In Hebrew, the word Beth means “house” or “house of.” Therefore, Bethany literally translates as House of Dates. Bethsaida, a fishing community on the northernmost tip of the Sea of Galilee, means House of Fish or Fishing. Bethel means House of God, Bethpage means House of unripe Figs, and Bethesda means House of Grace. Additionally, Bethlehem translates as House of Bread, which is apropos because Christ, the “Bread of Life” (Jn 6:48), was born there!
