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# beth

noun (Beth, a name); noun (beth, the Hebrew letter ב)

«beth» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (a name) Beth is a girl's name, a short form of Elizabeth or Bethany. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#m1)
2. The second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, also spelled bet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#m2)
3. In Welsh and Hebrew place names, a part meaning «house», as in Bethlehem («house of bread»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories, Beth is a common character name, like Beth March in «Little Women». In Bible lessons, Beth- in place names such as Bethlehem and Bethel means «house». It is a name or fragment, not an everyday English word.

### Examples

- My best friend is called Beth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#x1)
- Beth March is one of the sisters in «Little Women». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#x2)
- Bethlehem means «house of bread». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#x3)
- Beth is short for Elizabeth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#x4)
- Beth is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#x5)
- Ask Beth if she wants to play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#x6)
- And to this day the place is called Beth Gellert, or the Grave of Gellert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/#x7)

### Note

As a name, capital B. Short for Elizabeth or Bethany. Not an English word on its own.

## In Jewish tradition

Hebrew for "house of," found at the start of many place names like Beth-el, "house of God."

**Interpretation.** Beth-el was named by Jacob after his dream of the ladder. Tradition says it was a holy place, a "gate of heaven."

### Examples

- So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor. (Torah DEU.3.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beth/#x1)
- and Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran; fortified cities, and folds for sheep. (Torah NUM.32.36, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beth/#x2)
- And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Beth-el. (Torah GEN.35.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beth/#x3)
- and Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-pelet; (Prophets JOS.15.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beth/#x4)
- and Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah; (Prophets JOS.15.53, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beth/#x5)
- and Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el; (Prophets JOS.18.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beth/#x6)

### Note

As a name, capital B. Short for Elizabeth or Bethany. Not an English word on its own.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «beth» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/beth/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«beth» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/beth.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «beth» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/beth/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«beth» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/beth.html) on Mova free.