Βηθσαϊδά (Bēthsaida)
Bēthsaida
Bethsaida
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Bethsaida, meaning "house of fish," identifies a town on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is best known as the hometown of Peter, Andrew, and Philip, grounding these key disciples in a specific, working-class setting (John 1:44; 12:21). The Gospels place it in the region where Jesus spent much of his ministry near the Jordan River's mouth.
Scripture records that Jesus performed several miracles here, including healing a blind man (Mark 8:22-26) and feeding the five thousand nearby (Luke 9:10). However, the town is also noted for its spiritual hardness; Jesus pronounced a woe against it in Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13 because its inhabitants did not repent despite witnessing his works. This contrast highlights the tension between physical proximity to Jesus and genuine faith.
Some scholars suggest two locations named Bethsaida, one on the east shore and another on the west, but the textual evidence primarily supports a single site in the northeast (Mark 6:45; John 12:21). The name itself reflects the local economy, reminding readers that the Gospel emerged from ordinary fishing communities rather than urban centers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Bethsaida means "house of fish," a name that points to the ordinary, working-class roots of the Gospel. Peter, Andrew, and Philip came from this town on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, showing us that Jesus chose everyday people to carry His message. The faith does not require grand titles or urban prestige; it starts in simple homes and local communities.
Yet the Gospels also show a sobering side of this place. Despite seeing miracles like the healing of the blind man (Mark 8:22), the inhabitants did not turn to God. Jesus warned them that proximity to His works is not the same as genuine repentance. This reminds us that we must respond to what we know with our whole hearts, not just observe from a distance.
The story of Bethsaida invites us to examine our own response to Jesus. We are called to move beyond mere familiarity or routine and embrace a living faith that transforms how we live each day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Bethsaida,2×
- Bethsaida!2×
- Bethsaida2×
- Bethsaida.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Βηθσαϊδά,2×
- Βηθσαϊδάν,1×
- Βηθσαϊδά·1×
- Βηθσαϊδά.1×
- Βηθσαϊδὰν1×
- Βηθσαϊδὰ1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 11:21
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
This verse highlights the serious consequence of witnessing miracles without allowing them to produce true repentance.
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John 1:44
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Here the text grounds the disciples' identity in a specific, humble fishing town, showing God's use of ordinary places.
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Mark 8:22
He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.
This occurrence records Jesus healing a blind man, illustrating His compassion for those who are physically or spiritually lost.