This name signifies “house of fish.”
1. BETHSAIDA OF GALILEE, a town from whence came Philip, Andrew, and Peter (John 1:44; 12:21); and against which the Lord pronounced a “woe” because it had not repented at His mighty works (Matt. 11:21; Luke 10:13). After the Lord had fed the 5,000 on the east of Jordan He sent His disciples to Bethsaida on the western shore (Mark 6:45). It was near the shore on the west of the Sea of Galilee, in the same locality as Capernaum and Chorazin: there are ruins in the district, but its exact situation cannot be identified.
2. BETHSAIDA JULIAS, a town near the N. E. corner of the same lake. A blind man was cured there (Mark 8:22); and near to it the 5,000 were fed (Luke 9:10-17, also related in Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44 and John 6:1-14). It was called “Julias,”‘ because Philip the tetrarch enlarged the town, giving it the above name in honor of Julia, daughter of Augustus. It is identified by some with et Tell, 32° 54’ N, 35° 37’ E. A few rude houses and heaps of stones are all that mark the spot. (The context of the above passages shows that the events recorded could not have taken place at or near the Bethsaida on the west of the lake.)