← G964 G966 →

Βηθλεέμ

Bēthleém

G965 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A proper noun for a distinct settlement, primarily referring to the town Bethlehem; specifically, the locality known as Bethlehem in Judea. The primary meaning is a place name for an inhabited location, specifically 'Bethlehem' – a settlement south of Jerusalem. In Greek sources, the term refers overwhelmingly to this Judean town, though elsewhere the name may be applied to less prominent sites sharing the same etymology.

Semantic Range

Bethlehem (Judean town), occasionally a town name elsewhere but overwhelmingly the Bethlehem near Jerusalem

Root / Etymology

From Hebrew בֵּית לֶחֶם (bēt leḥem), literally meaning 'house of bread' or possibly 'house of [the god] Lahmu.' The word passes from Hebrew into Greek via transliteration, adapted for Greek phonology and orthography. Σπανίως used for other sites with the same Semitic name.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Βηθλεέμ appears solely as a place name in Greek literature of the Hellenistic and Roman period, especially in New Testament and Septuagintal texts. In every known context in the canonical New Testament, Βηθλεέμ refers to the well-known Judean town, the traditional birthplace of David and, in Christian tradition, of Jesus. The spelling preserves a transliterated rather than a translated form (i.e., the meaning 'house of bread' is not evident in the Greek itself). The term often functions as a clear geographic identifier, designating the settlement near Jerusalem rather than any broader region or administrative area. English Bible translations universally give 'Bethlehem,' but this does not reflect the Hebrew meaning of the name. There is evidence of parallel usage in Jewish and broader Hellenistic sources, but always as a distinctive toponym rather than a generic term. The presence of the name in Greek highlights both linguistic borrowing and the continued significance of certain Hebrew/Aramaic geographic terms in Greek discourse.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Hebrew origin (בֵּית לְעַפְרָה); Bethleem (i.e. Beth-lechem), a place in Palestine:--Bethlehem.

Root Family

Βηθλεέμ (Bēthleem) — proper place name, settlement identifier, Bethlehem

Root Βηθ-λεέμ place name, settlement identifier

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G965-01 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N DAT F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem 8

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G965-01 Matthew 2:1 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N DAT F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem
G965-01 Matthew 2:5 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N DAT F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem
G965-01 Matthew 2:6 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N VOC F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem
G965-01 Matthew 2:8 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N ACC F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem
G965-01 Matthew 2:16 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N DAT F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem
G965-01 Luke 2:4 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N NOM F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem
G965-01 Luke 2:15 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N GEN F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem
G965-01 John 7:42 Βηθλέεμ bethleem N GEN F SG Bethlehem to Bethlehem Bethleem
← G964 Greek Lexicon G966 →