What is…
Bethsaida

also known as: Beth Saida

Greek: Βηθσαϊδά —transliteration: Béthsaida —from Aramaic and Hebrew

Hebrew and Aramaic: בֵּית צַידָה beth (house) and tsaida (fishing or hunting) —meaning: House of the Fisherman or House of the Hunter

This is the name of one or two biblical cities…

Shore of the Sea of Galilee, showing the location of Bethsaida, near Capernaum. Photo © BiblePlaces. Licensed.
Shore of the Sea of Galilee, showing the location of Bethsaida (1, below), near Capernaum. Photo provided by ChristianAnswers Associate, BiblePlaces.

  1. Bethsaida, a town in Galilee

    It is located on the west side of the Sea of Galilee (aka Sea of Tiberias), in the “land of Gennesaret”

    It was the native place of Peter, Andrew, and Philip, and was frequently resorted to by Jesus (Mark 6:45; John 1:44; 12:21). It is supposed to have been at the modern 'Ain Tabighah, a bay to the north of Gennesaret.

  2. Bethsaida in Gaulonitis

    also known as: Julias

    This Bethsaida is a city near which Christ fed 5,000 (Luke 9:10; compare John 6:17; Matthew 14:15-21), and where the blind man had his sight restored (Mark 8:22), on the east side of the lake, 2 miles up the Jordan River.

    It stood within the region of Gaulonitis, and was enlarged by Philip the tetrarch, who called it “Julias,” after the emperor’s daughter.

    Or, as some have supposed, there may have been but one Bethsaida built on both sides of the lake, near where the Jordan enters it. Now the ruins et-Tel.

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Article Version: December 16, 2024