Ephrath facts for kids

Ephrath, also spelled Ephrathah or Ephratah, is an old name for the city of Bethlehem. It means "fruitful" in Hebrew. It was also used as a personal name for people.

Ephrath: An Ancient Name for Bethlehem

Many old stories say that Ephrath is another name for Bethlehem. The Bible first mentions Ephrath in the Book of Genesis. It talks about the place where Rachel, a very important woman in the Bible, died. She passed away while giving birth to her son, Benjamin. Rachel was buried on the road from Bethel to Ephrath.

You can still find an ancient tomb called Rachel's Tomb near the entrance of Bethlehem today. This tomb shows where people believed she was buried.

Throughout the Bible, Ephrath is often used to describe people from the Israelite tribe of Judah. It also refers to people who might have helped found the city of Bethlehem.

Ephrath and Bethlehem are also important in prophecies about a future leader. The Book of Micah, a book in the Bible, says: "But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are small among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the one to be ruler in Israel." This verse connects Bethlehem and Ephrath to a special leader.

Ephrath as a Name

Ephrath was also a personal name. For example, Caleb, a well-known person from the Bible, had a second wife named Ephrath (or Ephrathah).

Places Named After Ephrath

Some modern places around the world are named after Ephrath. These include:

• The Israeli settlement of Efrat, which is close to Bethlehem.
• The town of Ephrata, Pennsylvania in the United States.
  • The Ephrata Cloister, a historic religious community in Pennsylvania, United States.
• The town of Ephratah, New York in the United States.
• The town of Ephrata, Washington in the United States.
• The area and creek of Eprapah in Victoria Point, near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
  • A nearby place called Coochiemudlo Island also has a street named Eprapah Street.
• Eprapah, which is a Scout environmental education and training center. It is located at Victoria Point, near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

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