Ephraim (biblical figure)
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This entry incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897, with some modernisation.
Ephraim (אֶפְרַיִם / אֶפְרָיִם, Standard Hebrew Efráyim, Tiberian Hebrew ʾEp̄ráyim / ʾEp̄rāyim) - "double fruitfulness" ("for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction"). The second son of Joseph, born in Egypt (Gen. 41:52; 46:20). The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (48:10; comp. 27:1). The intention of Joseph was that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger before his brother, "guiding his hands wittingly." Before Joseph's death, Ephraim's family had reached the third generation (Gen. 50:23).