Greek word · G963

Βηθανία

bēthania

Bethany

A place name from Hebrew/Aramaic bêt ('house of', i.e. 'place of') plus a second element whose meaning is uncertain. None is certain.

Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

Βηθανία, -ας (also -ιά, indecl., Luke 19:29 and in B*, Mark 11:1), ἡ, (Heb. בֵּית עֲנִיָּה, house of affliction, accusative to Jerome, or perh., house of dates, cf. Bethphage),

Bethany;

1. a village fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem, the modern El Azerîyeh: Matthew 21:17 26:6, Mark 8:22 (WH, mg.) 11:1, 11, 12 14:3 Luke 19:29 24:50, John 11:1, 18 12:1.

2. A place on E. bank of Jordan: John 1:28 (R, mg., Βηθαβαρά, which see).

† (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 11:18

Range of meaning: A place name from Hebrew/Aramaic bêt ('house of', i.e. 'place of') plus a second element whose meaning is uncertain. Proposals include 'house of Ananiah' (compare the Benjaminite village Ananiah in Neh 11:32), 'house of the poor/afflicted' (Aramaic bêt ʿanyā), and 'house of unripe figs' (less likely). None is certain.
Against the English: Transliterated 'Bethany' in all versions. The meaning of the name is not used in the text, so readers should not build on any one etymology.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Gospels: the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary (John 11:1; 12:1); the anointing in the house of Simon the leper (Mark 14:3); Jesus' lodging during Passion week (Mark 11:11; Matt 21:17); the ascension site (Luke 24:50). John 1:28 places a different 'Bethany beyond the Jordan' where John baptized.

From the study of John 1:28

Range of meaning: A Semitic place-name in Greek form, usually explained as bêt ʿanyâ, 'house of the poor / of affliction' or 'house of Ananiah'. Since Origen it has also been read as 'house of answering'. The name is attested for the village on the Mount of Olives (John 11:1, 18; Mark 11:1). John 1:28 is the only place that names a Bethany 'beyond the Jordan'.
Against the English: English versions agree on 'Bethany' except the KJV/YLT, which follow the later reading 'Bethabara'. The English name is the same for both Bethanys, so readers easily merge them. The Greek writer prevents that with 'beyond the Jordan', and John 11:18 later locates the other Bethany 'about fifteen stadia (under two miles) from Jerusalem'.
How it drifted: There is no drift in meaning. The risk is confusion between the two places. Because no Bethany on the Jordan was known by the 3rd century, Origen proposed 'Bethabara', and copyists spread it.
Used elsewhere in the period: Origen, Commentary on John 6.40 (§§204–206), says 'almost all the copies' read Bethany. He says he visited the region, found no Bethany at the Jordan, and found a Bethabara where people said John baptized, so he preferred that reading. Eusebius' Onomasticon lists Bethabara as the place 'where John baptized', and the 6th-century Madaba mosaic map shows 'Bethabara, (the place) of the baptism of St John'.

From the study of John 12:1

Range of meaning: A Semitic place name. Its meaning is uncertain. Proposals include 'house of the poor/afflicted' (bêt ʿanyâ), 'house of Ananiah' (compare the Benjaminite town Ananiah, Nehemiah 11:32), and 'house of figs'. None is certain.
Against the English: BSB's 'the hometown of Lazarus' reads more into the Greek, which only says 'where Lazarus was'. The reading is supported, though, since 11:1 calls Lazarus 'of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha'.
Used elsewhere in the period: Its location is fixed at modern al-ʿEizariya, whose Arabic name comes from Lazarus (via the Lazarion church tradition). Eusebius' Onomasticon places the tomb of Lazarus there, and pilgrims were already visiting it in the 4th century. John 11:18 gives the distance from Jerusalem as fifteen stadia, about 2.8 km.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

Matthew 21:17 Βηθανίαν Bethany

Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.

Here: A village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about 15 stadia (under 3 km, roughly 2 miles) from Jerusalem (John 11:18). In Matthew it is where Jesus is later anointed in the house of Simon the leper (26:6).
Matthew 26:6 Βηθανίᾳ Bethany

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,

Here: A village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about 3 km (2 miles) from Jerusalem (John 11:18). Jesus spent his nights there during the final week (Matthew 21:17).

Mark · 4

Mark 11:1 Βηθανίαν Bethany

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples

Here: A village about 3 km (15 stadia, John 11:18) east of Jerusalem, the modern el-Azariyeh. In Mark it becomes Jesus' nightly lodging during the last week (11:11–12; 14:3).
Mark 11:11 Βηθανίαν Bethany

Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Mark 11:12 Βηθανίας Bethany

The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
Mark 14:3 Βηθανίᾳ Bethany

While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

Here: A village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about 3 km from Jerusalem (John 11:18 gives 15 stadia). Jesus spent his nights there during the final week.

Luke · 2

Luke 19:29 Βηθανίαν Bethany

As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples,
Luke 24:50 Βηθανίαν, Bethany,

When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

Here: A village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about 3 km (under 2 miles) from Jerusalem. It was Jesus' base during his last week (cf. 19:29), so the final scene happens on familiar ground.

John · 4

John 1:28 Βηθανίᾳ Bethany

All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Here: A place-name. The narrator at once marks it as a different Bethany from the village near Jerusalem in John 11. Where exactly it was is uncertain (see studies and debates).
John 11:1 Βηθανίας Bethany

At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

Here: The village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about 3 km from Jerusalem (11:18). John has to be precise because Jesus is staying at a different place called Bethany, beyond the Jordan (1:28; 10:40).
John 11:18 Βηθανία Bethany

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,

Here: The village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. It is the subject of the sentence.
John 12:1 Βηθανίαν, Bethany,

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

Here: The village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, 'about fifteen stadia' (roughly 3 km) from Jerusalem (11:18). It is the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. It is not the 'Bethany beyond the Jordan' of 1:28.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.