Original Word: אֵפַע
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: epha`
Pronunciation: ay-fah
Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-fah)
KJV: of nought
Word Origin: [from an unused root probably meaning to breathe]

1. (properly) a breath
2. nothing

of nothing

From an unused root probably meaning to breathe; properly, a breath, i.e. Nothing -- of nought.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation, perhaps for ephes, q.v.

[אֶ֫פַע] מֵאָ֑פַע Isaiah 41:24 text error for מֵאָ֑פֶס see אפס; so ᵑ9 ᵑ7 Saad Thes Ew Di and others

אֶפְעֶה see below פעה

Biblical Occurrence

אֵפַע appears once in the Old Testament—Isaiah 41:24—rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as “of no value.” The single‐use character of the word invites close attention to its immediate context and theological force rather than lexical comparison across multiple passages.

Contextual Background

Isaiah 41 forms part of a larger section (Isaiah 40–48) in which the LORD contrasts His unrivaled sovereignty with the impotence of idols. Speaking to the nations and their craftsmen, God exposes the bankruptcy of idolatry. The verse reads: “Behold, you are nothing, and your work is of no value. Whoever chooses you is detestable” (Isaiah 41:24). Here אֵפַע sharpens the verdict: idols produce results that are qualitatively empty—utterly incapable of delivering life, guidance, or salvation.

Theological Themes

1. Worthlessness of Idolatry

אֵפַע encapsulates the total futility of trusting in anything other than the living God. It underscores that idols do not merely fall short; they positively amount to nothing when measured against divine reality.

2. Divine Self-Revelation

By pronouncing idols “of no value,” the LORD magnifies His own worth. The term serves the polemical purpose of elevating God’s glory through the denigration of false gods (Isaiah 41:21-23, 26-29).

3. Moral Consequence

“Whoever chooses you is detestable” (Isaiah 41:24). The word’s usage links ontological emptiness with ethical corruption: allegiance to valueless gods breeds abomination in the worshiper (cf. Psalm 115:8).

Practical and Ministry Implications

• Preaching and Teaching

אֵפַע provides a concise vocabulary for addressing contemporary idolatries—whether materialism, power, or self. Sermons can press home the point that whatever replaces God ultimately proves “of no value.”

• Apologetics

The term undergirds a biblical worldview in which truth and falsehood are mutually exclusive. Christian apologetics may appeal to Isaiah 41 to show the logical and experiential insufficiency of man-made belief systems.

• Counseling and Discipleship

Disciples struggling with misplaced trust can be directed to Isaiah 41:24 as a mirror: anything elevated above Christ eventually reveals itself to be אֵפַע—unable to deliver peace or identity.

Related Scriptural Parallels

• Psalm 115:4-8 – Idols are “the work of men’s hands… those who make them become like them.”
• Jeremiah 10:5 – Idols “cannot do evil, nor can they do good.”
• Habakkuk 2:18 – “What profit is an idol…?”
• 1 Corinthians 8:4 – “We know that an idol is nothing in the world.”

These passages amplify the verdict pronounced with אֵפַע, showing canonical unity on the worthlessness of false worship.

Christological Reflections

Isaiah 41 ultimately directs the reader toward the Servant of the LORD (Isaiah 42:1-4), who embodies everything idols lack: authority, life, and redemption. Where idols are declared אֵפַע, Jesus Christ is proclaimed as “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3). The stark contrast exalts the sufficiency of Christ as the only worthy object of faith.

Devotional Application

Meditation on אֵפַע encourages personal inventory of hidden idols. Believers can pray:

“Lord, reveal anything I cherish that is ‘of no value.’ Replace it with deeper trust in Your Son, who is of infinite worth.”

The solitary appearance of אֵפַע thus becomes a potent call to exclusive worship, reinforcing the perennial relevance of Isaiah’s message for heart, church, and world.

מֵאָ֑פַע מאפע mê’āp̄a‘ mê·’ā·p̄a‘ meAfaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts