or אֶפְרָתָה; from פָּרָה; fruitfulness; Ephrath, another name for Bethlehem; once (Psalm 132:6) perhaps for Ephraim; also of an Israelitish woman; Ephrath, Ephratah.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼEphrâth**, represented by `{{H672}}`, primarily signifies **fruitfulness**. It also appears in the form **Ephratah**. Appearing **10 times** across **9 unique verses**, the term is used both as another name for the location of Bethlehem and as the name of an Israelitish woman.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H672}}` is used in several key contexts, primarily geographic and genealogical. It is explicitly identified as another name for Bethlehem, as seen in Genesis where Rachel is buried "in the way of **Ephrath**; the same is Bethlehem" [[Genesis 48:7]]. This location is prophetically significant, as Micah foretells a ruler will come from "Bethlehem **Ephratah**" [[Micah 5:2]]. The name also appears as a person; Caleb took **Ephrath** as a wife, and she bore him Hur [[1 Chronicles 2:19]]. Hur is later described as "the firstborn of **Ephratah**, the father of Bethlehem" [[1 Chronicles 4:4]], linking the person and the place.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the significance of **ʼEphrâth**:
* `{{H1035}}` **Bêyth Lechem** (house of bread; Beth-Lechem, a place in Palestine; Bethlehem): This word is frequently used in parallel with **ʼEphrâth**, with scripture explicitly stating they are the same place [[Genesis 48:7]].
* `{{H3063}}` **Yᵉhûwdâh** (celebrated; Jehudah... Judah): The town of Bethlehem **Ephratah** is located within the territory of **Judah** [[Micah 5:2]], establishing its tribal context.
* `{{H3478}}` **Yisrâʼêl** (he will rule as God; Jisrael... Israel): **ʼEphrâth** is connected to the destiny of **Israel**, as a future ruler is prophesied to come from there [[Micah 5:2]], and it is the setting for a blessing about building the house of **Israel** [[Ruth 4:11]].
* `{{H7354}}` **Râchêl** (Rachel, a wife of Jacob; Rachel): The matriarch **Rachel** is intrinsically linked to **Ephrath**, as it is the place where she died in labor and was buried [[Genesis 35:19]].
### Theological Significance
The thematic weight of `{{H672}}` is tied to its dual identity as both a place and a person, reflecting sorrow and promise.
* **A Site of Promise and Prophecy:** **Ephratah** is most famously identified as the birthplace of the promised ruler of **Israel**, tying the small town in **Judah** to the destiny of the entire nation [[Micah 5:2]].
* **A Place of Foundational Events:** It is the location of a key event in the patriarchal narrative: the death and burial of **Rachel** [[Genesis 35:19]]. This establishes its historical and emotional significance from an early point.
* **A Source of Lineage:** As the name of Caleb's wife, **Ephrath** is the matriarch of a significant lineage that includes Hur, who is called "the father of **Bethlehem**" [[1 Chronicles 4:4]], directly connecting the person's fruitfulness to the founding of the city.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H672}}` **ʼEphrâth** serves as a vital biblical term that connects place, lineage, and prophecy. It is inextricably linked with **Bethlehem**, acting as an older or more poetic name for the city. From being the site of Rachel's tragic death to being the ancestral home of a prophesied ruler, **ʼEphrâth** carries a deep narrative significance. Its meaning, **fruitfulness**, is realized through its role as the origin of both a key family line and the promised leader of **Israel**.
TRV