🔼The name Ephlal: Summary
- Meaning
- Judgment, Special
- Etymology
- From the verbs פלל (palal) and אפל ('apel), to set apart.
🔼The name Ephlal in the Bible
There's only one Ephlal in the Bible. He is a son of Zabad and the father of Obed of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:37). Ephlal's great-great-great-grandfather Jarha was a slave who married his master's daughter, whose name was probably Ahlai (1 Chronicles 2:35).
🔼Etymology of the name Ephlal
The name Ephlal appears to be related to both the verbs פלל and אפל:
פלל
Root פלל (palal) is all about distinguishing and discerning, and often emphasizes representation of something unseen or not present. It's frequently used in the sense of to entreat or pray on someone's behalf.
Noun תפלה (tepilla) means prayer. Noun פליל (palil) describes an inspector or umpire and noun פלילה (pelila) refers to the place at which an umpire operates; a judge's office. Adjective פלילי (pelili) means "for a judge" or "to be judged" and noun פליליה (peliliya) means verdict or assessment. Noun פול (pol) means beans (and was probably imported but fits right in).
Verb פלה (pala) means to be distinct or separated. Pronoun פלני (peloni) refers to "a certain person/place."
Verb פלא (pala') means to be extraordinary. Nouns פלא (pele') and מפלאה (mipla'a) refer to extraordinary things or deeds. Adjective פלאי (pil'i) means extraordinary.
Verb אפל ('pl) means to disappear, depart or set (of the sun). Nouns אפל ('opel), אפלה ('apela), מאפל (ma'apel) and מאפליה (ma'pelya) mean darkness. Adjective אפל ('apel) means gloomy. Adjective אפיל ('apil) means late or belated (i.e. long unseen).
Verb נפל (napal) means to fall (down, down to, into or upon). The plural form נפלים (napalim) literally means 'fallen ones' or 'settled ones'.
Noun נפל (nepel) refers to an abortion or untimely birth. Noun מפל (mappal) describes that what falls. Nouns מפלה (mappala) and מפלה (mappela) mean ruin, and noun מפלת (mapplet) refers to a ruined thing or a falling.
🔼Ephlal meaning
For a meaning of the name Ephlal, both NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names read Judgment. BDB Theological Dictionary does not offer an interpretation of the name Ephlal but does list it under the verb פלל (palal).