of Chaldee origin (compare בַּיִת and פַּג); fig-house; Beth-phage, a place in Palestine:--Bethphage.
Transliteration:Bēthphagḗ
Pronunciation:bayth-fag-ay'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek proper noun Βηθφαγή (Bēthphagḗ, G967) is a transliteration of an Aramaic (or Hebrew) place name, meaning "house of figs" or "fig-house." It is derived from the Aramaic/Hebrew components *beth* (בַּיִת, `{{H1004}}`, "house") and *phag* (פַּג, related to unripe figs, compare `{{H6291}}` for "fig"). This etymology suggests a location known for its fig trees or fig cultivation. As a proper noun, its semantic range is limited to this specific geographical location, serving as an important marker in the New Testament narrative.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Βηθφαγή appears in the Synoptic Gospels exclusively in the context of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem during the final week of His earthly ministry. It is consistently mentioned as a village located on the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, and immediately preceding Jerusalem.
* In [[Matthew 21:1]], we read, "When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples."
* Similarly, [[Mark 11:1]] states, "As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples."
* [[Luke 19:29]] provides a parallel account: "When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples."
From these passages, it is clear that Bethphage served as the immediate staging point for Jesus' entry. It was from this village that Jesus dispatched His disciples to procure the donkey and its colt, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. The proximity of Bethphage to Jerusalem (approximately a mile) made it a strategic location for the commencement of this public and symbolic act, marking Jesus' deliberate and messianic approach to the holy city.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of Βηθφαγή naturally connects with several other significant biblical terms and concepts:
* **Geographical Locations:**
* Βηθανία (Bēthanía, `{{G963}}`): Bethany, a village closely associated with Bethphage, often mentioned alongside it, and the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
* Ἱεροσόλυμα (Hierosólyma, `{{G2419}}`): Jerusalem, the ultimate destination of Jesus' entry, the city of the Temple and the focus of His Passion.
* Ὄρος Ἐλαιῶν (Oros Elaiōn, `{{G3735}}`): The Mount of Olives, the elevated ridge where Bethphage and Bethany were situated, overlooking Jerusalem.
* **Thematic Concepts:**
* **Triumphal Entry:** The primary event associated with Bethphage, symbolizing Jesus' messianic claim and the fulfillment of prophecy.
* **Messianic Prophecy:** Particularly [[Zechariah 9:9]], which speaks of the king coming "humble, and mounted on a donkey." The events at Bethphage directly facilitate this fulfillment.
* **Passion Week:** Bethphage marks the geographical beginning of the critical events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
* **Etymological Roots:**
* בַּיִת (bayith, `{{H1004}}`): "House," a common Hebrew component in place names (e.g., Bethlehem, Bethel).
* פַּג (pag, related to `{{H6291}}`): "Unripe fig," linking to the agricultural character implied by the name.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of Bethphage, though a geographical marker, is profound due to its pivotal role in the narrative of Jesus' Triumphal Entry.
1. **Gateway to the Passion:** Bethphage serves as the symbolic threshold to Jerusalem and the events of Passion Week. It is the point from which Jesus deliberately initiates His final, public declaration of His messianic identity, setting in motion the sequence of events that lead to His crucifixion and resurrection.
2. **Fulfillment of Prophecy:** The events originating from Bethphage (the sending for the donkey and colt) are presented by the Gospel writers as a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah's humble, yet kingly, entry into Jerusalem ([[Zechariah 9:9]]). This underscores Jesus' divine mission and His identity as the promised King.
3. **Divine Sovereignty:** The precise instructions Jesus gives His disciples regarding the finding of the colt in Bethphage (e.g., "you will find a colt tied," "if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of it'") highlight His foreknowledge and sovereign control over all circumstances, even the seemingly mundane details of His entry.
4. **Humility and Kingship:** The choice to begin the entry from a humble village like Bethphage and to ride a donkey, rather than a warhorse, powerfully conveys the nature of Jesus' kingship—one of peace, humility, and service, contrasting sharply with worldly expectations of conquering monarchs.
### Summary
Βηθφαγή (Bēthphagḗ, G967) is a Greek transliteration of an Aramaic/Hebrew place name meaning "house of figs." It designates a specific village located on the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, and immediately outside Jerusalem. Its primary significance in the New Testament lies in its role as the starting point for Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels ([[Matthew 21:1]], [[Mark 11:1]], [[Luke 19:29]]). This location marks the commencement of the Passion Week events, underscoring Jesus' deliberate fulfillment of messianic prophecy ([[Zechariah 9:9]]) and His humble yet sovereign declaration of kingship as He approached the holy city. Bethphage, therefore, stands as a crucial geographical and theological marker in the narrative of Christ's final journey to the cross.
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