Woman living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness
Ephrathah (through her son Hur or grandon Salma) was the founder of Bethlehem.
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Also known as Ephratah · Caleb Ephrathah<H3613> · Caleb–ephratah<H3613> · Ephrath · Ephrathite
Ephrathah was first the wife of Hezron then of Caleb. Her descendents gave her name to the area around 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">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.
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6 verses in 3 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0672
The manʼs name was Elimelech, his wifeʼs name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons in the days of Saul. And Jesse was old and well along in years.
When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore to him Hur.
After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah bore to him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim,
Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and the father of Bethlehem.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.