Heb. Antiq. Forms: 4 (ephi), 7–8 epha, 7– ephah. [a. Heb. ēlphāh, believed to be of Egyptian origin.

1

  Cf. Egyptian ȧpit, a dry measure containing 40 hin, or according to Hultsch 18·18 litres = 4 gallons. The form ephi is a. L. ēphi (Vulg.) = Gr. οὶφί (LXX.). The Gr. and Lat. forms cannot be adoptions of the Heb. word, but appear to be taken directly from Egyptian; the Gr. is stated by Hesychius to be the name of an Egyptian measure.]

2

  A Hebrew dry measure, identical in capacity with the bath; see BATH sb.3; it is variously said to have contained from 41/2 to 9 gallons. Also fig.

3

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. cxxviii. (1495), 932. Batus is in fletynge thynges … Ephi in drye thynges.

4

1611.  Bible, Ezek. xlv. 10. Ye shall haue iust ballances, and a iust Ephah, and a iust Bath.

5

1622.  A. Cooke, Pope Joan, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), IV. 10. By your Grace’s means, the epha, wherein popish wickedness sitteth, may be lifted up between the earth and the heaven.

6

1660.  Fuller, Mixt Contempl. (1841), 177. Some have had a hin … others an ephah of afflictions.

7

1721.  Bailey, Epha.

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