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Glite Dictionary
🏜️ From Bethlehem 🧑 A Bethlehemite
Ephrathite

Ephrathite

9.9
A person from Bethlehem, often mentioned in the Bible
  • noun
  • /ˈɛfrəˌθaɪt/
  • Literature
translation icon : efrateo
  • In the Old Testament, Ruth is described as an Ephrathite from Bethlehem.

Examples

  • Many biblical scholars have studied the origins of the term Ephrathite.

  • Many Ephrathites settled in the region.

  • The family claimed to be descendants of an ancient Ephrathite lineage.

  • The Ephrathite was known for his wisdom.

  • Elkanah, an Ephrathite, traveled to Shiloh each year to worship at the temple.

  • In the biblical narrative, David was born to an Ephrathite family in Bethlehem.

  • The traditions of the Ephrathites are an important part of the history of ancient Israel.

Synonyms

Israelite
vsEphrathite
6 8.1

A member or descendant of the ancient Hebrew people

is someone from a specific town rather than the wider national group

Surface Forms

Ephrathite singular
Ephrathites plural

Morphology

Ephrathite = Ephrath (semi-transparent) = Ephrath + ite

The suffix '-ite' clearly marks a person from a place, but 'Ephrath' is obscure to many learners, so deriving the full meaning needs background knowledge.

Etymology

Ephrathite comes from the place name Ephrath, an old name for Bethlehem, and the ending -ite marks a person 'from' a place, like Israelite, so an Ephrathite is a person from Ephrath or Bethlehem.