Topical Bible: Beth-Lehem

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Etymology and Meaning:
Bethlehem, meaning "House of Bread" in Hebrew, is a significant town in biblical history. It is also referred to as Bethlehem Ephrathah or Bethlehem Judah to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the territory of Zebulun (Joshua 19:15).

Geographical Location:
Bethlehem is located about six miles south of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judah. Its strategic position on the main road to Hebron made it an important site in ancient times.

Biblical Significance:
Bethlehem holds a prominent place in biblical narratives and prophecy. It is first mentioned in Genesis 35:19-20 as the burial place of Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife: "So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Over her tomb Jacob set up a pillar, and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb."

Ruth and Boaz:
The Book of Ruth is set in Bethlehem, where Ruth, a Moabite widow, gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of her deceased husband. Their marriage is significant as it leads to the lineage of King David. Ruth 1:22 states, "So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest."

Birthplace of David:
Bethlehem is renowned as the birthplace of King David, Israel's second king and a man after God's own heart. 1 Samuel 16:1 records God's instruction to Samuel: "Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

Prophetic Importance:
The prophet Micah foretold the birth of a ruler in Bethlehem, a prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus Christ. Micah 5:2 declares, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

Birthplace of Jesus Christ:
Bethlehem's most significant claim to fame is as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The Gospel of Matthew records the fulfillment of Micah's prophecy: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem" (Matthew 2:1). Luke 2:4-7 provides further details of the nativity: "So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son."

Historical and Theological Impact:
Bethlehem's role in biblical history extends beyond its geographical and historical significance. It is a symbol of God's providence and faithfulness, as seen in the lineage of David and the fulfillment of messianic prophecies. The town's humble status underscores the theme of God's work through the lowly and unexpected, culminating in the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Beth-Lehem

house of bread

Greek

965. Bethleem -- "house of bread," Bethlehem, a city near Jer.
... Bethleem. 966 . "house of bread," Bethlehem, a city near Jer. ... Word Origin of Hebrew
origin Beth Definition "house of bread," Bethlehem, a city near Jer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/965.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

4029. Migdal-eder -- "flock tower," a tower near Bethlehem
... Migdal-eder. 4030 . "flock tower," a tower near Bethlehem. Transliteration:
Migdal-eder Phonetic Spelling: (mig-dal'-ay'-der) Short Definition: Eder. ...
/hebrew/4029.htm - 6k

8007. Salma -- father of Boaz, also the founder of Bethlehem
... 8006, 8007. Salma. 8008 . father of Boaz, also the founder of Bethlehem.
Transliteration: Salma Phonetic Spelling: (sal-maw') Short Definition: Salma. ...
/hebrew/8007.htm - 6k

1628. Geruth -- "lodging place," a place near Bethlehem
... 1627, 1628. Geruth. 1629 . "lodging place," a place near Bethlehem.
Transliteration: Geruth Phonetic Spelling: (gay-rooth') Short Definition: Geruth. ...
/hebrew/1628.htm - 6k

3643. Kimham -- an attendant of David, also a place near Bethlehem
... Kimham. 3644 . an attendant of David, also a place near Bethlehem. Transliteration:
Kimham Phonetic Spelling: (kim-hawm') Short Definition: Chimham. ...
/hebrew/3643.htm - 6k

1022. Beth Hallachmi -- an inhabitant of Bethlehem
... Beth Hallachmi. 1023 . an inhabitant of Bethlehem. Transliteration: Beth Hallachmi
Phonetic Spelling: (bayth hal-lakh-mee') Short Definition: Bethlehemite. ...
/hebrew/1022.htm - 6k

1035. Beth Lechem -- "place of bread," a city in Judah, also a ...
... Word Origin from bayith and lechem Definition "place of bread," a city in Judah,
also a city in Zebulun NASB Word Usage Bethlehem (41). Beth-lehem. ...
/hebrew/1035.htm - 6k

672. Ephrath -- an Israelite woman, also the name of several ...
... 5). Ephrath, Ephratah. Or mephrathah {ef-raw'-thaw}; from parah; fruitfulness;
Ephrath, another name for Bethlehem; once (Psa. 132 ...
/hebrew/672.htm - 6k

3433. Yashubi Lechem -- "returner of bread," a man of Judah
... (Prob. The text should be pointed Yoshbev Lechem {yo-sheh-bay' leh'-khem}, and rendered
"(they were) inhabitants of Lechem," ie Of Bethlehem (by contraction). ...
/hebrew/3433.htm - 6k

Library

Was Christ Born in Bethlehem?
Was Christ Born in Bethlehem? . Was Christ Born in Bethlehem? Sir William
Mitchell Ramsay. Table of Contents. Title Page. PREFACE. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/

