Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
FamilyStated in the textThe three siblings lived in Bethany, near Jerusalem, and were loved by Jesus. Martha hosted him, Mary sat at his feet, and Lazarus was raised after four days in the tomb.
Sources: Scripture
Bethany was a village near Jerusalem, known as the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, where Jesus often visited and performed miracles. (Multiple references, see article for details)
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.
Approximate location: 31.772, 35.262 · view on a map · on the Bible atlas
Part of: Bethany and the Women Around Jesus
The three siblings lived in Bethany, near Jerusalem, and were loved by Jesus. Martha hosted him, Mary sat at his feet, and Lazarus was raised after four days in the tomb.
Sources: Scripture
House of dates. (1.) The Revised Version in John 1:28 has this word instead of Bethabara, on the authority of the oldest manuscripts. It appears to have been the name of a place on the east of Jordan. (2.) A village on the south-eastern slope of the Mount of Olives (Mark 11:1), about 2 miles east of Jerusalem, on the road to Jericho. It derived its name from the number of palm-trees which grew there. It was the residence of Lazarus and his sisters. It is frequently mentioned in connection with memorable incidents in the life of our Lord (Matt. 21:17; 26:6; Mark 11:11, 12; 14:3; Luke 24:50; John 11:1; 12:1). It is now known by the name of el-Azariyeh, i.e., “place of Lazarus,” or simply Lazariyeh. Seen from a distance, the village has been described as “remarkably beautiful, the perfection of retirement and repose, of seclusion and lovely peace.” Now a mean village, containing about twenty families.
In the Revised Version for Bethabara, (John 1:28) where Jesus was baptized by John. It was probably an obscure village near Bethabara, and in time its name faded out and was replaced by the larger and more important Bethabara. (house of dates, or house of misery), a village which, scanty as are the notices of it contained in Scripture, is more intimately associated in our minds than perhaps any other place with the most familiar acts and scenes of the last days of the life of Christ. It was situated “at” the Mount of Olives, (Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29) about fifteen stadia (furlongs, i.e. 1 1/2 or 2 miles) from Jerusalem (John 11:18) on or near the usual road From Jericho to the city, (Luke 19:29) comp. Mark 11:1 comp. Mark 10:46 And close by the west(?) of another village called Bethphage, the two being several times mentioned together. Bethany was the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus, and is now known by a name derived from Lazarus—el-Azariyeh or Lazarieh . It lies on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, fully a mile beyond the summit, and not very far from the point at which the road to Jericho begins its more sudden descent towards the Jordan valley. El-’Azariyeh is a ruinous and wretched village, a wild mountain hamlet of some twenty families. Bethany has been commonly explained “house of dates,” but it more probably signifies “house of misery.” H. Dixon, “Holy Land,” ii. 214, foll.
the house of song; the house of affliction
BETH'ANY (house of dates, or of misery). 1. A village on the eastern slope of Mount Olivet, about 1 1/2 to 2 miles ("15 furlongs") east of Jerusalem, John 11:18, toward Jericho; the home of Mary and Martha, whither Jesus often went. Matt 21:17; Mark 11:11-12. It was the home of Simon, Mark 14:3; the place where Lazarus was raised from the dead, John 11:18-44; Bethany. (After Photographs.) and near it Jesus ascended to heaven, Luke 24:50; named only in the Gospels, and there eleven times. Present Appearance. — Three paths lead from Jerusalem to Bethany — the first over Olivet, north of its summit; the third branches from the first, below Gethsemane, over the southern slope of Olivet; the second lies between these two. "The name, which signifies 'house of poverty,' was probably suggested by its solitary and remote situation, bordering on the desert, or by the fact that lepers, who are popularly called the 'poor,' once sought an asylum here." Mark 14:3. — Baedeker's Handbook. The town is now a poor mountain hamlet of about 20 rude stone houses inhabited by Moslems. The water is good, and olive, fig, almond, and carob trees abound. The reputed sites of Simon's house and that of Mary, also "the tower" and the tomb of Lazarus, are still pointed out. A church stands over the tomb. Bethany is now called el-Aziriyeh, "place of Lazarus." See Schaff's Bible Lands, p. 276.2. Some manuscripts read Bethany for Bethabara in John 1:28. See Bethabara.
BETH'ANY (house of dates, or of misery). 1. A village on the eastern slope of Mount Olivet, about 1 1/2 to 2 miles ("15 furlongs") east of Jerusalem, John 11:18, toward Jericho; the home of Mary and Martha, whither Jesus often went. Matt 21:17; Mark 11:11-12. It was the home of Simon, Mark 14:3; the place where Lazarus was raised from the dead, John 11:18-44; Bethany. (After Photographs.) and near it Jesus ascended to heaven, Luke 24:50; named only in the Gospels, and there eleven times. Present Appearance. — Three paths lead from Jerusalem to Bethany — the first over Olivet, north of its summit; the third branches from the first, below Gethsemane, over the southern slope of Olivet; the second lies between these two. "The name, which signifies 'house of poverty,' was probably suggested by its solitary and remote situation, bordering on the desert, or by the fact that lepers, who are popularly called the 'poor,' once sought an asylum here." Mark 14:3. — Baedeker's Handbook. The town is now a poor mountain hamlet of about 20 rude stone houses inhabited by Moslems. The water is good, and olive, fig, almond, and carob trees abound. The reputed sites of Simon's house and that of Mary, also "the tower" and the tomb of Lazarus, are still pointed out. A church stands over the tomb. Bethany is now called el-Aziriyeh, "place of Lazarus." See Schaff's Bible Lands, p. 276.2. Some manuscripts read Bethany for Bethabara in John 1:28. See Bethabara.
Easton (1897), Smith (1863), Hitchcock (1869), Hastings (1898) and Schaff are in the public domain. Parsed text: neuu-org/bible-dictionary-dataset (CC BY 4.0). Headwords and whitespace normalised for this site.
11 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s G0963
Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night.
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples
Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesusʼ head.
As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent out two of His disciples,
When Jesus had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away,
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.