| Edom | A country southeast of Judah. It is also known as Seir after the mountain range by that name in Edom. The Edomites are descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. At times, they were enemies of the Israelites. |
| elders (in Revelation) | The 24 elders in Revelation could be the great leaders of God’s people under both the Old Testament and New Testament periods, combining the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel and Jesus’ twelve apostles. Or they could be angels as leaders of heavenly worship, corresponding to the 24 groups of priests in charge of worship in the Old Testament. |
| elders (New Testament) | A group of men chosen to lead a church. Also called “overseers” and “pastors” (shepherds), they have the work of caring for God’s people. See Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; Php. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-3. |
| elders (Old Testament) | Older men who were city leaders and helped make decisions for the people. |
| Elijah | A very important Israelite leader and prophet who spoke for God during a 25-year period ending about 850 b.c. In the time of Jesus, the Jews were expecting Elijah to come again before the Messiah. See Mal. 4:5-6. |
| Elisha | A prophet who served as an assistant to the prophet Elijah and carried on Elijah’s ministry after about 850 b.c. |
| emperor | Caesar, the ruler (leader) of the Roman empire. |
| ephod | A special vest (coat) worn by the Israelite high priest. See Ex. 28:6-14. |
| Ephraim | The second son of Joseph and the name of one of the tribes of Israel. Sometimes it is used as the name for the northern kingdom of Israel, since Ephraim was most often the leading tribe. |
| Esau | Jacob’s twin brother. Also, another name for Edom. The Edomites were descendants of Esau. |
| Ethiopia | Or “Cush,” a country in Africa by the Red Sea. |
| eunuch | A public official or a servant in charge of the women in a ruler’s household. Originally, a man who had been castrated so that he could not have sex. |
| Euphrates | One of the two large rivers flowing through the countries of Babylonia and Assyria. |
| Evil One | The devil or Satan, the ruler of demons and enemy of God. |
| exile | Living away from one’s home country, usually by force. |
