כָּלֵב אֶפְרָתָה
Caleb-Ephrathah, a place in Egypt (if the text is correct)
Definition
כָּלֵב אֶפְרָתָה (Caleb-Ephrathah) is a proper noun referring to a location mentioned only once in the Old Testament. It appears in 1 Chronicles 2:24 as part of the genealogy of the tribe of Judah, specifically in the lineage of Caleb. The text states that after the death of Hezron, Caleb went in to Ephrathah, who was the wife of Hezron his father, and she bore him Ashhur, the father of Tekoa. The phrase is often interpreted as a place name, possibly meaning 'Caleb of Ephrathah' or 'Caleb (who went to) Ephrathah,' linking the Calebite clan to the region of Ephrathah (later associated with Bethlehem). Some scholars, noting textual difficulties, have suggested it might refer to a person (Ephrathah as Caleb's wife) or a location in Egypt, but the primary biblical context firmly places it within Judah's tribal territory and family history.
Biblical Usage
This term is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 2:24. It occurs within a genealogical list detailing the descendants of Judah. The usage is specific to a narrative about family lineage and territorial associations, connecting the figure of Caleb (not the spy, but a later descendant) to the region of Ephrathah. There are no other biblical occurrences or patterns of usage, making it a unique hapax legomenon (word occurring once) in the Hebrew Bible.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: כָּלֵב (Kâlêb, H3612), meaning 'dog' or possibly 'faithful,' and אֶפְרָת (ʼEphrâth, H672), an early name for Bethlehem or the surrounding region, meaning 'fruitful' or 'ash heap.' The combination likely signifies 'Caleb of Ephrathah,' denoting a Calebite associated with that territory. The derivation connects a personal or clan name with a geographic identifier, a common practice in Hebrew for specifying lineage or origin.
Semantic Range
While not a central theological term, כָּלֵב אֶפְרָתָה enriches understanding of biblical genealogy and God's faithfulness to tribal lineages. It appears in the genealogy of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:24), which is significant for the messianic line leading to David and ultimately Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38). This minor detail underscores the meticulous preservation of family records in Scripture, highlighting God's sovereign work through specific people and places in history. It reminds Bible readers that even obscure names contribute to the larger story of redemption.
In ancient Israelite culture, names often conveyed identity, lineage, and geographic ties. Combining a personal name like Caleb with a place name like Ephrathah was a way to specify a person's clan affiliation or location of residence, which was crucial for tribal inheritance and social identity. Ephrathah was a region associated with Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19; Ruth 4:11) and the tribe of Judah. Understanding this compound name helps modern readers grasp how biblical authors connected individuals to their ancestral lands, reflecting the importance of territory and family heritage in Israelite society.
אֶפְרָת (ʼEphrâth, H672) — The base geographic name for the region around Bethlehem, without the Calebite association. כָּלֵב (Kâlêb, H3612) — The personal or clan name alone, which can refer to the faithful spy (Numbers 13-14) or other individuals in Judah's lineage.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →