Judea, about 8 km south of Jerusalem · Today: Bethlehem, West Bank
Bethlehem in the Bible
Bethlehem is where Rachel is buried, where Ruth gleans and marries Boaz, and where David is anointed among the sheep. Micah names it as the origin of a ruler in Israel, and Matthew and Luke place the birth of Jesus there.
Archaeology
The Church of the Nativity preserves a fourth-century foundation over a cave venerated at least as early as the second century, one of the oldest continuously used church sites anywhere.
Verses mentioning Bethlehem
39 occurrences across 38 verses in the King James Version.
- Genesis 35:19
And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.
Read in context - Genesis 48:7
And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.
Read in context - Joshua 19:15
And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
Read in context - Judges 12:8
And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
Read in context - Judges 12:10
Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
Read in context - Ruth 1:19
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
Read in context - Ruth 1:22
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Read in context - Ruth 2:4
And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
Read in context - Ruth 4:11
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: do thou: or, get thee riches, or, power be famous: Heb. proclaim thy name
Read in context - 1 Samuel 16:4
And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? coming: Heb. meeting
Read in context - 1 Samuel 17:15
But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
Read in context - 1 Samuel 20:6
If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. sacrifice: or, feast
Read in context - 1 Samuel 20:28
And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
Read in context - 2 Samuel 2:32
And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 23:14
And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 23:15
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
Read in context - 2 Samuel 23:16
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 23:24
Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 2:51
Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader.
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 2:54
The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites. Ataroth: or, Atarites, or, crowns of the house of Joab
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 4:4
And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 11:16
And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 11:17
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 11:18
And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
Read in context - 1 Chronicles 11:26
Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Read in context