Genesis 35:19

Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem. Ephrath, or Ephratah (ch. 48:7), was the original name of the town later called Bethlehem. Occasionally both names were used together, as in Micah 5:2. Ephratha was a name derived from ’aphar, a root meaning “to be light,” “to be fleet,” “to be fertile.” Ephratha would thus mean “fertility,” and as applied to the region of Bethlehem would imply the fertility of its soil. Bethlehem means “the house of bread.” Thus the two names are closely related in meaning, for in a land of “fertility” it would be only natural to find an abundance of “bread” in the “house.” It is possible that these two names, Ephrath and Bethlehem, are related to two members of early Hebrew families that settled in the vicinity of Hebron and Bethlehem. Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, married Ephrath, and one of their descendants in the fourth generation was named Bethlehem (see 1 Chron. 2:19, 51,54).