Ephrath
Description
The name either of Bethlehem itself or of a district in which Bethlehem was situated. A man of this place was called an Ephrathite (Ruth 1:2 1 Samuel 17:12). It is held by many authorities that the Ephrath where Rachel was buried (Genesis 35:16 ; Genesis 48:7 ) was a different place, the words "the same is Bethlehem" being a gloss.
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Ephratah
fruitful.
(1.) The second wife of Caleb, the son of Hezron, mother of Hur, and grandmother of Caleb, who was one of those that were sent to spy the land (1Chr 2:19 ; 2:50).
(2.) The ancient name of Bethlehem in Judah (Gen 35:16 ; 35:19; 48:7). In (Ruth 1:2 ) it is called "Bethlehem-Judah," but the inhabitants are called "Ephrathites;" in (Mic 5:2 ), "Bethlehem-Ephratah;" in (Matt 2:6 ), "Bethlehem in the land of Judah." In (Ps 132:6 ) it is mentioned as the place where David spent his youth, and where he heard much of the ark, although he never saw it till he found it long afterwards at Kirjath-jearim; i.e., the "city of the wood," or the "forest-town" [(1Sam 7:1 ); comp. (2Sam 6:3 ; 6:4)].
EBD - Easton's Bible Dictionary