What is…
Bethesda

also known as: Béthesda, Bethsaida, Beth-zatha

Greek: Βηθεσδά —transliteration: Béthesda

Meaning: house of mercy; house of grace; place for receiving and caring for the sick

This is a spring fed reservoir or pool of ancient Jerusalem with 5 porches (Greek: kolumbethra—“a swimming bath”). It was located near the sheep-gate or sheep market (John 5:2; Neh. 3:1).

Jesus Christ miraculously healed a paralytic man at this place.

Eusebius the historian (330 AD) calls it “the sheep-pool.”

Under these “porches” or colonnades were usually a large number of sick people waiting for the “troubling of the water.”

In modern times, many communities have been named after this site of a Biblical miracle.

More information

• Pools of the Bible
• Answers about gates in the Bible
• What miracles are mentioned in the Bible?
• Christ’s miracles—Has science disproved the miracles associated with Jesus?
• Is it logical to believe that the biblical miracles really happened?
• “Miracles are not possible,” some claim. Is this true?
• Water in the Bible
• WATER: A miracle of God’s Creation
• Pools
• Conduits
• What is a spring? What springs are mentioned in the Bible?
• Gihon
• Answers about sheep in the Bible