Bethany

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Βηθανία (Bēthanía), from Aramaic בית עניא (beth anya, “house of wretchedness”). This etymology is highly disputed; see Bethany.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɛθəni/

Proper noun

Bethany

1. (biblical) The village where Jesus stayed before going to Jerusalem and being crucified.
2. (biblical) The village where Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived (Bible, John 11 v. 1)
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 11:1:
     :

     Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

3. (biblical) Mary of Bethany, sometimes identified as Mary Magdalene.
4. A female given name from Aramaic, transferred use of the biblical place name.
5. Other places naned Bethany elsewhere:
   1. A city, the county seat of Harrison County, Missouri, United States.

Related terms

• Bethan