375. ephoh
Lexical Summary
ephoh: "where," "then," "now," "here"

Original Word: אֵיפֹה
Part of Speech: adverb
Transliteration: eyphoh
Pronunciation: ay-foh'
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-fo')
KJV: what manner, where
NASB: where, what kind
Word Origin: [from H335 (אַי - where) and H6311 (פּוֹה פּוֹא פּוֹ - here)]

1. what place?
2. (of time) when?
3. (of means) how?

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
what manner, where

From 'ay and poh; what place?; also (of time) when?; or (of means) how?; --what manner, where.

see HEBREW 'ay

see HEBREW poh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ay and poh
Definition
where?
NASB Translation
what kind (1), where (9).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֵיפֹה (from אַי & מֹּה here)

adverb 1. where? Genesis 37:16; 1 Samuel 19:22; 2 Samuel 9:4; Isaiah 49:21; Jeremiah 3:2; Job 4:7; Job 38:4; Ruth 2:19; in indirect sentence Jeremiah 36:19 (less common than אַיֵה, used of persons [contrast אֵיוֶֿה] and with a verb [contrast אַיֵּה]).

2 of what kind? (quails ?) only Judges 8:18.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of Biblical Usage

The interjection אֵיפֹה appears ten times in the Old Testament as an urgent query for location or status. Whether voiced by a patriarch, a judge, a prophet, or the LORD Himself, the word always drives the narrative forward by demanding an answer and exposing what is hidden—be it people, motives, or divine purposes.

Representative Occurrences

• Joseph, lost yet obedient, pleads, “Please tell me where they are grazing their flocks” (Genesis 37:16).
• Gideon confronts Zebah and Zalmunna: “Where are the men you killed at Tabor?” (Judges 8:18).
• Naomi, sensing providence, asks Ruth, “Where did you glean today?” (Ruth 2:19).
• Saul, hunting righteous men, demands, “Where are Samuel and David?” (1 Samuel 19:22).
• David, seeking covenant loyalty, inquires, “Where is he?” concerning Jonathan’s son (2 Samuel 9:4).
• Eliphaz challenges Job, “Where have the upright been destroyed?” (Job 4:7).
• The Creator questions the creature, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4).
• Zion, astonished at promised restoration, cries, “Where have they come from?” (Isaiah 49:21).
• Jeremiah laments Judah’s unfaithfulness: “Where have you not been violated?” (Jeremiah 3:2).
• Officials warn Baruch, “Tell no one where you are” (Jeremiah 36:19).

Rhetorical Function in Narrative and Poetry

1. Catalyst for Action: The word often initiates decisive events. Joseph’s question leads him to Dothan—and to Egypt (Genesis 37). Naomi’s question uncovers Boaz, setting in motion the lineage of David and ultimately Messiah (Ruth 2).
2. Exposure of Guilt or Innocence: Gideon’s inquiry forces the Midianite kings to confess (Judges 8:18). God’s interrogations in Job 38 strip away human presumption and reveal divine sovereignty.
3. Assurance of Covenant Faithfulness: David’s search for Jonathan’s heir (2 Samuel 9) demonstrates steadfast love (ḥesed) that mirrors God’s own covenant loyalty.
4. Prophetic Shock: Isaiah and Jeremiah employ the word to stagger the hearer—Zion is overwhelmed by unexpected children (Isaiah 49), while Judah is indicted for unrestrained idolatry (Jeremiah 3).

Theological Themes

• Divine Omniscience vs. Human Limitation: Whenever God asks “Where…?” He is not seeking information but awakening conscience (compare Genesis 3:9). His questions highlight human finitude (Job 38:4).
• Search and Rescue Motif: Scripture portrays the Lord as the shepherd who seeks the lost (Ezekiel 34; Luke 15). Human questions of “where” echo a deeper divine pursuit culminating in Jesus Christ who “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
• Covenant Kindness: David’s “Where is he?” (2 Samuel 9:4) anticipates the gospel call that invites the spiritually crippled to dine at the King’s table (cf. Luke 14:21).

Historical Setting

The occurrences span the patriarchal period (Genesis), the era of the judges and united monarchy (Judges, Samuel), exilic poetry (Job, Isaiah), and late pre-exilic prophecy (Jeremiah). In every setting, location questions reveal shifting political and spiritual landscapes—pasturelands of Shechem, battlefield of Tabor, threshing floors of Bethlehem, royal courts of Saul and David, and the desolate heights of apostate Judah.

