Ephrathah Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Ephrathah (through her son Hur or grandon Salma) was the founder of Bethlehem.
second wife of Chelubai [Caleb] (1CH 2:19)
Names
-
en
Ephratah
Ephrath, abundance; bearing fruit
- en Ephrath
- en Ephrathah
- en Ephrath · Also called
- en Ephratah · Also called
- en Caleb Ephrathah<H3613> · Also called
- en Caleb–ephratah<H3613> · Also called
-
he
אֶפְרָת
efərat · H672 · 1CH 2:19 fruitful land
- he אֶפְרָ֫תָה · H0672G
- he אֶפְרָתִי · H0673H
- el Εφραθ Ephrath · none · 1CH 2:19
- bg Ефрата
Mentioned in (7)
SDA Books
Awaiting permission to publishLinked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
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Conditional birth estimate · c. 1436 BC – 1347 BC
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
| Relative / anchor year | Generations | Conditional interval |
|---|---|---|
| David · 1086 BC Descendant |
8 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1446 BC – 1246 BC |
| Eli · 1167 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1572 BC – 1347 BC |
| Absalom · 1051 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1456 BC – 1231 BC |
| Adonijah · 1050 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1455 BC – 1230 BC |
| Amnon · 1053 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1458 BC – 1233 BC |
| Daniel · 1052 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1457 BC – 1232 BC |
| Ithream · 1048 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1453 BC – 1228 BC |
| Nathan · 1033 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1438 BC – 1213 BC |
| Shammua · 1031 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1436 BC – 1211 BC |
| Shephatiah · 1049 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1454 BC – 1229 BC |
| Shobab · 1032 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1437 BC – 1212 BC |
| Solomon · 1036 BC Descendant |
9 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1441 BC – 1216 BC |
| Jehoshaphat · 949 BC Descendant |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1534 BC – 1209 BC |
| Joash · 845 BC Descendant |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1565 BC – 1165 BC |
| Amaziah · 826 BC Descendant |
17 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1591 BC – 1166 BC |
| Hezekiah · 742 BC Descendant |
21 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1687 BC – 1162 BC |
| Josiah · 649 BC Descendant |
24 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1729 BC – 1129 BC |
| Jehoahaz · 633 BC Descendant |
25 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1758 BC – 1133 BC |
| Jehoiakim · 635 BC Descendant |
25 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1760 BC – 1135 BC |
| Zedekiah · 629 BC Descendant |
25 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1754 BC – 1129 BC |
| Jehoiachin · 617 BC Descendant |
26 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1787 BC – 1137 BC |
| Jesus Christ · 5 BC Descendant |
39 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1760 BC – 785 BC |
Ephrathah Article
STEPBible TIPNR
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), 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.
Ephratah 1 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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 Chr. 2:19, 50).
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Ephrath_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Ephrathah@Rut.1.2-1Ch) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, ephratah_1207)