noun
- the younger son of Joseph. Gen. 41:52.
- the tribe of Israel traditionally descended from him. Gen. 48:1.
- the Biblical kingdom of the Hebrews in N Palestine, including ten of the twelve tribes.Compare Judah(def 3).
- a male given name.
noun Old Testament
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- the younger son of Joseph, who received the principal blessing of his grandfather Jacob (Genesis 48:8–22)
- the tribe descended from him
- the territory of this tribe, west of the River Jordan
- the northern kingdom of Israel after the kingdom of Solomon had been divided into two
masc. personal name, in Old Testament, younger son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, sometimes used figuratively for “Kingdom of Israel;” Greek form of Hebrew Ephrayim, a derivative of parah “was fruitful” (related to Aramaic pera “fruit”).