Bethel (Hebrew for "House of El") is a place mentioned in the Bible, where Jacob is said to have had his dream of a ladder ascending to heaven. Identified with the Palestinian village of Beitun in the West Bank, it became an important cultic center during Israelite times and may even have rivalled Jerusalem, some 10 kilometers to the south, in terms of prestige. It is near the modern Israeli settlement of Beit El.
Several places in the United States of America were named for the biblical town of Bethel:
- Bethel, Alaska
- Bethel, Connecticut
- Bethel, Delaware
- Bethel, Maine
- Bethel, Ohio
- Bethel, Pennsylvania
- Bethel, Vermont
- Bethel Township, Pennsylvania
and in Canada:
- Bethel, Ontario (Leeds and Grenville County)
- Bethel, Ontario (Niagara Region)
- Bethel, Ontario (Prince Edward County)
- Bethel, Ontario (Kawartha Lakes)