Lexical Summary Kaleb Ephrathah: Caleb Ephrathah Original Word: כָּלֵב אֶפְרָתָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Caleb-ephrathah From Kaleb and 'Ephraath; Caleb- Ephrathah, a place in Egypt (if the text is correct) -- Caleb-ephrathah. see HEBREW Kaleb see HEBREW 'Ephraath NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Kaleb and Ephrath Definition the place where Hezron died NASB Translation Caleb-ephrathah (1). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence “After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, his wife Abijah bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.” (1 Chronicles 2:24) Context within the House of Judah The Chronicler locates the notice inside the long Judahite genealogy that moves from Judah to David (1 Chronicles 2:3-17). Hezron, grandson of Judah, fathers three prominent sons—Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb (also called Chelubai, verse 9). The statement that Hezron “died in Caleb Ephrathah” ties his death and a subsequent birth to an estate or settlement associated with his son Caleb. This brief clause signals a transfer of prominence from father to son and helps trace the expansion of Judah’s clan network south of Jerusalem. A Place, a Clan, or a Marriage? The Hebrew construction can be read several ways: However one resolves the syntax, Scripture presents an undeniable link between Caleb, the territory of Ephrathah, and the broader family of Judah. The reference therefore serves a double genealogical function: it identifies the physical setting of Hezron’s last days and roots the rising Calebite branch firmly within Judah’s heartland. Relationship to Bethlehem (Ephrathah) Ephrathah is an older designation for Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19; Ruth 4:11; Micah 5:2). Placing Caleb there is significant: Connection with Tekoa and the Prophetic Tradition The child born after Hezron’s death, Ashhur, becomes “the father of Tekoa.” Tekoa lies roughly ten miles south of Bethlehem and later produces the prophet Amos (Amos 1:1) and the “wise woman of Tekoa” who aided King David (2 Samuel 14:2-20). By recording Tekoa’s origin inside Caleb Ephrathah, the Chronicler shows how diverse ministries—royal, prophetic, and civic—sprang from a single Judahite matrix. The text therefore links the Calebite estate not only to Bethlehem’s messianic promise but also to a site renowned for prophetic witness. Caleb’s Broader Legacy Though distinct from Caleb son of Jephunneh (the faithful spy of Numbers 13–14), Caleb son of Hezron leaves an enduring mark: Thus Caleb Ephrathah represents both a geographical foothold and a multi-generational center of service—artistic, military, prophetic, and priestly—within the covenant community. Messianic Implications Micah 5:2 foretells that a ruler whose “origins are from ancient times” would arise from “Bethlehem Ephrathah.” The Chronicler’s careful mention of Caleb Ephrathah helps establish that Bethlehem was not an isolated hamlet but a hub of Judahite clans long before David’s day. By setting Caleb’s house alongside Ram’s line (ancestor of David through Salmon and Boaz), the narrative underscores God’s providence in weaving varied Judahite threads into the tapestry that culminates in Christ (Luke 3:32-33). Lessons for Faith and Ministry 1. God values seemingly minor details. A single phrase—“Caleb Ephrathah”—anchors people, places, and promises. Summary Caleb Ephrathah, though mentioned only once, stands at a crossroads of genealogy, geography, and redemptive history. It memorializes a family estate of the Calebite branch of Judah, situates Judah’s expansion around Bethlehem, inaugurates the town of Tekoa, and quietly prepares the ground for David and the Messiah. Through it Scripture demonstrates how God orchestrates lineage and location to advance His unchanging plan. Forms and Transliterations אֶפְרָ֑תָה אפרתה ’ep̄·rā·ṯāh ’ep̄rāṯāh efRatahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 2:24 HEB: חֶצְר֖וֹן בְּכָלֵ֣ב אֶפְרָ֑תָה וְאֵ֤שֶׁת חֶצְרוֹן֙ NAS: of Hezron in Caleb-ephrathah, Abijah, KJV: was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah INT: the death of Hezron Caleb-ephrathah wife Hezron's 1 Occurrence |
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