אֶפְרָת
𐤀𐤐𐤓𐤕
Eferat
H672 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun primarily designating a geographic area or settlement in ancient Judah, most notably associated with Bethlehem; also used as a personal name for an Israelite woman. The name carries underlying connotations of fruitfulness or abundance, reflecting the agricultural significance of the region. In Psalm 132:6, the term may be used in a poetic or allusive manner, possibly as a substitute for another location, though the referent is debated.
Semantic Range
designator of a region around Bethlehem, alternate name for Bethlehem, personal name, poetic or allusive reference to a place
Root / Etymology
From the root פָּרָה (parah), meaning 'to bear fruit, be fruitful.' The form אֶפְרָת is a feminine toponymic or personal name, possibly denoting 'fruitful place.' The full form אֶפְרָתָה (Ephrathah) is a variant spelling or longer form of the same name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ephrath (אֶפְרָת) appears in the Hebrew Bible primarily as a geographical term and as a personal name. As a place name, it designates the area associated with Bethlehem in the territory of Judah, as seen in narratives about Rachel's death (Genesis 35:19, 48:7) and genealogical references (Ruth 4:11). The use of Ephrath as a poetic parallel for 'Bethlehem' became conventional, notably in Micah 5:2. The personal name Ephrath (e.g., wife of Caleb in 1 Chronicles 2:19) likely shares this etymological background. In Psalm 132:6, 'Ephrathah' seems to reference a locale rather than a tribe or person, though some have suggested a possible allusion to Ephraim; contextually, the poetic form and parallel use does not support identification with the tribal territory of Ephraim. Later Greek and Latin translations often conflate 'Ephrath' with 'Bethlehem,' while English translations sometimes use 'Ephratah' as a place or personal name without making the distinction clear. The term's connection to the concept of fruitfulness likely reflects the fertility of the region around Bethlehem rather than an explicit ethnic identity. No evidence supports the use of 'Jew' or 'Judean' for individuals called Ephrath in early contexts. The distinction between Ephrath(a) as a place and as a personal name is generally preserved throughout biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or אֶפְרָתָה; from פָּרָה; fruitfulness; Ephrath, another name for Bethlehem; once (Psalm 132:6) perhaps for Ephraim; also of an Israelitish woman; Ephrath, Ephratah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
פרה (p-r-h) — to bear fruit, be fruitful
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6509 | פָּרָה | he made me fruitful |
| H6510 | פָּרָה | cow |
| H6511 | פָּרָה | and the Parah |
| H6529 | פְּרִי | in his fruit |
| H669 | אֶפְרַיִם | Double Fruitfulness |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H672-03 |
אֶפְרָ֑תָה | eferatah | HNp |
Ephrathah | Fruitful-Place | 6 |
H672-02 |
אֶפְרָ֔ת | eferat | HNp |
to Ephrath | Fruitful Place | 2 |
H672-01 |
בְּ/אֶפְרָ֔תָה | beeferatah | HR/Np |
in Ephrathah | in Fruitful-Place | 1 |
H672-04 |
בְ/אֶפְרָ֑תָה | veeferatah | HR/Np |
in Ephrathah | in Fruitful-Place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H672-03 |
Genesis 35:16 | אֶפְרָ֑תָה | eferatah | HNp |
to Ephrath | Fruitful-Place |
H672-03 |
Genesis 35:19 | אֶפְרָ֔תָה | eferatah | HNp |
Ephrath | Fruitful-Place |
H672-03 |
Genesis 48:7 | אֶפְרָ֑תָה | eferatah | HNp |
to Ephrath | Fruitful-Place |
H672-02 |
Genesis 48:7 | אֶפְרָ֔ת | eferat | HNp |
to Ephrath | Fruitful Place |
H672-03 |
Micah 5:1 | אֶפְרָ֗תָה | eferatah | HNp |
Ephrathah | Fruitful-Place |
H672-04 |
Psalms 132:6 | בְ/אֶפְרָ֑תָה | veeferatah | HR/Np |
in Ephrathah | in Fruitful-Place |
H672-01 |
Ruth 4:11 | בְּ/אֶפְרָ֔תָה | beeferatah | HR/Np |
in Ephrathah | in Fruitful-Place |
H672-02 |
1 Chronicles 2:19 | אֶפְרָ֔ת | eferat | HNp |
Ephrath | Fruitful Place |
H672-03 |
1 Chronicles 2:50 | אֶפְרָ֑תָה | eferatah | HNp |
Ephrathah | Fruitful-Place |
H672-03 |
1 Chronicles 4:4 | אֶפְרָ֔תָה | eferatah | HNp |
Ephrathah | Fruitful-Place |