Lexical Summary Béthabara: Bethabara Original Word: Βηθαβαρά Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Bethabara. Of Hebrew origin (bayith and abarah); ferry-house; Bethabara (i.e. Bethabarah), a place on the Jordan -- Bethabara. see HEBREW bayith see HEBREW abarah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for Béthania, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 962: ΒηθαβαρᾶΒηθαβαρᾶ, Βηθαβαρας Βηθαβαρᾶ Rec.bez st, indeclinable), ἡ (עֲבָרָה בֵּית place of crossing, i. e. where there is a crossing or ford, cf. German Furthhausen), Bethabara: John 1:28 Rec. (in Rec.elz of 1st decl., but cf. Winers Grammar, 61 (60)); see (WH's Appendix at the passage and) Βηθανία, 2. Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Bethabara is placed “beyond the Jordan” (John 1:28, KJV) on the east side of the river, opposite the Judean wilderness. Early Christian writers, including Origen, locate it near a series of shallow fords slightly north of where the Jordan enters the Dead Sea. The site sits along the natural route that linked Perea with Galilee and Judea, a logical gathering point for the multitudes who came to hear John the Baptist. Textual Considerations and Manuscript Evidence Most later Greek manuscripts of John 1:28 read “Bethany,” while a minority preserve “Bethabara.” Church Fathers note that Origen, after surveying the manuscripts of Palestine around A.D. 230, preferred “Bethabara,” arguing that no village named “Bethany” then existed east of the Jordan. Modern critical editions follow “Bethany” but footnote the variant, reflecting both the antiquity and the reverence early Christians showed toward the Bethabara reading. The variant underscores God’s providence in preserving Scripture while challenging scholars to weigh evidence carefully. Relation to John the Baptist’s Ministry John the Baptist’s preaching centered on repentance and preparation for Messiah. Bethabara’s position at a river crossing amplified three important features of his ministry: 1. Accessibility: Pilgrims traveling south to Jerusalem or north to Galilee could easily stop and hear the call to repentance. Connection with Old Testament Typology Joshua 3–4 records Israel’s first entry into the Promised Land through the miraculously parted Jordan. Centuries later, Bethabara offered a physical reminder of that earlier crossing. As Israel once passed from wilderness into inheritance, so John’s hearers were summoned to pass from sin into readiness for Messiah. The place therefore ties the faithfulness of God in the past to the imminent revelation of His Son: “All this came to pass that it might be fulfilled” (Matthew 1:22). Theological Themes Cleansing: The Jordan’s waters at Bethabara became a tangible sign of inward purification (Psalm 51:2). Confession: Matthew 3:6 notes, “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River”. A crossroads setting amplified the public nature of confession. Fulfillment: John 1:23 links Isaiah’s prophecy of “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” with activity precisely at this wilderness edge. Witness: John 1:29–34 records John’s proclamation, “Behold the Lamb of God,” delivered in this very region—launching public testimony to Jesus. Archaeological and Historical Witness Near modern-day Al-Maghtas in Jordan lie remains of ancient chapels and baptismal pools dating to the Byzantine period, commemorating the traditional site of Jesus’ baptism. Pilgrim diaries from the fourth through sixth centuries mention Bethabara explicitly, confirming continuous Christian memory of the locale even after textual preference shifted toward “Bethany.” Spiritual Lessons for Believers 1. The Location of Decision: Bethabara teaches that God often meets His people at points of transition, inviting decisive response. Summary Though absent from most modern Greek New Testaments, Bethabara remains intertwined with John the Baptist’s ministry, the public unveiling of Jesus, and the ongoing call to repentance and faith. Its historical ford across the Jordan stands as a perpetual reminder that the God who led Israel into Canaan now leads all who believe into life in Christ. Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Βεελζεβοὺλ — 7 Occ.Βελίαρ — 1 Occ. βέλη — 1 Occ. βελόνης — 1 Occ. βέλτιον — 1 Occ. Βενιαμίν — 4 Occ. Βερνίκη — 2 Occ. Βερνίκης — 1 Occ. Βεροίᾳ — 1 Occ. Βέροιαν — 1 Occ. Βηθανίᾳ — 4 Occ. Βηθανίαν — 6 Occ. Βηθανίας — 2 Occ. Βηθζαθά — 1 Occ. Βηθλεὲμ — 8 Occ. Βηθσαϊδά — 5 Occ. Βηθσαιδάν — 2 Occ. Βηθφαγὴ — 3 Occ. βῆμα — 2 Occ. βήματι — 1 Occ. |
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