Why is Bethlehem called the House of Bread?

[Lou Newton]

Why is Bethlehem called the House of Bread?


Lou Newton, former Steel Mill Crane Designer and Physics Teacher

Others may give another answer, but I will give the spiritual reason:

Jesus is the Bread of life:

John 6:35 (NIV)

“35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. “

Jesus was born in Bethlehem and so it is the house of Bread for from that small town came the bread that fed the whole world.

[Lou Newton]

Caroline .......... commented on my post

You are aware that Beit Lechem (in English, Bethlehem) means “house of bread" right? And that the Bible (what Christians call the Old Testament) was written in Hebrew.

Lou Newton
Original Author ·
I am aware of that. But the person asked WHY it is as called that. The reason Bethlehem was named Bethlehem in Hebrew was because The Bread of Life was going to be born there as The OT states:

Micah 5:2

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

So God is saying a child will be born in Bethlehem that is from old, and will be ruler over Israel. That child was Jesus.

Isaiah 9:6 GNV

“ 6 For unto us a child is born, and unto us a Son is given: and the government is upon his shoulder, and he shall call his name, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The prince of peace. “

God plainly told everyone who would listen that a child would be born that would be the Holy Spirit, The Might God, and The Everlasting Father.