Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
House of the ford, a place on the east bank of the Jordan, where John was baptizing (John 1:28). It may be identical with Bethbarah, the ancient ford of Jordan of which the men of Ephraim took possession (Judg. 7:24). ” It was the great ford, and still bears the name of “the ford,” Makhadhet ‘Abarah, “the ford of crossing over,” about 25 miles from Nazareth.
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(house of the ford), a place beyond Jordan, in which according to the Received Text of the New Testament, John was baptizing. (John 1:28) If this reading be correct, Bethabara is identical with Beth-barah (fords of Abarah) the ancient ford of Jordan on the road to Gilead; or, which seems more likely, with Beth-nimrah, on the east of the river, nearly opposite Jericho. The Revised Version reads Bethany, which see below.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
the house of confidence