Bethabara

Jesus slipped out of the hands of those who wanted to seize him and went back across the Jordan, to the place where John at first baptized, and stayed there (John 10:39-40). People came to him, and what they said is easy to remember: “John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.” The chapter closes with a plain line, “And many believed on him there.” The King James calls this place Bethabara. Read John 10:39-42 for the short, quiet scene.

4 verses

John

John 10:39

Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

John 10:40

And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

John 10:41

And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

John 10:42

And many believed on him there.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

House of the ford, a place on the east bank of the Jordan, where John was baptizing (John 1:28). It may be identical with Bethbarah, the ancient ford of Jordan of which the men of Ephraim took possession (Judg. 7:24). The Revised Version reads “Bethany beyond Jordan.” It was the great ford, and still bears the name of “the ford,” Makhadhet ‘Abarah, “the ford of crossing over,” about 25 miles from Nazareth. (See BETHBARAH.)

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

(house of the ford), a place beyond Jordan, in which according to the Received Text of the New Testament, John was baptizing. (John 1:28) If this reading be correct, Bethabara is identical with Beth-barah (fords of Abarah) the ancient ford of Jordan on the road to Gilead; or, which seems more likely, with Beth-nimrah, on the east of the river, nearly opposite Jericho. The Revised Version reads BETHANY, which see below.

Based on Nave's Topical Bible by Orville J. Nave (1896). Dictionary entries from Easton's Bible Dictionary and Smith's Bible Dictionary. Public domain. KJV scripture text, public domain.