Places of the Bible

Bethlehem

Judean hill country · both · 42 verses

Bethlehem was a town in the Judean hill country south of Jerusalem, also called Ephrath. It was the family home of David. The name appears in Genesis, Joshua, Judges and 13 more in the King James text.

About Bethlehem

Bethlehem was a town in the Judean hill country south of Jerusalem, also called Ephrath. It was the family home of David.

Its place in the story

Ruth gleaned and married Boaz at Bethlehem, and there their descendant David was born and anointed king by Samuel. The prophet Micah named Bethlehem as the place from which a ruler over Israel would come.

Bethlehem in Scripture (KJV)

“And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.”
Genesis 35:16 (KJV)
“And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.”
Genesis 35:19 (KJV)
“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.”
Genesis 48:7 (KJV)
“And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.”
Joshua 19:15 (KJV)
“And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.”
Judges 12:8 (KJV)
“Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.”
Judges 12:10 (KJV)
“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?”
Ruth 1:19 (KJV)
“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.”
Ruth 1:22 (KJV)

Bethlehem is named 42 times in Scripture; 8 shown above.

Where it leads

Bethlehem is the birthplace of Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy that the ruler of Israel would come from the town of David.

Who is Jesus? · Places of the Bible

People also ask

Where is Bethlehem in the Bible?

Bethlehem was a town in the Judean hill country south of Jerusalem, also called Ephrath. It was the family home of David. The name appears in Genesis, Joshua, Judges and 13 more in the King James text.

What happened at Bethlehem?

Ruth gleaned and married Boaz at Bethlehem, and there their descendant David was born and anointed king by Samuel. The prophet Micah named Bethlehem as the place from which a ruler over Israel would come.

More places of the Bible

All the placesRead the BibleWho is Jesus?

Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).

Enter Living Breadprayer, Scripture, a family near you