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Bethsaida

Illustration of Bethsaida

Bethsaida was a fishing village on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, home to the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip, and the setting for Jesus feeding the five thousand and healing a blind man. Despite witnessing more of Jesus' mighty works than almost any other town, Bethsaida is one of only three cities Jesus specifically pronounced woe upon for its failure to repent, alongside Chorazin and Capernaum. Its name, meaning 'house of fishing' or 'house of the hunter,' fittingly reflects its identity as a fishing community along the Galilean shore.

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Details

Region
Galilee
Modern Location
et-Tell or el-Araj, near the Jordan's entry into the Sea of Galilee
Strongest connections in Scripture

Key Passages

Woe unto Thee, Bethsaida

Matthew 11:21-24

Jesus pronounces judgment on Bethsaida for failing to repent despite witnessing his mighty works - a sobering warning that exposure to truth without response only increases accountability.

W21oe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Feeding of the Five Thousand Near Bethsaida

Luke 9:10-17

Jesus withdraws to a place near Bethsaida, where he feeds a crowd of five thousand from five loaves and two fish.

A10nd the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. 13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.

Key Chapters