Bethlehem and Calvary.
... BETHLEHEM AND CALVARY. Er ist in Bethlehem geboren [364]Friedrich R?�ckert. trans.
by Catherine Winkworth, 1869. In Bethlehem the Lord was born. ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/bethlehem and calvary.htm

Bethlehem Rejoices,
... Bethlehem rejoices,. tr., John Brownlie 6,5,6,5 D. Doxa en hupsistois theo. By St.
John of Damascus, 780 AD. I. Bethlehem rejoices,. Hark the voices clear,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/bethlehem rejoices.htm

The Bethlehem Fog.
... The Tragic Break in the Plan The Bethlehem Fog. Then it was that Jesus came. ... The
first attempt was at Bethlehem. The venomous spittle oozed out there first. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the bethlehem fog.htm

At Bethlehem
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CXXXIX AT BETHLEHEM. R. Crashaw. Come, we
shepherds, whose blest sight. Hath met Love's noon in Nature's night; ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cxxxix at bethlehem.htm

The Story of Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem
... THE STORY OF JESUS, THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM. Soon ... fed. On that night, some
shepherds were tending their sheep in a field near Bethlehem. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jesus the.htm

Beth-Lehem
... A Chorographical Century. Chapters 51-60 Chapter 51 Beth-lehem. ... But by what liberty
the other should render it Beth-lehem, let himself see. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 51 beth-lehem.htm

Joy Born at Bethlehem
... Joy Born at Bethlehem. A Sermon (No.1026). Delivered on Lord's-Day Morning, December
24th, 1871, by. CH SPURGEON,. ... the Star of Bethlehem shall never set. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/joy born at bethlehem.htm

A visit to Bethlehem in Spirit.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN LII. A Visit to Bethlehem in Spirit. 8.7.8.7.8.8.7 James Montgomery.
A Visit to Bethlehem in Spirit. The scene arround me disappears,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn lii a visit to.htm

Jesus is Born in Bethlehem
... CHAPTER II JESUS IS BORN IN BETHLEHEM. ... Now, both Joseph and Mary belonged to
the family of the great king David, who was born in Bethlehem. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/the good shepherd/chapter ii jesus is born.htm

Thesaurus

Bethlehem-judah (3 Occurrences)
... Bethlehemjudah, Bethlehem-judah. Beth-lehem-judah . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(DBY). Bethlehemjudah, Bethlehem-judah. Beth-lehem-judah . Reference Bible
/b/bethlehem-judah.htm - 7k

Bethlehem (49 Occurrences)
... Rachel "was buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is Beth-lehem)." Tradition points
out the site of Rachel's tomb near where the road to Bethlehem leaves the ...
/b/bethlehem.htm - 31k

Beth-lehem (49 Occurrences)
Beth-lehem. Bethlehem, Beth-lehem. Bethlehemite . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT). Bethlehem, Beth-lehem. Bethlehemite . Reference Bible
/b/beth-lehem.htm - 21k

Beth-lehem-judah (9 Occurrences)
Beth-lehem-judah. Bethlehem-judah, Beth-lehem-judah. Bethlomon . Multi-Version
Concordance ... Bethlehem-judah, Beth-lehem-judah. Bethlomon . Reference Bible
/b/beth-lehem-judah.htm - 9k

Ephrath (9 Occurrences)
... of Septuagint only); Ruth 4:11 1 Chronicles 2:19, 24, 50; Psalm 132:6 Micah 5:2,
the King James Version "Ephratah"): The name either of Bethlehem itself or of ...
/e/ephrath.htm - 10k

Ephratah (5 Occurrences)
... (2.) The ancient name of Bethlehem in Judah (Genesis 35:16, 19 ... These are the sons
of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem. (KJV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/e/ephratah.htm - 9k

Ephrathah (6 Occurrences)
... of Septuagint only); Ruth 4:11 1 Chronicles 2:19, 24, 50; Psalm 132:6 Micah 5:2,
the King James Version "Ephratah"): The name either of Bethlehem itself or of ...
/e/ephrathah.htm - 9k

Etam (5 Occurrences)
... 8, 11). It was a natural stronghold. It has been identified with Beit 'Atab,
west of Bethlehem, near Zorah and Eshtaol. On the crest ...
/e/etam.htm - 11k

Naomi (25 Occurrences)
... of Elimelech, and mother of Mahlon and Chilion, and mother-in-law of Ruth (1:2,
20, 21; 2:1). Elimelech and his wife left the district of Bethlehem-Judah, and ...
/n/naomi.htm - 17k

