Protos

Who was Ephraim in the Bible?

Joseph's son, in the age of the patriarchs

Ephraim was the second son of Joseph, born to him in Egypt by his wife Asenath (Gen.41.52). Ephraim appears in 9 verses of the Bible.

What does the Bible say about Ephraim?

Ephraim was the second son of Joseph, born to him in Egypt by his wife Asenath (Gen.41.52). He and his older brother Manasseh were adopted by Israel (or 'Jacob') and blessed, with Ephraim receiving the greater blessing (Gen.48). Ephraim's descendants formed one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were often grouped with the tribe of Manasseh under the collective name "Joseph" (Num.1.32,33; 26.28,35,37). The tribe of Ephraim settled in the central region of Canaan (Jos.16.4,5,8,9,10) and played a significant role throughout Israel's history. They were known for their military prowess (Jdg.5.14; Psa.78.9) and produced several notable leaders, including Joshua (Num.13.8), Abdon (Jdg.12.15), and Samuel (1Sa.1.1). However, they also exhibited pride and a rebellious spirit at times (Jdg.8.1,2; 12.1; 2Sa.20.21). Ephraim, along with the other northern tribes, separated from Judah after Solomon's reign and formed the northern kingdom of Israel (1Ki.12.25). The prophets often addressed Ephraim, warning them of judgment for their idolatry and unfaithfulness (Isa.7.2,5,8,9; Jer.31.18,20; Hos.4.17; 5). However, there were also promises of restoration and blessing (Jer.31.6,9; Ezk.37.16,19). In the New Testament, Ephraim is mentioned in the context of Jesus withdrawing to a village called Ephraim before his final entry into Jerusalem (Jdg.12.6; 1Ch.12.30; 27.20; 2Ch.25.7; Psa.78.9; 2Ch.13.19; 1Ki.11.26; 1Sa.1.1).

Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.

Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.

Where does Ephraim appear in the Bible?

Ephraim is referenced in 9 verses. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

Genesis 9

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Ephraim.

ManassehJosephIsraelEgyptMachir

Common questions

How many times does the Bible mention Ephraim?

Ephraim appears in 9 verses, all of them in Genesis.

Which books of the Bible mention Ephraim?

Just one: Genesis.

Where can I read every verse about Ephraim?

This page lists 9 of them. Protos carries all 9, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.

Read it in context

Read Genesis with Ephraim explained on the verse.

Tap any name, place, or word you do not recognize and the background opens on the verse you are reading. No second tab, no search, no losing your place.

The Protos reader open on Genesis 1 with the How to Read Genesis background sheet raised over it
Download Protos

Testimonies from pastors and Bible teachers

Portrait of Darren Raynald
“Great app for diving into Scripture wherever you are. It makes it easy and convenient to study on the go.”

Darren Raynald

Pastor, MountainHouse Church · Teaches at Portland Bible College

Portrait of Jason Layantara
“Been using Protos for months now. Protos is an amazing Bible study app for anyone who wants to grow deeper in God's Word. I love how it helps me understand Scripture beyond simply reading the verses, providing helpful historical context, commentary, and insights into the original Hebrew and Greek. The resources make it easier to engage with the Bible and grow in understanding.”

Jason Layantara

Teaching Pastor, MountainHouse Church · M.A. in Christian Leadership · Bible class teacher, Lake Tahoe

"People often think they have a discipline problem because they struggle to read the Bible for more than a few minutes, while they can watch movies for hours. It may not be an attention-span problem so much as an immersion problem: when you understand the story, the people, the world, and what is happening, two hours can disappear. But when you do not understand what you are reading, even ten minutes can feel like work. So you skim past the words and jump straight to what the passage means for you before you have listened to what God is saying through the text, the story, and the voice of the writer. It happens so often that theology has a name for it: eisegesis."
Fabio Jonathan ArifinFabio JonathanFounder of Protos · Portland Bible College graduate

Protos helps you close that gap so you can stop skimming and start getting immersed in the world of the Bible.

★★★★★4.8 from 117 App Store ratings

The streak feature actually got people in my congregation excited to read, especially the youth. We've started comparing notes after service.
PhilPastor, Ohio
between work + kids i barely get time to breathe lol. but protos somehow helps making deep studies doable. i've been reading during lunch breaks again for the first time in years.
CalebA dad
been using protos for like 2 weeks now. It helps me prep for our small group without getting overwhelmed. The context snippets show up right where I need them.
Chloe ChuaSmall group leader, Singapore

Start understanding the Bible better.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play