Bethabara
![Part of the Madaba Map showing Bethabara, Βέθαβαρά το τού άγίου Ιωάννου τού βαπτίσματος: Bethabara, the place of St. John's baptising](/Images/godic/202412/24/Sapsaphas_Madaba2659.jpg")
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- This entry incorporates text from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia with some modernisation.
Bethabara (/bɛθˈæbərə/ beth-AB-ər-ə; בית עברה; bēth‛ăbhārāh; Βηθαβαρά; Bēthabará; "house of the ford, place of crossing") is the name used by some versions of the New Testament for the site "beyond (i.e. east of) the Jordan" where John the Baptist preached and performed baptisms, where he met with a group of priests and Levites sent by the Pharisees to investigate his ministry, and where he baptised Jesus. The name "Bethabara" also appears on the 6th-century Madaba Map and in the Talmud.