Βηθεσδά
Bēthesdá
G964 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun. Bethesda — the name of a pool in Jerusalem, most likely meaning 'House of Mercy' or 'House of Grace.' The term designates a specific location and does not carry adjectival senses. The pool is described as a site where healings were believed to occur, and so the name may reflect both its literal meaning and associated reputation for healing.
Semantic Range
(proper noun) Bethesda — House of Mercy, House of Grace; name of a pool in Jerusalem
Root / Etymology
From Aramaic or Hebrew בֵּית חֶסֶד (bēṯ ḥesed) meaning 'house of mercy' or 'house of grace.' The Greek Βηθεσδά (Bēthesdá) is a transliteration of the Semitic place name, transmitted through either Hebrew or Aramaic. There are variant readings in manuscripts (notably Βηθαζαθά and Βηθσαιδά), illustrating the challenges of transliterating non-Greek toponyms into Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Βηθεσδά occurs in the New Testament only at John 5:2, designating a site near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem reputed for its pool with supposed healing properties. The term is not found in earlier Greek sources. Its meaning is shaped by Jewish linguistic and cultic contexts of the Second Temple period, and is a transliterated toponym rather than a word with flexible semantic range in Greek. Variant spellings in manuscripts illustrate the diversity of oral transmission and transliteration conventions. English 'Bethesda' in Bible translations derives from this Greek form but may not fully capture the intended sense of mercy or grace evoked by the Semitic original.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Chaldee origin (compare בַּיִת and חֵסֵד); house of kindness; Beth-esda, a pool in Jerusalem:--Bethesda.
Root Family
Βηθεσδά (Bēthesda) — house, dwelling; house of mercy; house of grace
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G964-01 |
Βηθζαθά | bethzatha | N NOM F SG |
Bethesda | Bethesda | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G964-01 |
John 5:2 | Βηθζαθά | bethzatha | N NOM F SG |
Bethesda | Bethesda |