Lexical Definition
אֶפְרָת ʼEphrâth (ef-rawth') Ephrathah N:N-F-P
or אֶפְרָתָה ʼEphrâthâh (ef-raw'-thaw); from פָּרָה; fruitfulness
once (Psalm 132:6) perhaps for Ephraim; also of an Israelitish woman; Ephrath, Ephratah.
- § Ephrath or Ephratah = "ash-heap: place of fruitfulness"
- Ephrath, another name for Bethlehem
n pr loc
1) a place near Bethel where Rachel died and was buried
2) another name for Bethlehem
n pr f
3) wife of Caleb
Extended Information
- A womanof the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at 1Ch.2.19 married to Caleb (כָּלֵב)
- mother of: Hur (חוּר); also called Ephrath at 1Ch.2.19
- Also named: eph.ra.ti (אֶפְרָתִי "Ephrathite" אֶפְרָתִי)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֶפְרָ֫תָה proper name (see Sta§ 308 d. 1; 342 d. 2; Morgenl. Forsch. 215) — might in several cases, e.g. Gen 35:16, be אֶפְרָת + ה locative, but see Ruth 4:11 —
1. proper name, of a location place near Bethel, where Rachel died & was buried Gen 35:16; Gen 35:19; Gen 48:7 (אֶפְרָת only Gen 48:7 where ה perhaps dropped on accusative of ה following (Ol); in last two passages הוא בית לחם is a gloss, see Di; compare 1Sam 10:2).
2. id., a name of Bethlehem Mic 5:1*; Ruth 4:11 compare perhaps כָּלֵב אֶפְרָתָ֑ה 1Chr 2:24 (ᵐ5 ἦλθεν Ξαλὲβ εἰς Ἐφράθα).
3. id. Ps 132:6, perhaps applied to district where Kirjath Jearim lay, on the border of Judah & Benjamin, compare De Che.
4. proper name, feminine אֶפְרָת name given to wife of Caleb 1Chr 2:19 = אֶפְרָתָ֑ח v1Chr 2:50; 1Chr 4:4.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 35:16 · 35:19 · 48:7 |
| Ruth | 4:11 |
| 1 Samuel | 10:2 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:19 · 2:24 · 2:50 · 4:4 |
| Psalms | 132:6 |
| Micah | 5:1* |
Profile
Female • Associated with Bethlehem • An alternate name and ancestor of Bethlehem.
Woman living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness
Ephrathah is another name for Bethlehem (Rut.1.2; 1Sa.17.12) and is also the name of Caleb's wife whose son founded it (1Ch.2.19,50; 4.4).
- A woman from the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at 1Ch.2.19;
- referred to as Ephrathah אֶפְרָת, or Ephrath אֶפְרָת, or Ephrathite אֶפְרָתִי;
- wife of Hezron חֶצְרוֹן and Hezron חֶצְרוֹן;
- mother of Hur חוּר and Ram רָם;
- then married to Caleb כָּלֵב and bore Ashhur אַשְׁחוּר.
Ephrathah is a name closely associated with Bethlehem, the city in Judah where David and Jesus were born. In several passages, Bethlehem is referred to as "Bethlehem Ephrathah" (Rut.1.2; 1Sa.17.12), indicating that Ephrathah was either an alternate name for the city or a region encompassing it.
The name Ephrathah is also mentioned in the genealogies of Judah in connection with Caleb, a prominent figure in the tribe. Ephrathah is listed as the wife of Caleb (1Ch.2.19), and their descendants, including Hur and Salma, are associated with the founding or settlement of Bethlehem (1Ch.2.50; 4.4).
The dual usage of the name Ephrathah suggests a possible link between the person and the place, although the exact nature of this connection is not explicitly stated in the Bible. The association of Ephrathah with Bethlehem highlights the significance of this city in Israel's history, as it was the birthplace of key figures like David and Jesus.
All entries for Ephrathah: אֶפְרָת ☩ אֶפְרָתִי