Bethphage is a small village mentioned in the New Testament, located on the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem. Its name is derived from the Aramaic "Beth Pagi," meaning "House of Unripe Figs." This village holds significant importance in the Gospel narratives, particularly in the events leading up to Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Biblical References:

Bethphage is specifically mentioned in the context of Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem. In the Gospel of Matthew, it is recorded: "As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples" (Matthew 21:1). Similarly, the Gospel of Mark states: "As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples" (Mark 11:1). The Gospel of Luke also references this location: "As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples" (Luke 19:29).

Significance in the Gospels:

Bethphage is notably the place where Jesus instructed His disciples to find a donkey and her colt, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." This event is a pivotal moment in the Passion Week, marking the beginning of Jesus' public declaration as the Messiah.

Geographical and Historical Context:

Bethphage's proximity to Jerusalem and its location on the Mount of Olives made it a strategic point for travelers and pilgrims entering the city. The Mount of Olives itself is a significant site in biblical history, often associated with prophetic and eschatological events. While the exact location of Bethphage is not definitively known today, it is traditionally believed to be near the modern-day village of Abu Dis or close to Bethany, another village of biblical importance.

Theological Implications:

The events at Bethphage underscore the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and highlight Jesus' role as the prophesied King and Messiah. The choice of a donkey, a symbol of peace, rather than a warhorse, emphasizes the nature of Jesus' kingdom—one of humility and peace rather than earthly power and conquest. This act serves as a profound statement about the nature of Christ's mission and the expectations of the Messiah in Jewish thought.

Bethphage, though a small and seemingly insignificant village, plays a crucial role in the narrative of the Gospels, illustrating the divine orchestration of events leading to the culmination of Jesus' earthly ministry.Bethphage

house of my month, or of early figs

Bethphage

(g hard) (house of figs) the name of a place on the Mount of Olives on the road between Jericho and Jerusalem. It was apparently close to Bethany. (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29)

Bethphage

Place of figs, a little village at the eastern foot of the Mount of Olives, near to Bethany, Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29.

House of the unripe fig, a village on the Mount of Olives, on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29), and very close to Bethany. It was the limit of a Sabbath-day's journey from Jerusalem, i.e., 2,000 cubits. It has been identified with the modern Kefr-et-Tur. BETHPHAGE

beth'-fa-je, beth'-faj (from beth paghah; Bethphage, or Bethphage; in Aramaic "place of young figs"): Near the Mount of Olives and to the road from Jerusalem to Jericho; mentioned together with Bethany (Matthew 21:1 Mark 11:1 Luke 19:29). The place occurs in several Talmudic passages where it may be inferred that it was near but outside Jerusalem; it was at the Sabbatical distance limit East of Jerusalem, and was surrounded by some kind of wall. The medieval Bethphage was between the summit and Bethany. The site is now enclosed by the Roman Catholics. As regards the Bethphage of the New Testament, the most probable suggestion was that it occupied the summit itself where Kefr et Tur stands today. This village certainly occupies an ancient site and no other name is known. This is much more probable than the suggestion that the modern Abu Dis is on the site of Bethphage.

E. W. G. Masterman

967. Bethphage -- "house of unripe figs," Bethphage, a village on ...
... 966, 967. Bethphage. 968 . "house of unripe figs," Bethphage, a village
on the Mt. of Olives. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/967.htm - 6k

Bethphage
... A Chorographical Century Chapters 31-40 Chapter 37 Bethphage. There is
very frequent mention of this place in the Talmudists: and ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 37 bethphage.htm

The First Day in Passion-Week - Palm-Sunday - the Royal Entry into ...
... More difficulty attaches to the identification of Bethphage, which is associated
with it, the place not being mentioned in the Old Testament, though repeatedly ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i the first day.htm

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
... c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper]
^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cv jesus triumphal entry into.htm

Discrepancy of the Gospel Narratives Connected with the Cleansing ...
... must consider the statements, and in the first place that of Matthew, where we read:
[5052] "When He drew nigh to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage over against ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of john/15 discrepancy of the gospel.htm

The Triumphant Entry
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 11:1-11 THE TRIUMPHANT
ENTRY. "And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 11 1-11 the triumphant entry.htm

Matthew's Story of the Entry into Jerusalem. Difficulties Involved ...
... this he has the story of the ass and the foal which were taken by command of the
Lord and found by the two disciples whom he sent from Bethphage into the ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/17 matthews story of the.htm

Last Week of Jesus.
... base of the mountain, at some steps from the gate, on entering the neighboring portion
of the eastern wall of the city, which was called Bethphage, no doubt on ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxiii last week of.htm

The Ass and the Colt are the Old and the New Testament. Spiritual ...
... From Bethphage Matthew says the disciples are sent out who are to fetch the ass
and the colt; and Bethphage is a priestly place, the name of which means "House ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/18 the ass and the.htm

From the Talmud and Hebraica
... Chapter 36 Synagogues in the City; and Schools. Chapter 37 Bethphage. Chapter 38
Kedron. Chapter 39 The Valley of Hinnom. Chapter 40 Mount Olivet. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/

Palm Sunday --The Day of Triumph.
... On the morrow when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at
the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, "Go ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his last week/palm sundaythe day of triumph.htm

Bethphage (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BETHPHAGE. ... The medieval Bethphage was between the
summit and Bethany. The site is now enclosed by the Roman Catholics. ...
/b/bethphage.htm - 8k

Beth'phage (3 Occurrences)
Beth'phage. Bethphage, Beth'phage. Beth-phage . Multi-Version Concordance
Beth'phage (3 Occurrences). Matthew 21:1 And when they ...
/b/beth'phage.htm - 7k

Nigh (243 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage,
unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, (KJV ASV WBS YLT). ...
/n/nigh.htm - 36k

Front (327 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:1 When they were come near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and
the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front, (WEY). ...
/f/front.htm - 37k

Beth (115 Occurrences)
... We also find the word in hybrid formations, eg Bethphage = Bethphage = "fig house"
(Matthew 21:1). Frank E. Hirsch. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/b/beth.htm - 40k

Arrived (129 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:1 When they were come near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and
the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front, (WEY). ...
/a/arrived.htm - 33k

Olives (30 Occurrences)
... He approached Jerusalem, "unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives" (Mark
11:1 Matthew 21:1 Luke 19:29); over a shoulder of this mount-very probably ...
/o/olives.htm - 37k

Oliveyard (4 Occurrences)
... Luke 19:29 And when he was come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount called
the Oliveyard, He sent two of the disciples on in front, (WEY). ...
/o/oliveyard.htm - 7k

Instructions (47 Occurrences)
... Mark 11:1 When they were getting near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and
Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples on in front ...
/i/instructions.htm - 20k

Beth-pe'or (4 Occurrences)
Beth-pe'or. Beth-peor, Beth-pe'or. Bethphage . Multi-Version Concordance
Beth-pe'or (4 Occurrences). ... Beth-peor, Beth-pe'or. Bethphage . Reference Bible
/b/beth-pe'or.htm - 7k

What is Palm Sunday? | GotQuestions.org

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

What happened on the Mount of Olives? | GotQuestions.org

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