Adullam (10 Occurrences)
... then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem. ...
the Philistine lines and brought him water from the home well of Bethlehem. ...
/a/adullam.htm - 16k

Resources

Does the Bible say anything about Russia in relation to the end times? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Naphtali? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Bethel in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Beth-lehem (49 Occurrences)

Matthew 2:1
Now when the birth of Jesus took place in Beth-lehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
(BBE YLT)

Matthew 2:5
And they said to him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea; for so it is said in the writings of the prophet,
(BBE YLT)

Matthew 2:6
You Beth-lehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the chiefs of Judah: out of you will come a ruler, who will be the keeper of my people Israel.
(BBE YLT)

Matthew 2:8
And he sent them to Beth-lehem and said, Go and make certain where the young child is; and when you have seen him, let me have news of it, so that I may come and give him worship.
(BBE YLT)

Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was very angry; and he sent out, and put to death all the male children in Beth-lehem and in all the parts round about it, from two years old and under, acting on the knowledge which he had got with care from the wise men.
(BBE YLT)

Luke 2:4
And Joseph went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judaea, to Beth-lehem, the town of David, because he was of the house and family of David,
(BBE)

Luke 2:15
And when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the keepers of the sheep said to one another, Let us go now to Beth-lehem, and see this thing which has come about, which the Lord has made clear to us.
(BBE)

John 7:42
Do not the Writings say that the Christ comes of the seed of David and from Beth-lehem, the little town where David was?
(BBE)

Genesis 35:19
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath ( the same is Beth-lehem ).
(ASV BBE JPS WBS)

Genesis 48:7
And as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when there was still some distance to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way to Ephrath ( the same is Beth-lehem ).
(ASV BBE JPS WBS)

Joshua 19:15
And Kattath and Nahalal and Shimron and Idalah and Beth-lehem; twelve towns with their unwalled places.
(BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT)

Judges 12:8
And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Judges 12:10
And Ibzan died, and was buried at Beth-lehem.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Judges 17:7
And there was a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Judges 17:8
And the man departed out of the city, out of Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find a place, and he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Judges 17:9
And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Beth-lehem-judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Judges 19:1
And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Judges 19:2
And his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there the space of four months.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Judges 19:18
And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah unto the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim; from thence am I, and I went to Beth-lehem-judah: and I am now going to the house of Jehovah; and there is no man that taketh me into his house.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Ruth 1:1
Now there came a time, in the days of the judges, when there was no food in the land. And a certain man went from Beth-lehem-judah, he and his wife and his two sons, to make a living-place in the country of Moab.
(BBE JPS WBS YLT)

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 Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and were there for some time.
(BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Ruth 1:19
So the two of them went on till they came to Beth-lehem. And when they came to Beth-lehem all the town was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
(BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Ruth 1:22
So Naomi came back out of the country of Moab, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her; and they came to Beth-lehem in the first days of the grain-cutting.
(BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Ruth 2:4
And Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said to the grain-cutters, The Lord be with you. And they made answer, The Lord give you his blessing.
(BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Ruth 4:11
And all the people who were in the public place, and the responsible men, said, We are witnesses. May the Lord make this woman, who is about to come into your house, like Rachel and Leah, which two were the builders of the house of Israel: and may you have wealth in Ephrathah, and be great in Beth-lehem;
(BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 16:4
And Samuel did that which Jehovah spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 17:12
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, stricken in years among men.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 17:15
Now David went to and fro from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 17:58
And Saul said to him: 'Whose son art thou, thou young man?' And David answered: 'I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.'
(Root in JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 20:6
If thy father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 20:28
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 2:32
And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and the day brake upon them at Hebron.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 23:14
And David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 23:15
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 23:16
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Jehovah.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 23:24
Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 2:51
Salma the father of Beth-lehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 2:54
The sons of Salma: Beth-lehem, and the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 4:4
and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephrathah, the father of Beth-lehem.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 4:22
And Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who were rulers in Moab, and went back to Beth-lehem. And the records are very old.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 11:16
And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 11:17
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 11:18
And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Jehovah,
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 11:26
Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 11:6
He built Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Ezra 2:21
The children of Beth-lehem, a hundred twenty and three.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Nehemiah 7:26
The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred and eighty-eight.
(BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 41:17
and they departed, and dwelt in Geruth Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Micah 5:2
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
(ASV BBE JPS WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Beth-Lehem

Related Terms

Bethlehem (49 Occurrences)

Beth-lehem (49 Occurrences)

Beth-lehem-judah (9 Occurrences)

Ephrath (9 Occurrences)

Ephratah (5 Occurrences)

Ephrathah (6 Occurrences)

Etam (5 Occurrences)

Naomi (25 Occurrences)

Adullam (10 Occurrences)