THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
The upright man continued his journey, progressing gradually toward the location where Isaac resided. As he approached Ephrathah, Rachel went into labor, and her delivery proved to be challenging.
Genesis 35:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And going forth from thence, he came in the spring time to the land which leadeth to Ephrata: wherein when Rachel was in travail,
וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית אֵ֔ל וַֽיְהִי־ע֥וֹד כִּבְרַת־הָאָ֖רֶץ לָב֣וֹא אֶפְרָ֑תָה וַתֵּ֥לֶד רָחֵ֖ל וַתְּקַ֥שׁ בְּלִדְתָּֽהּ׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Jerome of Stridon
I find it perplexing what the Seventy Translators intended when they rendered the Hebrew term Chabratha (כִּבְרַת-) as Hippodrome in the context of Jacob’s words to Joseph: “And when I was going from Mesopotamia of Syria to go to Ephrathah, your mother Rachel died in the land of Canaan, in the way of the Hippodrome” (Gen. 48:7). In another instance, where the Hebrew states: “And they buried her on the road to Ephrathah, that is, Bethlehem” (Genesis 35:19), the same translators again used the term Hippodrome, this time substituting it for Ephrathah. If Chabratha signifies Hippodrome, then Ephrathah cannot hold the same interpretation.
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Aquila chose to translate it as: “And it happened καθ ἁδὸν τῆς γῆς (i.e., ‘on the way in this country’), upon entering Ephrathah...” However, a more accurate translation might be: “In the finest season of this land, as he entered Ephrathah...” This phrase suggests the springtime, a period when everything is in full bloom, representing the pinnacle of the year. During this season, travelers often gather from the fields along the roadside, drawn by the vibrant colors of the blossoms. Moreover, Ephrathah and Bethlehem refer to the same city, with translations signifying “fruitful” and “house of bread.” This is a tribute to the Bread that proclaimed His descent from heaven (John 6).
Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
As they continued towards Ephrathah, there was a distance known as havrapha. The term havrapha כברה refers to a measurement of distance that is unclear (Genesis 48:7, 2 Samuel 5:19). In the first reference, the seventy interpreters translate havrapha as κατα τον ιπποδρομον, leading us to consider whether this could represent a measure similar to a horse's running distance recognized in Arabia, which is somewhat akin to the French mile.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Mic 5:2And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.
- Matt 2:18A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
- Gen 48:7For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethlehem.
- 1 Tim 2:15Yet she shall be saved through child bearing; if she continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.
- Gen 35:19So Rachel died, and was buried in the highway that leadeth to Ephrata, this is Bethlehem.
- Ps 132 (131):6
- Gen 3:16To the woman also he said: I will multiply thy sorrows, and thy conceptions: in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children, and thou shalt be under thy husband's power, and he shall have dominion over thee.
- 1 Chr 2:19And when Azuba was dead, Caleb took to wife Ephrata: who bore him Hur.