Ephrath; Ephrathah

ef'-rath, e'-frath, ef'-ra-tha, ef-ra'-tha ('ephrath; Ephratha; Gen 35:16; Gen 48:7); ('ephrathah, in the other references: Josh 15:59 (in added verse of Septuagint only); Ruth 4:11; 1 Chr 2:19; 1 Chr 2:24; 1 Chr 2:50; Ps 132:6; Mic 5:2, the King James Version "Ephratah"):

The name either of Bethlehem itself or of a district in which Bethlehem was situated. A man of this place was called an Ephrathite (Ruth 1:2; 1 Sam 17:12). It is held by many authorities that the Ephrath where Rachel was buried (Gen 35:16; Gen 48:7) was a different place, the words "the same is Bethlehem" being a gloss. The reading in Ps 132:6 is doubtful; the Revised Version, margin has "Ephraim."

E. W. G. Masterman