Ministry and Pastoral Implications

1. Discipleship: Leaders emulate David’s compassionate inquiry, seeking out the overlooked and extending grace.
2. Evangelism: Naomi’s wonder at providence encourages believers to ask open-ended questions that unveil God’s hidden work in others’ lives.
3. Counseling: God’s probing “Where were you…?” equips counselors to help people confront limitations, fostering humility before the Almighty.
4. Accountability: Gideon’s interrogation models courageous confrontation of injustice and violence.

Christological Reflections

In the Gospels the incarnate Word continues the pattern: “Where have you laid him?” (John 11:34) and “Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” (Matthew 26:17). Each question prepares for revelation—resurrection life and the new covenant meal. Thus, אֵיפֹה foreshadows the Savior’s seeking voice that calls sinners by name and locates them in His redeeming purpose.

Conclusion

Across Scripture, the cry “Where…?” is never mere geography. It is God’s instrument for unveiling hearts, advancing redemption history, and directing His people to places of obedience, repentance, and blessing. Wherever the word appears, it invites readers to listen for the divine call, respond in faith, and find their true location—hidden with Christ in God.

Forms and Transliterations
אֵיפֹ֖ה אֵיפֹ֣ה אֵיפֹ֥ה אֵיפֹ֨ה אֵיפֹה֙ איפה וְ֝אֵיפֹ֗ה ואיפה ’ê·p̄ōh ’êp̄ōh eiFoh veeiFoh wə’êp̄ōh wə·’ê·p̄ōh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 37:16
HEB: נָּ֣א לִ֔י אֵיפֹ֖ה הֵ֥ם רֹעִֽים׃
NAS: tell me where they are pasturing
KJV: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed
INT: tell please where they are pasturing

Judges 8:18
HEB: וְאֶל־ צַלְמֻנָּ֔ע אֵיפֹה֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: and Zalmunna, What kind of men
KJV: and Zalmunna, What manner of men
INT: and Zalmunna What of men whom

Ruth 2:19
HEB: לָ֨הּ חֲמוֹתָ֜הּ אֵיפֹ֨ה לִקַּ֤טְתְּ הַיּוֹם֙
NAS: then said to her, Where did you glean
KJV: to day? and where wroughtest
INT: said her mother-in-law to her Where glean today

1 Samuel 19:22
HEB: וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל וַיֹּ֔אמֶר אֵיפֹ֥ה שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל וְדָוִ֑ד
NAS: and said, Where are Samuel
KJV: and said, Where [are] Samuel
INT: asked and said Where are Samuel David

2 Samuel 9:4
HEB: ל֥וֹ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֵיפֹ֣ה ה֑וּא וַיֹּ֤אמֶר
NAS: said to him, Where is he? And Ziba
KJV: said unto him, Where [is] he? And Ziba
INT: said the king Where he said

Job 4:7
HEB: נָקִ֣י אָבָ֑ד וְ֝אֵיפֹ֗ה יְשָׁרִ֥ים נִכְחָֽדוּ׃
NAS: being innocent? Or where were the upright
KJV: being innocent? or where were the righteous
INT: blameless perished what manner were the upright off

Job 38:4
HEB: אֵיפֹ֣ה הָ֭יִיתָ בְּיָסְדִי־
NAS: Where were you when I laid the foundation
KJV: Where wast thou when I laid the foundations
INT: Where become laid

Isaiah 49:21
HEB: לְבַדִּ֔י אֵ֖לֶּה אֵיפֹ֥ה הֵֽם׃ פ
NAS: alone; From where did these
KJV: these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where [had] they [been]?
INT: alone these where like

Jeremiah 3:2
HEB: שְׁפָיִ֜ם וּרְאִ֗י אֵיפֹה֙ לֹ֣א [שֻׁגַּלְתְּ
NAS: and see; Where have you not been violated?
KJV: and see where thou hast not been lien
INT: the bare and see Where not lie with

Jeremiah 36:19
HEB: אַל־ יֵדַ֖ע אֵיפֹ֥ה אַתֶּֽם׃
NAS: and do not let anyone know where you are.
KJV: and let no man know where ye be.
INT: not know where you

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 375
10 Occurrences


’ê·p̄ōh — 9 Occ.
wə·’ê·p̄ōh — 1 Occ.

374
Top of Page
Top of Page