ Num 34:24; Josh 16:8 compare Josh 14:4 ׳שֵׁבֶט א Ps 78:67 (|| אֹהֶל יוֺסֵף); ׳בֵּית א Judg 10:9 also ׳א alone, tribe Ephraim Num 26:28; Deut 33:17; Josh 16:10 + often; וּמְנַשֶּׁה ׳אֶרֶין א Josh 17:17 compare Judg 12:15; 2Chr 30:10 especially
3. הַראֶֿפְרַיִם the mountain-country of Ephraim, a ridge stretching from north to south through territory assigned to Ephraim, with fruitful land on both slopes, especially the western (compare Di Josh 16:1) Josh 17:15; Josh 19:50; Josh 20:7; Judg 2:9; Judg 3:27; Judg 4:5 + 26 t.
4. by Hosea & Isaiah (rarely later) אֶפְרַיִם = kingdom of northern Israel (from Ephraim as largest & strongest tribe in it) Hos 4:17; Hos 5:3 (twice in verse); Hos 5:5 (|| יִשְׂרָאֵל) vHos 5:11 vHos 5:12 + 30 t. Hosea; Isa 7:2; Isa 7:5; Isa 7:8; Isa 7:9; Isa 7:17 + 9 t. Isaiah; also Jer 7:15; Jer 31:9; Jer 31:18; Jer 31:20; Ezek 37:16 (strike out Co) vEzek 37:19; Ps 78:9; 2Chr 25:7; 2Chr 25:10 compare 2Chr 30:1; Ps 60:9* = Ps 108:9* ׳עָרֵי א 2Chr 17:2 compare 2Chr 34:6 ׳שְׂדֵה א Obad 1:19 hence ׳א alone in local sense 2Chr 31:1 also Hos 5:9, where feminine (& perhaps Isa 7:2).
5. יִעַר אֶפְרַיִם 2Sam 18:6, east of Jordan; ᵐ5L Klo read יער מַחֲנַיִם compare 2Sam 17:24; 2Sam 17:27.
6. name of a city near Baal-hazor 2Sam 13:23 (= Ἐφραϊμ John 11:54 & 1 Macc 11:34? Klo compare ᵐ5L Γοφραιμ & עפרון, Qr עֶפְרַיִן 2Chr 13:9 so previously Bö Th Ke compare Dr).
7. שַׁעַר אֶפְרַיִם a chief gate of Jerusalem 2Kgs 14:13; 2Chr 25:23; Neh 8:16; Neh 12:39 perhaps at northwest angle, near Holy Sepulchre, compare Schick-GutheZPV 1885.
אֶפְרָת see אפרתה. below
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 41:52 · 46:20 · 48:1 · 48:5 · 48:13 · 48:14 · 48:17 · 48:19 · 48:20 · 50:23 |
| Numbers | 1:10 · 1:32 · 1:33 · 2:18 · 2:24 · 7:48 · 10:22 · 13:8 · 26:28 · 26:35 · 26:37 · 34:24 |
| Deuteronomy | 33:17 |
| Joshua | 14:4 · 16:1 · 16:5 · 16:8 · 16:9 · 16:10 · 17:8 · 17:15 · 17:17 · 19:50 · 20:7 · 21:5 |
| Judges | 2:9 · 3:27 · 4:5 · 10:9 · 12:15 |
| 2 Samuel | 13:23 · 17:24 · 17:27 · 18:6 |
| 2 Kings | 14:13 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:12 · 6:51* · 7:20 · 7:22 · 9:3 · 12:31* · 27:10 · 27:14 · 27:20 |
| 2 Chronicles | 13:9 · 17:2 · 25:7 · 25:10 · 25:23 · 30:1 · 30:10 · 31:1 · 34:6 |
| Nehemiah | 8:16 · 12:39 |
| Psalms | 60:9* · 78:9 · 78:67 · 108:9* |
| Isaiah | 7:2 · 7:5 · 7:8 · 7:9 · 7:17 |
| Jeremiah | 7:15 · 31:9 · 31:18 · 31:20 |
| Ezekiel | 37:16 · 37:19 |
| Hosea | 4:17 · 5:3 · 5:5 · 5:9 · 5:11 · 5:12 · 13:15 |
| Obadiah | 1:19 |
| John | 11:54 |
Profile
Gate of Ephraim • Gate in Jerusalem's wall, rebuilt during Nehemiah's time
The Ephraim Gate, a gate in Jerusalem's wall that was rebuilt during Nehemiah's time and used for public gatherings and proce∟ssions.
- A location in Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם first mentioned at Neh.8.16;
- only referred to as Ephraim_Gate אֶפְרַיִם.
The Ephraim Gate is mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah as one of the gates in Jerusalem's wall that was rebuilt and dedicated during Nehemiah's governorship (Nehemiah 8:16; 12:39). After the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah led the effort to reconstruct the city walls and gates, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians.
In Nehemiah 8:16, the Ephraim Gate is mentioned as one of the locations where the people gathered to hear Ezra read the Book of the Law during the Feast of Tabernacles. The public reading of the Law was an important event in the spiritual renewal of the Jewish community after their return from exile.
Nehemiah 12:39 describes a dedication ceremony for the rebuilt wall, during which two processions of singers and musicians marched along the top of the wall in opposite directions, meeting at the Ephraim Gate before proceeding to the Temple.
The Ephraim Gate's location is not specified, but it was likely on the north side of the city, facing toward the territory of Ephraim. Its inclusion in these events highlights its significance as a public gathering place and a symbol of Jerusalem's restoration and spiritual renewal under Nehemiah's leadership.
All entries for Ephraim Gate: אֶפְרַיִם