Ephraim  /ˈiːfriːəm/; (Hebrew: אֶפְרַיִם/אֶפְרָיִם, Standard Efráyim Tiberian ʾEp̄ráyim/ʾEp̄rāyim) was, according to the Book of Genesis, the second son of Joseph and Asenath. Asenath was an Egyptian woman whom Pharaoh gave to Joseph as wife, and the daughter of Potipherah, a priest of On. (Genesis 41:50-52) Ephraim was born in Egypt before the arrival of the children of Israel from Canaan. (Genesis 48:5)

Ephraim had sons: Shuthelah, Beker, and Tahan. However, 1 Chronicles 7 claims that he also had two more sons, Ezer and Elead, who were killed by local men who came to rob him of his cattle. He then had another son, Beriah, who carried on his name. (1 Chronicles 7:20-23) From him was descended Joshua, son of Nun, who in time became the leader of the Israelite tribes in the conquest of Canaan. (1 Chronicles 7:20-27)

According to the biblical narrative, Jeroboam, who became the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was also from the house of Ephraim. (1 Kings 11:26)

Due to this lack of identity some Biblical scholars view this as postdiction, an eponymous metaphor providing an aetiology of the connectedness of the tribe to others in the Israelite confederation. The text of the Torah argues that the name of Ephraim, which means double fruitfulness, refers to Joseph's ability to produce children, specifically while in Egypt (termed by the Torah as the land of his affliction). Some scholars link the name to an Egyptian meaning rather than a Hebrew one.

In the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh), the reference of "Ephraim and Judah" (when employed together) are merely figurative terms used for the two ancient Kingdoms of Israel. See History of Ancient Israel and Judah.

The reference of "Ephraim and Judah" is employed most frequently by the Prophets (Nevi'im) of the Hebrew Scriptures. The phrases "Israel and Judah" and "Joseph and Judah" Zechariah 10:6 are used in similar fashion, referencing the same two respective Israelite Kingdoms.

Since "Ephraim" was a specific tribe of Israel, careful contextual analysis should be used when distinguishing the differences in tribal and figurative kingdom identifications within the Tanakh, especially since the Prophets used the terms "Ephraim", "Joseph", and "Israel" interchangeably, speaking of the same entity, the Northern Kingdom of Israel, the House of Israel, or the House of Joseph. Zechariah 10:6

"Judah", likewise was a name used for both a tribe and kingdom (the tribe of Judah, the Kingdom of Judah, the House of Judah, and even the House of David (King David being a descendant of Judah)).

Ephraim Lewis (1968 – 18 March 1994) was an English soul/neo-soul and R&B singer and songwriter. He was one of many highly anticipated performers that emerged in the early 1990s. However, he died with only one album to his name.

Born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, Lewis, known for possessing a higher-timbred, yet rich voice and impeccable diction, drew comparisons to fellow English musician, Seal. He signed with Elektra Records in 1992 and his debut Skin was released on 21 April of that year.

Lewis died on 18 March 1994 in Los Angeles in what was ruled a suicide. The coroner ruled that Lewis had jumped from a fourth floor balcony. The exact events that occurred on that day are disputed. The LAPD were present during his jump and what exactly transpired has not been agreed upon. Some reports indicated that Lewis had been stunned with a Taser after a hyperactive exchange. Lewis was taking methamphetamines at the time. His death remains controversial to this day. Lewis was buried on 21 April 1994.

 Ephraim Kishon (help·info) (Hebrew: אפרים קישון‎, August 23, 1924 – January 29, 2005) was an Israeli author, dramatist, screenwriter, and film director. He is one of the most widely-read contemporary satirists in the world.

Ephraim Kishon was born on August 23, 1924 by the name of Ferenc Hoffmann into a middle-class Jewish family in Budapest, Hungary. In his youth he did not know Hebrew nor Yiddish. His father worked as a bank manager and his mother was a secretary. Kishon also had a sister who was a writer.

His writing talent was evident in his youth. In 1940 he won his first prize for writing a novel for high school students. Due to the racial laws applied in Hungary during World War II, he was not allowed to continue his studies at the university and therefore he began to study jewelry making in 1942.

During World War II the Nazis imprisoned him in several concentration camps. At one camp his chess talent helped him survive, as the camp commandant was looking for an opponent. In another camp, the Germans lined up the inmates and shot every tenth person, but passed him by. He later wrote in his book The Scapegoat, "They made a mistake—they left one satirist alive". He eventually managed to escape the concentration camps while being transported to the Sobibor extermination campin Poland, and hid the remainder of the war disguised as "Stanko Andras", a Slovakian laborer.