“And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.” — Genesis 25:4 (KJV)
The Identity of Epher
The name Epher (meaning “a calf” or “young deer”) refers to three distinct men in the Old Testament. Like the name Ephah, Epher is primarily associated with the wide-reaching lineage of Abraham, but also appears in the tribal records of Judah and Manasseh.
1. Epher: The Son of Midian
The first Epher was the second son of Midian and a grandson of Abraham through his wife Keturah.
- The Arabian Connection: As a prince of Midian, Epher helped establish the Midianite tribes in the desert regions east of Palestine.
- Historical Tradition: The Jewish historian Josephus claimed that Epher led an expedition into Libya and that his name was the etymological root for the continent of Africa (Apher), though this remains a matter of historical debate rather than scriptural doctrine.
2. Epher: The Judahite
In the detailed genealogies of the tribe of Judah, an Epher is listed as one of the four sons of Ezra (not to be confused with Ezra the Scribe).
- The Lineage: He was a brother to Jether, Mered, and Jalon (1 Chronicles 4:17).
- The Connection to Egypt: His brother Mered famously married Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, placing this branch of Epher’s family in a unique position of influence between the Egyptian court and the tribe of Judah.
3. Epher: The Mighty Man of Manasseh
The third Epher was a prominent leader in the half-tribe of Manasseh that settled east of the Jordan River, in the land of Bashan and Mount Hermon.
- The Reputation: Scripture describes him and his peers as “mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers” (1 Chronicles 5:24).
- The Tragic Fall: Despite their fame and military strength, this Epher and his household were among those who “transgressed against the God of their fathers.” Consequently, they were carried away into captivity by the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser, serving as a warning that fame and valor cannot replace faithfulness.
The Forensic Legacy
The various “Ephers” of the Bible show the diversity of the Hebrew experience: from the nomadic tribes of the desert to the settled nobility of Judah, and finally to the famous but fallen warriors of the eastern frontier. They remind the student of Scripture that a “famous name” (Hebrew: anshe shem) is of little value if it is not written in the Book of Life through obedience to the King.