Psalm 132:6
New International Version
We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:

New Living Translation
We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.

English Standard Version
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

Berean Standard Bible
We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

King James Bible
Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

New King James Version
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the woods.

New American Standard Bible
Behold, we heard about it in Ephrathah, We found it in the field of Jaar.

NASB 1995
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah, We found it in the field of Jaar.

NASB 1977
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the field of Jaar.

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah, We found it in the fields of Jaar.

Amplified Bible
Behold, we heard of it at Ephrathah; We found it in the field of Jaar.

Christian Standard Bible
We heard of the ark in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
We heard of the ark in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

American Standard Version
Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah: We found it in the field of the wood.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Behold, we heard it in Ephrata and we found it in the fields.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, we heard of it in Ephratha; we found it in the fields of the wood.

Contemporary English Version
When we were in Ephrath, we heard that the sacred chest was somewhere near Jaar.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood.

English Revised Version
Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah: we found it in the field of the wood.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now, we have heard about the ark [of the promise]being in Ephrathah. We have found it in Jaar.

Good News Translation
In Bethlehem we heard about the Covenant Box, and we found it in the fields of Jearim.

International Standard Version
We heard about it in Ephrata; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Lo, we heard of it as being in Ephrath; We found it in the field of the wood.

Literal Standard Version
Behold, we have heard it in Ephratah, | We have found it in the fields of the forest.

Majority Standard Bible
We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

New American Bible
“We have heard of it in Ephrathah; we have found it in the fields of Jaar.

NET Bible
Look, we heard about it in Ephrathah, we found it in the territory of Jaar.

New Revised Standard Version
We heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.

New Heart English Bible
Look, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar:

Webster's Bible Translation
Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

World English Bible
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar.

Young's Literal Translation
'Lo, we have heard it in Ephratah, We have found it in the fields of the forest.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Remember David's Affliction
5until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6 We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. 7Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool.…

Cross References
Genesis 35:19
So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

Ruth 4:11
"We are witnesses," said the elders and all the people at the gate. "May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 7:1
Then the men of Kiriath-jearim came for the ark of the LORD and took it into Abinadab's house on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of the LORD.

1 Samuel 17:12
Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons in the days of Saul. And Jesse was old and well along in years.


Treasury of Scripture

See, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.

at Ephratah

Ruth 1:2
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

1 Samuel 17:12
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

Micah 5:2
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

we found

1 Samuel 7:1
And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 13:5,6
So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim…

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Ephratah Ephrath Ephrathah Eph'rathah Field Fields Forest Found Heard News Wood
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Psalm 132
1. David in his prayer commends unto God the reverent care he had for the ark
8. His prayer at the removing of the ark
11. With a repetition of God's promises














(6) Lo, we heard.--This verse has been pronounced inexplicable, and yet the general intention is clear. The vow in which David declared his purpose has just been quoted, and that which is now said to have been heard and found can hardly be anything else than this purpose. In fact, the feminine suffix to the verbs points directly back to the word rendered afflictions in Psalm 132:1, which is really a feminine form. This being settled, we need not go from the plain direction of such places as Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7; Ruth 4:11; Micah 5:2, which pronounce the identity of Ephratah with Bethlehem, to seek any other locality which might possibly be so called. David's purpose would naturally be connected--especially after a long lapse of time--with the birthplace of his family. But though taking this poetical licence, the psalm keeps sufficiently close to history as to recognise in the discovery of the Ark at Kirjath-jearim an important, nay, a decisive step in the project of building the Temple. Though his purpose may not have been even dimly defined to David when he moved the Ark, history justly sees in that momentous change the initial step in the grander undertaking. That "the fields of the wood" (Heb., sedey-y?'ar) is one designation of Kirjath-jearim (city of Yaarim, which went by so many names: Jeremiah 26:20; Ezra 2:25; Joshua 15:10-11) there can be little doubt. We must not, of course, think here of David's contemporaries, but of those of the psalmist, who poetically are represented as taking important part in the early plans for building the Temple--just as we might say, speaking of our old cathedrals, "we built fine churches in those days." The poet makes them say, identifying themselves with the people of those distant times, while naturally the historical correctness suffers, "We heard his project at Bethlehem; we found out its meaning (saw it take shape) at Kirjath-jearim." For m?tsa, in the sense of "finding out the meaning or discerning," see Judges 14:12, "of a riddle." This sentence reminds one of a riddle by its form. . . . Verses 6-10. - The realization of David's design. The resting-place is, after a time, discovered and prepared. The ark is brought up and placed in it (1 Kings 8:1-11). The "priests" are" clothed with righteousness," and the "saints shout for joy." God "turns not away the face of his anointed," but accepts the costly offering. God himself "arises into his rest," and makes his presence visible from the mercy-seat (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14). Verse 6. - Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah. "It" is probably "the ark" - not yet mentioned, but a main object of the writer's thoughts; and "Ephratah" is the district south and west of Jerusalem, in which both Bethlehem and Kirjath-jearim were situated. And found it in the fields of the wood; rather, in the fields of Jaar. "Jaar" is a contracted and poetic name for Kirjath-jearim, where the ark remained from its return out of the country of the Philistines till David transferred it to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13:5-13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
We heard
שְׁמַֽעֲנ֥וּהָ (šə·ma·‘ă·nū·hā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

[the ark] was in Ephrathah;
בְאֶפְרָ֑תָה (ḇə·’ep̄·rā·ṯāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 672: Ephrath -- an Israelite woman, also the name of several places in Palestine

we found
מְ֝צָאנ֗וּהָ (mə·ṣā·nū·hā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

it in the fields
בִּשְׂדֵי־ (biś·ḏê-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7704: Field, land

of Jaar.
יָֽעַר׃ (yā·‘ar)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3293: A copse of bushes, a forest, honey in the comb


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OT Poetry: Psalm 132:6 Behold we heard of it in Ephrathah (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 132:5
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