A city of Ephraim; perhaps the same as Ophrah. (Judges 6:11) It is derived from Epher, ashes. The prophet Isaiah hath a beautiful observation on this word, contrasted with Pheer, which is beauty. The Lord, he saith, will give them Pheer for Epher; that is, beauty for ashes; meaning the blessed change wrought by grace in the soul, when from sin they are brought to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Isaiah 61:3)