EPHRATA. — Bethlehem (v.), which after the time of el-Amarna (15th century B.C.) formed part of the territory of Ephrata together with Cariahtiharim—Bethgader—settled by the Ephraimite clan, from which it took the name Ephrata. In Gen. 35:16 and Ruth 4:11 it is simply called Ephrata; in Gen. 35:19 and 48:7: “Ephrata, that is Bethlehem.” In Mi. 5:2 (cf. Mt. 2:6) the birthplace of the Messiah is called Bethlehem of Ephrata.
Ephrata, therefore, in the strict sense, is the name of the region or territory. The reason for the names may be found in 1 Chron. 2:19 ff.: Ephrata, second wife of Caleb, is mother of Hur, grandfather of Bethlehem. Others think that the names go back to an earlier period, when “Ephraim” was used as a synonym for “fraternity”: cf. Judg. 12:5; 1 Sam. 1:1; 1 Kings 11:26.