Ephrath; Ephrathah
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [1]
ef´rath , ē´frath , ef´ra - tha , ef - ra´tha ( אפרת , 'ephrāth ; Ἐφράθα , Ephrátha ; Genesis 35:16; Genesis 48:7 ); (אפרתה , 'ephrāthāh , in the other references: Joshua 15:59 (in added verse of Septuagint only); Rth 4:11; 1 Chronicles 2:19 , 1 Chronicles 2:24 , 1 Chronicles 2:50; Psalm 132:6; Micah 5:2 , the King James Version "Ephratah"): The name either of Bethlehem itself or of a district in which Bethlehem was situated. A man of this place was called an Ephrathite (Rth 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. The reading in Psalm 132:6 is doubtful; the Revised Version, margin has "Ephraim."
