{
  "id": "dict_001703",
  "term": "Ephah",
  "slug": "ephah",
  "letter": "E",
  "entry_type": "biblical_measurement_unit",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "A biblical dry measure used for grain and other commodities, roughly a bushel in modern terms, though exact equivalence is uncertain.",
  "simple_one_line": "An ephah is an Old Testament unit for measuring dry goods, especially grain.",
  "tooltip_text": "A Hebrew dry measure used in Scripture for grain, meal, and related offerings.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Weighing and measuring",
    "Homer",
    "Hin",
    "Omer",
    "Weights and measures"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Ezekiel 45",
    "Honest weights and measures",
    "Grain offering",
    "Manna"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "An ephah is an Old Testament unit of dry measure used for grain, meal, and other dry goods. It appears in worship, daily life, and commerce, and serves as a practical rather than doctrinal term.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A Hebrew dry-measure unit used for measuring grain and similar goods.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Not a theological doctrine",
    "used in both worship and everyday life",
    "often connected with fair weights and offerings",
    "modern equivalent is approximate."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "An ephah is a Hebrew unit of dry measure mentioned throughout the Old Testament in contexts of worship, agriculture, and trade. It is primarily a practical measurement term rather than a theological concept.",
  "description_academic_full": "An ephah is an ancient Hebrew dry measure used for commodities such as grain, flour, and other dry goods. In the Old Testament it appears in instructions about offerings, honest commerce, and household provision. Because the term belongs to the world of weights and measures, its significance is mainly historical and explanatory: it helps readers understand the scale of biblical transactions and sacrifices. The exact modern equivalent cannot be fixed with precision, but it functioned as a standard recognized measure in Israel's life and law.",
  "background_biblical_context": "Scripture uses the ephah in both ritual and ordinary settings. It is connected to the gathering of manna, grain offerings, household provision, and prophetic calls for honest standards in commerce.",
  "background_historical_context": "As an ancient Near Eastern dry measure, the ephah belonged to the common economic vocabulary of Israel and surrounding cultures. Its exact size likely varied over time, which is why modern conversions are approximate.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "In ancient Israel, standard measures were important for both covenant faithfulness and everyday fairness. The ephah helped regulate trade and offerings so that quantities were not manipulated for gain.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Exod. 16:36",
    "Lev. 5:11",
    "Lev. 19:36",
    "Ruth 2:17",
    "Ezek. 45:10-11"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Judg. 6:19",
    "1 Sam. 1:24",
    "Isa. 5:10",
    "Hos. 3:2",
    "Zech. 5:6-10"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "Hebrew 'ephah' (אֵיפָה) is a dry measure used for grain and similar goods; the term is transliterated into English Bibles.",
  "theological_significance": "The ephah is not itself a doctrine, but it supports biblical themes of honesty, justice, careful stewardship, and faithful worship through accurate measures.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "The term illustrates how Scripture grounds spiritual truth in ordinary material life. God’s law addresses everyday commerce because moral obedience includes fair dealing in concrete, measurable things.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not press modern conversions too rigidly, since the ancient measure may have varied. The ephah should be understood as a practical biblical unit, not as a symbol with a fixed hidden meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.",
  "major_views_note": "Readers generally treat the ephah as a standard dry measure; the main difference in discussion is only the approximate modern equivalent, not the meaning of the term itself.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry should not be treated as a doctrinal term. Its value is explanatory, helping readers understand biblical laws, sacrifices, and economic references.",
  "practical_significance": "Knowing what an ephah is helps readers read Old Testament passages more accurately, especially texts about offerings, provision, and fair trade.",
  "meta_description": "Ephah is a biblical dry measure used for grain and other goods in the Old Testament.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/ephah/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/ephah.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}