Where is Bethany in the Bible?
Bethany was a village located about two miles east of Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. Bethany appears in 12 verses across 4 books of the Bible.
What happened at Bethany?
Bethany was a village located about two miles east of Jerusalem, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. It is mentioned frequently in the Gospels, particularly in connection with Jesus' ministry and the family of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, who were close friends of Jesus. Jesus often visited Bethany and stayed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (Luke 10:38-42; Jhn.12.1-3). It was in Bethany that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, performing one of His most significant miracles (Jhn.11.1-44). This event took place shortly before Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Jhn.12.1, 9-11). Bethany was also the place where Jesus was anointed by Mary, who poured expensive perfume on His feet and wiped them with her hair (Matthew 26:6-13; Mrk.14.3-9; Jhn.12.1-8). This act of devotion took place in the house of Simon the leper, and it was criticized by Judas Iscariot as a waste of money. In the Synoptic Gospels, Bethany is mentioned in connection with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1, 17; Mrk.11.1, 11-12; Luke 19:29). Jesus sent two of His disciples to Bethany to find a colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. After His resurrection, Jesus led His disciples out as far as Bethany before ascending into heaven (Luke 24:50-51). The village held a special place in Jesus' ministry, serving as a place of rest, friendship, and significant events. In Jhn.1.28, a different Bethany is mentioned, which is specified as "Bethany beyond the Jordan." This Bethany was located on the eastern side of the Jordan River, where John the Baptist was baptizing people. It should not be confused with the Bethany near Jerusalem.
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Where does Bethany appear in the Bible?
Bethany is referenced in 12 verses across 4 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- John 1:28
- John 11:1
- John 11:18
- John 12:1
- Luke 19:29
- Luke 24:50
- Matthew 21:17
- Matthew 26:6
- Mark 11:1
- Mark 11:11
- Mark 11:12
- Mark 14:3
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Bethany.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Bethany?
Bethany appears in 12 verses across 4 books, most often in John, which accounts for 4 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Bethany?
John, Mark, Luke, Matthew.
Where can I read every verse about Bethany?
This page lists 12 of them. Protos carries all 12, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
