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•EPAENETUS commendable, a Christian at Rome to whom Paul sent his salutation (Romans 16:5). He is spoken of as “the first fruits of Achaia” (R.V., “of Asia”, i.e., of proconsular Asia, which is probably the correct reading). As being the first convert in that region, he was peculiarly dear to the apostle. He calls him his “well beloved.”
•EPAPHRAS lovely, spoken of by Paul (Colossians 1:7; 4:12) as “his dear fellow-servant,” and “a faithful minister of Christ.” He was thus evidently with him at Rome when he wrote to the Colossians. He was a distinguished disciple, and probably the founder of the Colossian church. He is also mentioned in the Epistle to Philemon (1:23), where he is called by Paul his “fellow-prisoner.”
•EPAPHRODITUS fair, graceful; belonging to Aphrodite or Venus the messenger who came from Phillipi to the apostle when he was a prisoner at Rome (Phil. 2:25-30; 4:10-18). Paul mentions him in words of esteem and affection. On his return to Philippi he was the bearer of Paul’s letter to the church there.
•EPHAH gloom. (1.) One of the five sons of Midian, and grandson of Abraham (Genesis 25:4). The city of Ephah, to which he gave his name, is mentioned Isaiah 60:6, 7. This city, with its surrounding territory, formed part of Midian, on the east shore of the Dead Sea. It abounded in dromedaries and camels (Judges 6:5).
(2.) 1 Chronicles 2:46, a concubine of Caleb.
(3.) 1 Chronicles 2:47, a descendant of Judah.
Ephah, a word of Egyptian origin, meaning measure; a grain measure containing “three seahs or ten omers,” and equivalent to the bath for liquids (Exodus 16:36; 1 Samuel 17:17; Zechariah 5:6). The double ephah in Proverbs 20:10 (marg., “an ephah and an ephah”), Deuteronomy 25:14, means two ephahs, the one false and the other just.