"Fruitful. (1.) The second wife of Caleb, the son of Hezron," "mother of Hur, and grandmother of Caleb, who was one of those" "that were sent to spy the land (1 Chr. 2:19, 50)." "(2.) The ancient name of Bethlehem in Judah (Gen. 35:16, 19; "48:7). In Ruth 1:2 it is called "Bethlehem-Judah," but the" "inhabitants are called "Ephrathites;" in Micah 5:2," "Bethlehem-Ephratah; in Matt. 2:6, "Bethlehem in the land of" "Judah." In Ps. 132:6 it is mentioned as the place where David" "spent his youth, and where he heard much of the ark, although he" never saw it till he found it long afterwards at Kirjath-jearim; "i.e., the "city of the wood," or the "forest-town" (1 Sam. 7:1;" "comp. 2 Sam. 6:3, 4)."
Definition of Ephratah:
"Ephrath, abundance; bearing fruit"