Bethlehem, with the Church of the Nativity rising over the village
Bethlehem
Small town 9 km south of Jerusalem. Birthplace of King David, and of Jesus Christ. Name means 'house of bread' in Hebrew.
Bethlehem, meaning 'house of bread' in Hebrew, lies on a limestone ridge in the Judean hills about nine kilometres south of Jerusalem — roughly a two-hour walk along the old road. It is the burial place of Rachel and the home of Boaz and Ruth. Most importantly, it is the city of David and the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2), fulfilled in the birth of Jesus during the reign of Caesar Augustus, when Joseph travelled with Mary from Nazareth for the Roman census.
“Bethlehem.” Atlas. Accessed 2026. https://fcbh-atlas.vercel.app/en/place/bethlehem
%252520-%252520P.%252520Bergheim%252520LCCN92500719.jpg&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_4Yz8pXBGqYu4ggZKzeX4NxgpxHkC)
Related entries
- placeNazareth
Hill town in Lower Galilee, about 25 km west of the Sea of Galilee. The boyhood home of Jesus.
- placeGalilee
Northern region of ancient Israel, fertile and lake-fringed. Most of Jesus' ministry happened here.
- placeJordan River
Long, narrow river flowing south from Mount Hermon to the Dead Sea. Israel crossed it to enter Canaan; Jesus w…
- placeEgypt
Ancient kingdom of the Nile. Refuge of Abraham and Joseph, then a house of slavery, then the place from which …
- placeMount Sinai
Mountain in the southern Sinai peninsula where Moses received the Ten Commandments and the Torah from God.
- figureAbraham
Father of the Hebrew people. Called from Ur to Canaan and given the covenant promise. Lived around 2000 BC.