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עוֹפַי

𐤏𐤅𐤐𐤉

Ofay

H5778 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עוף to fly, fly (as a bird), soar

Definition

Personal name: Ephai. It denotes an individual, specifically an Israelite, whose name likely means 'bird-like' or 'of a bird.' The formation of the name reflects a connection to the word for 'bird' but does not itself function as an ordinary noun. It does not describe a type of bird in biblical contexts, but rather is used strictly as a proper name.

Semantic Range

personal name (Ephai); etymologically, 'bird-like,' derived from 'to fly'; used only as a proper name in the Hebrew Bible

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עוף (ayin-vav-peh), meaning 'to fly.' The name is formed with a yod ending possibly as a theophoric or diminutive, typical of West Semitic personal names. Thus, the etymological sense is 'bird-like' or 'one belonging to the bird (category).'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ephai is attested as a personal name, notably in Jeremiah 40:8, where Ephai the Netophathite is listed among those who came to Gedaliah after the Babylonian conquest. The use of names derived from animal types or characteristics was common in ancient Israel (and the broader ancient Near East), often expressing attributes or hoped-for qualities. Some English translations render the name as 'Ephai,' while others may transliterate more loosely. The identity denoted by the name should be understood within the context of post-monarchic Israelite survivors in the early exilic period. There is no association with religious or geographic identity beyond the personal naming context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עוֹף; birdlike; Ephai, an Israelite; Ephai (from margin).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עוף (ʿ-w-p̄) — to fly, to soar, bird-flight

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3287 יָעֵף the exhausted one
H4155 מוּעָף covered-over dimness
H4588 מָעוּף shadowed gloom of
H5774 עוּף he flew
H5775 עוֹף flying creature

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5778-01 עֵיפַ֣י eyfay HNp the Netophathite Bird-like One 1
H5778-02 עופי vfy HNp of Ephai Bird-like one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5778-02 Jeremiah 40:8 עופי vfy HNp of Ephai Bird-like one
H5778-01 Jeremiah 40:8 עֵיפַ֣י eyfay HNp the Netophathite Bird-like One
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