Who was Bethlehem?

Birthplace of King David

The story of Bethlehem

Bethlehem - Town.
Bethlehem - Town.
Town.

Bethlehem is a biblical figure best known for being the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It is mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, and is located in the region of Judea, in the southern part of the ancient kingdom of Israel. Bethlehem is the birthplace of King David, and is also the home of his father Jesse. It is also the home of Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David. Bethlehem is also the home of the prophet Samuel, who anointed David as king. Bethlehem is best known for being the birthplace of Jesus Christ. According to the New Testament, Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, and was visited by the three wise men. Bethlehem is also the site of the Massacre of the Innocents, in which King Herod ordered the killing of all male children under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Bethlehem is an important figure in the Bible, and is best known for being the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It is the home of King David, Ruth, and the prophet Samuel, and is the site of the Massacre of the Innocents. Bethlehem is an important part of the Bible, and is a symbol of hope and faith for many people.

Name meaning

House of Bread

Name origin

Hebrew.

Role

Town.

First mention

Genesis 35:19

Appearances in the Bible

51 mentions

Bethlehem in the Bible

Explore all 26 chapters where Bethlehem appears

Genesis

Chapter 35

Jacob's Return to Bethel

God tells Jacob to move to Bethel and to get rid of foreign gods. Jacob renames the place Bethel and builds an altar to ...

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Genesis

Chapter 48

Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons

Jacob blesses Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

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Joshua

Chapter 19

Tribal Allotments Complete

Joshua allocates the land of Canaan by lot to the tribe of Simeon.

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Judges

Chapter 12

Jephthah's Conflict with Ephraim

The Israelites are again oppressed and God raises up Samson to deliver them.

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Judges

Chapter 17

Micah's Idolatry

The Israelites again worship other gods and are oppressed by their enemies.

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Judges

Chapter 19

The Levite's Concubine

A Levite's concubine is raped and murdered, leading to a civil war among the tribes of Israel.

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Ruth

Chapter 1

Naomi and Her Daughters-in-Law

A man named Elimelech and his family, including his two sons and wife Naomi, move to Moab due to a famine in Israel.

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Ruth

Chapter 2

Ruth and Boaz in the Field

Elimelech and his two sons die, and his daughter-in-laws Orpah and Ruth choose to stay with Naomi and return to Israel w...

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Ruth

Chapter 4

The Genealogy of Boaz and Ruth

Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech, takes notice of Ruth and shows her kindness.

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Matthew

Chapter 2

The Visit of the Magi

Wise men visit Jesus, and King Herod orders all boys under 2 years old in Bethlehem to be killed.

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Luke

Chapter 2

The Birth of Jesus

The birth of Jesus is announced to Mary and Joseph, and He is born in Bethlehem.

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John

Chapter 7

Jesus Teaches at the Feast of Tabernacles

Jesus teaches at the Festival of Booths and defends His claims to be the Messiah.

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1 Samuel

Chapter 16

David Anointed King Again

David is anointed as the next king of Israel for a second time by Samuel.

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1 Samuel

Chapter 17

David and Goliath

David defeats the giant Philistine warrior Goliath, establishing himself as a great military leader.

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1 Samuel

Chapter 20

Jonathan Warns David

David and Jonathan renew their friendship and make a covenant with each other.

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2 Samuel

Chapter 2

David's Victory Over the House of Saul

David defeats the remnants of Saul's family and consolidates his rule over all of Israel.

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2 Samuel

Chapter 21

The Gibeonites Avenged

David takes actions to atone for Saul's violation of a covenant with the Gibeonites.

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2 Samuel

Chapter 23

The Last Words of David

David speaks his final words, expressing confidence in God's sovereignty and calling on future generations to trust in h...

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1 Chronicles

Chapter 2

Genealogy of David

A genealogy of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, detailing their family lineages and populations.

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1 Chronicles

Chapter 4

Descendants of Judah and Simeon

A genealogy of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, detailing their family lineages and populations.

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1 Chronicles

Chapter 11

David Anointed King, Conquests, and Mighty Men

David becomes king over all Israel, establishing his reign in Jerusalem.

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2 Chronicles

Chapter 11

Rehoboam's Reign in Judah

Rehoboam's initial reign in Judah, marked by political and social dynamics that influence the kingdom's trajectory.

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Ezra

Chapter 2

Return of the Exiles to Jerusalem

The list of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra.

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Nehemiah

Chapter 7

The Completion of the Wall

The completion of the wall of Jerusalem and the celebration of the dedication.

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Micah

Chapter 5

Ruler from Bethlehem

Micah prophesies of a ruler who will come from the small town of Bethlehem to rule over Israel, a reference to the comin...

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Jeremiah

Chapter 41

Assassination of Gedaliah and Military Retaliation

In Jeremiah 41, Ishmael conspires with ten other men to assassinate Gedaliah, who had been appointed as governor over Ju...

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Showing all 26 chapter appearances