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 41:52
- Genesis 46:20
- Genesis 48:1
- Genesis 48:5
- Genesis 48:13
- Genesis 48:14
- Genesis 48:17
- Genesis 48:20
- Genesis 50:23
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Ephraim.
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.
