אֵפוֹד

H646. ephod
אֵפוֺד (28 t.) & אֵפֹד (20 t.) noun masculineExo 28:7 ephod (Ethiopic compare Aramaic id. (on meaning see Lagl.c.), perhaps also Assyrian pid, pittu ZimBP 39; on form see Ges§ 84a 12. R. but Lagl.c. compares , & thinks אֵפוֺד shortened from הָא ׳חֵשֶׁב 'robe of approach to God) — ׳א absolute Exo 25:7 +; construct 1Sa 2:18 +; —
1 ephod, priestly garment, shoulder-cape or mantle; a. as worn by ordinary priest made of white stuff (בַּד) 1Sa 22:18; א ׳נֹשֵׂא compare
2; so Samuel as a temple-servant 1Sa 2:8; א ׳חָגוּר girt with an eph.; so David when dancing before ark 2Sa 6:14 (id.) 1Ch 15:27 א דוד ׳וְעַל; b. as prescribed in P for high priest, more costly, woven of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, & linen (? שֵׁשׁ)threads, provided with shoulder-pieces & breast-piece of like material, ornamented with gems and gold, Exo 25:7; Exo 28:4, Exo 28:6, Exo 28:12, Exo 28:15; Exo 29:5; Exo 35:9, Exo 35:27 Exo 35:17t. Exodus 28, 39, also Lev 8:7; compare probably 1Sa 2:28 (א ׳נֹשֵׂא) 1Sa 14:3; 1Sa 21:10 (see below 2); הָא ׳חֵשֶׁב Exo 28:27-28, Exo 29:5; Exo 39:20-21, Lev 8:7; הָא ׳מְעִיל Lev 29:5; Lev 39:22 (compare Lev 8:7); with verb אֶתהָֿא ׳נָתַן עַלֿ put the ephod on Aaron Lev 8:7. 2 ephod used in consulting ׳י 1Sa 23:6 ׳א borne in hand (read ᵐ5 וְהָא ׳יָרַד בְּיָדוֺ We Dr) 1Sa 23:9; 1Sa 30:7 (twice in verse) (all with חִגִּישׁ) + 1Sa 14:18 (הגישׁ) & 1Sa 14:18, in both read ׳הָא for ארון & 1Sa 14:18 also ᵐ5 נֹשֵׂא Klo Dr; a. according to Thes MV Di Exo 28:6 and elsewhere properly below 1b; consultation of ׳י in that case by Urim & Thummim in the breast-piece attached to the ephod (compare Exo 28:28-30 & see אוּרִים); if so, in view of נשׂא 1Sa 2:28; 1Sa 14:3, 1Sa 14:18 (compare above), not used elsewhere = wear except 1Sa 22:18, & of 1Sa 23:6, the word might be used by metonymy for the breast-piece itself; b. others, e.g. StaGeschichte i. 466, 471 BuRS 115 and others, think of an image representing ׳י; compare following.
3. a. ephod of gold made by Gideon Jdg 8:27 for a local sanctuary, by which Israel was ensnared; = 2b according to ᵑ6 Thes ('sine controversia') Stu and others + Sta Bu 1.c.; originally = gold sheathing of an image (compare etymology above & Isa 30:22 below אֲפֻדָּה); MV Be KöHauptprobleme 59 think of garment, as below 1 see above
b. made (material not given) for a private, local sanctuary Jdg 17:5; Jdg 18:14, Jdg 18:17, Jdg 18:18, Jdg 18:20 (|| תְּרָפִים מַסֵּכָה, מֶּסֶל, in all, for ᵐ5 gives מַסֵּכָה Jdg 18:20, omitted by HCT); compare Hos 3:4 Israel shall abide without king, prince, sacrifice, pillar, ephod or teraphim; according to Thes and others + Sta Bu l.c. = 2b; Stu Be Ry and others regard as below
1; in view of distinction from מסכה פסל, & תרפים it seems more likely that this is not an image, but some means of consulting deity, perhaps in imitation of Urim & Thummim.