Ephratah [N] [H]

fruitful. 

• 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 ( 1 Chronicles 2:19  1 Chronicles 2:50 ). 

   

• The ancient name of Bethlehem in Judah ( Genesis 35:16  Genesis 35:19 ;  48:7 ). In  Ruth 1:2 it is called "Bethlehem-Judah," but the inhabitants are called "Ephrathites;" in  Micah 5:2, "Bethlehem-Ephratah;" in  Matthew 2:6 , "Bethlehem in the land of Judah." In  Psalms 132:6it 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" ( 1 Samuel 7:1 ; Compare  2 Samuel 6:3  2 Samuel 6:4 ). 

   

  These dictionary topics are from
  M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
  published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.