BETHABARA(Βηθαβαρὰ), mentioned in St. John's Gospel (1.28) as the place of our Lord's Baptism. It is placed by the Evangelist beyond Jordan,i. e. on the eastern side of the river (comp. 10.40), perhaps identical with Beth-bara ( Judges, 8.24), where was a ford, from which the place doubtless derived its name, equivalent to locus transitus. (Reland, p. 626.)
[G.W]