Meaning: Its source is beth te'ena, a Hebrew name meaning "Fig house."

Narrative: In Christian scripture, Bethany was the name of a Jerusalem suburb. It was the site of many events described in the New Testament, including Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead, the story of Simon the Leper, and the preparations for Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

This was also the name of the area where John the Baptist performed his ministry, though scholars believe this was a separate location.