Original Word: עוֹפַי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Owphay
Pronunciation: oh-fah'ee
Phonetic Spelling: (o-fah'-ee)
KJV: Ephai (from margin)
NASB: Ephai
Word Origin: [from H5775 (עוֹף - birds)]

1. birdlike
2. Ephai, an Israelite

From owph; birdlike; Ephai, an Israelite -- Ephai (from margin).

see HEBREW owph

The name ʿOpai (Ephai) appears once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 40:8. The verse records a delegation of military leaders who came to Gedaliah at Mizpah after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem: “So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah— Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite— they and their men” (Berean Standard Bible).

Historical Context

1. The Setting. Jeremiah 40 follows the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 BC. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the poor people left in Judah (Jeremiah 40:7).
2. The Delegation. The officers listed in verse 8 had eluded capture and maintained small guerrilla forces in the countryside. Once Gedaliah was installed, they emerged from hiding and presented themselves in nominal submission to the new governor.
3. The Tragedy That Followed. Although Gedaliah assured them of safety (Jeremiah 40:9–10), Ishmael, one of the officers, later murdered Gedaliah (Jeremiah 41:1–3). This act dissolved the fragile stability that had existed and drove many remaining Jews to flee to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:4–7).

Family and Place of Origin

The men who accompanied Gedaliah are called “the sons of Ephai the Netophathite.” Netophah was a small town near Bethlehem, noted earlier for producing some of David’s mighty men (2 Samuel 23:28–29). The linkage underscores three important themes:
• Continuity. Even after exile and ruin, ancestral ties and hometown identities remained intact.
• Local Leadership. These sons of Ephai represent clan-based leadership that could quickly rally men in times of crisis.
• Davidic Associations. The earlier heroes from Netophah (2 Samuel 23) hint that these families had a history of courageous service to the kingdom.

Role among the Remnant in Judah

1. Military Presence. The phrase “they and their men” signals that the sons of Ephai commanded forces sizable enough to influence security and agriculture (Jeremiah 40:10, 13).
2. Political Calculus. By approaching Gedaliah, they sought a workable arrangement under Babylonian oversight. Their move illustrates the ethical tension between yielding to foreign rule and preserving national identity.
3. Limited Information. Scripture does not record any wrongdoing by Ephai’s sons; neither were they directly involved in Ishmael’s conspiracy. Their silence after Gedaliah’s assassination may indicate either prudence, helplessness, or simple omission in the narrative.

Lessons for Ministry

• Faithfulness in Obscurity. Though Ephai and his sons occupy a single verse, their willingness to come out of hiding and cooperate with Judean governance reveals a commitment to communal rebuilding. Ministry often involves unseen labor by lesser-known servants who stabilize the body of believers.
• The Cost of Disunity. The breakdown that followed shows how one individual’s treachery can undermine the constructive efforts of many. Church leaders must guard unity and confront destructive influences promptly (Titus 3:10–11).
• Hope for Restoration. The presence of Netophathites after the exile foreshadows post-exilic returns (Nehemiah 7:26; 12:28). God preserved lineages and locales, demonstrating His resolve to restore His people even through judgment.

Redemptive Thread

Jeremiah’s narrative stresses that the Lord disciplines yet preserves a remnant. The brief mention of Ephai’s descendants reminds readers that God weaves every family and village into His covenant plans. Their Netophathite heritage connects back to David, pointing forward to the ultimate Son of David, Jesus Christ, who would gather a scattered remnant into one kingdom (John 11:52).

Summary

Although the record of ʿOpai (Ephai) is limited to a single verse, it reinforces key biblical themes: covenant continuity, the strategic role of local leaders in times of crisis, the dangers of internal betrayal, and the steadfast purpose of God to restore His people. In ministry today, the sons of Ephai stand as quiet witnesses that every faithful servant—however briefly mentioned—contributes to the unfolding account of redemption.