Easton's Bible Dictionary Something girt, a sacred vestment worn originally by the high priest (Exodus 28:4), afterwards by the ordinary priest (1 Samuel 22:18), and characteristic of his office (1 Samuel 2:18, 28; 14:3). It was worn by Samuel, and also by David (2 Samuel 6:14). It was made of fine linen, and consisted of two pieces, which hung from the neck, and covered both the back and front, above the tunic and outer garment (Exodus 28:31). That of the high priest was embroidered with divers colours. The two pieces were joined together over the shoulders (hence in Latin called superhumerale) by clasps or buckles of gold or precious stones, and fastened round the waist by a "curious girdle of gold, blue, purple, and fine twined linen" (28:6-12). The breastplate, with the Urim and Thummim, was attached to the ephod. Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A part of the sacerdotal habit among Jews, being a covering for the back and breast, held together on the shoulders by two clasps or brooches of onyx stones set in gold, and fastened by a girdle of the same stuff as the ephod. The ephod for the priests was of plain linen; that for the high priest was richly embroidered in colors. The breastplate of the high priest was worn upon the ephod in front. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia EPHOD (1) ef'-od ('ephowdh (28 times), 'ephodh (20 times), 'ephodh; Septuagint epomis, ephoth, ephod, ephoud, stole exallos, stole bussine): (1) A sacred vestment originally designed for the high priest (Exodus 28:4; Exodus 39:2), and made "of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen," held together by two shoulder-pieces and a skillfully woven band which served as a girdle for the ephod. On the shoulderpieces were two onyx stones on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. It is not known whether the ephod extended below the hips or only to the waist. Attached to the ephod by chains of pure gold was a breastplate containing twelve precious stones in four rows. Underneath the ephod was the blue robe of the ephod extending to the feet of the priest. The robe of the ephod was thus a garment comprising, in addition to the long robe proper, the ephod with its shoulderpieces and the breastplate of judgment. (2) From the historical books we learn that ephods were worn by persons other than the high priest. Thus, the boy Samuel was girded with a linen ephod while assisting the aged high priest (1 Samuel 2:18); the priests at Nob, 85 in number, are described as men wearing a linen ephod (1 Samuel 22:18); and David was girded with a linen ephod when he danced in the procession that brought the ark into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). The ephod was considered appropriate for the king on this solemn and happy occasion; but it would be reading into the narrative more than it contains to infer that lay worshippers were regularly clothed with the ephod; nor are we to suppose that priests other than the high priest were accustomed to wear ephods as rich and elaborate as that of the high priest. Abiathar, who became high priest after the assassination of his father by Doeg, probably brought to the camp of David the ephod worn by the high priest in his ministrations at Nob (1 Samuel 23:6), and through this ephod David sought in certain crises to learn Yahweh's will (1 Samuel 23:9; 1 Samuel 30:7). Some have argued that the ephod, which Abiathar brought in his hand, was an image rather than a priestly garment, but there seems no sufficient reason for regarding it as other than a vestment for the high priest. The ephod behind which the sword of Goliath was kept wrapped in a cloth may well have been a garment suspended from the wall or itself wrapped in a protecting cloth (1 Samuel 21:9). (3) The ephod mentioned in Judges 17:5; Judges 18:14; Hosea 3:4 is associated with teraphim and other idolatrous images. We may frankly confess that we do not know the shape, size and use of the ephod in these cases, though even here also the ephod may well have been a priestly garment. The same remark holds good of the ephod made by Gideon, and which became an object of idolatrous worship in Israel (Judges 8:27). It has been argued that a vestment would not cost seventeen hundred shekels of gold. Possibly Gideon set up an apparatus of worship containing other articles just as the mother of Micah began with the promise to make a graven image and a molten image, and afterward added an ephod and teraphim (Judges 17:1-5). Moreover, if gems and brilliants were put on Gidcon's ephod, who can say that it did not cost seventeen hundred shekels? LITERATURE. Braun, De vestitu sacerdotum (1698), 462; Ugolini, Thesaurus antiquitatum sacrarum (1744-69), XII, 785; Ancessi, Annales de philos. chretienne, 1872; Konig, Rel. Hist. of Israel, 107; Van Hoonackcr, Le sacerdoce levitique (1899), 370; Foote, The Ephod, in "Johns Hopkins University Circulars," 1900. John Richard Sampey EPHOD (2) e'-fod ('ephodh): Father of Hanniel, prince of Manasseh (Numbers 34:23).

Multi-Version Concordance Ephod (45 Occurrences) Exodus 25:7 onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:4 These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, and his sons, that he may minister to me in the priest's office. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:6 "They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:8 And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. (KJV DBY WBS YLT NIV) Exodus 28:12 You shall put the two stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders for a memorial. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:15 "You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, you shall make it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:25 The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:26 You shall make two rings of gold, and you shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which is toward the side of the ephod inward. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:27 You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:28 They shall bind the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate may not swing out from the ephod. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 28:31 "You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 29:5 You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and dress him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 35:9 onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod and for the breastplate. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 35:27 The rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breastplate; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:2 He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:4 They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. At the two ends it was joined together. (See NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses. (KJV DBY WBS YLT NIV) Exodus 39:7 He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses. by the hands of artificers. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself this day to Yahweh? (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:8 He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:18 The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:19 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:20 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:21 They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as Yahweh commanded Moses. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 39:22 He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Leviticus 8:7 He put the coat on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him, and fastened it to him with it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 34:23 Of the children of Joseph: of the tribe of the children of Manasseh a prince, Hanniel the son of Ephod. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 8:27 Gideon made an ephod of it, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel played the prostitute after it there; and it became a snare to Gideon, and to his house. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 17:5 The man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 18:14 Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish answered, and said to their brothers, "Do you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and an engraved image, and a molten image? Now therefore consider what you have to do." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 18:17 The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 18:18 When these went into Micah's house, and fetched the engraved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Judges 18:20 The priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the engraved image, and went in the midst of the people. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 2:28 Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? Did I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 14:3 and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn't know that Jonathan was gone. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 14:18 And Saul said to Ahijah, Let the ephod come here. For he went before Israel with the ephod at that time. (BBE) 1 Samuel 21:9 The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it; for there is no other except that here." David said, "There is none like that. Give it to me." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 22:18 The king said to Doeg, "Turn and attack the priests!" Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 23:6 It happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 23:9 David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Samuel 30:7 David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Please bring me here the ephod." Abiathar brought the ephod to David. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Samuel 6:14 David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Chronicles 15:27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites who bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: and David had on him an ephod of linen. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 30:22 And ye have defiled the covering of Thy graven images of silver, And the ephod of thy molten image of gold, Thou scatterest them as a sickening thing, 'Go out,' thou sayest to it. (YLT) Hosea 3:4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without sacred stone, and without ephod or idols. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)