In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “recent official name of a baptism site in the jordan river valley”. Today it says “western section of the traditional site of the baptism of jesus by john the baptist on the jordan river”.
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Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2015
Qasr el-Yahud) towards churches on eastern bank Qasr el Yahud ( Arabic : ; also Kasser/Qasser al-Yahud/Yehud etc.; lit. Castle of the Jews) is the recent official name of a baptism site in the Jordan River Valley. It is the western part of the traditional site where the New Testament narrative of the baptism of Jesus took place (Matthew 3:13-17).1According to other traditions, it is also the place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and Elijah the Prophet ascended to heaven. The site is located in the West Bank , a little southeast from Jericho . It includes marble steps that descend into the Jordan River as well as ruins of Byzantine and Crusader churches. The site reopened in 2011 after being closed for 44 years. The restoration project was approved before the 2000 millennium celebrations but was delayed due to the Second Intifada and flooding in the region in 2003.2 It is administered by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism . The traditional Arabic name of the baptism site is Al-Maghtas , which has been used for an area stretching over both banks of the river, since the pilgrimage site has also slightly moved during history. Apparently for administrative reasons, the Jordanian side of the site is using the names Al-Maghtas , Bethany beyond the Jordan and simply Baptism(al) Site , while the western part is officially called Qasr el-Yahud . The latter name is actually inaccurate, since it is borrowed from the nearby Greek Orthodox Monastery of St John the Baptist, which has a castle-like appearance (thus qasr , "castle"), allegedly conflated with the tradition of the Israelites' crossing of the river at this spot (thus el-Yahud , "of the Jews"). The Holy Monastery of St John the Baptist on the banks of the Jordan River/Qasr-el-Yahud […] The perimeter walls, specifically their uppermost portion, terminate at battlements, which lend the monument the form of a Medieval castle. This is in all likelihood why its Arabian name is Qasr el Yahud [The castle of the Jews] Othmar Keel, Max Küchler, Christoph Uehlinger (1992). Orte und Landschaften der Bibel, Volume 2 .3
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 653233910.
The opening as it stood in 2020 12 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Qasr al-Yahud ( Arabic : ; also Kasser/Qasser al-Yahud/Yehud etc.; lit. "The tower of the Jews", Hebrew : ) is the official name of a baptism site in the Jordan River Valley in the West Bank .After the Six-Day War in 1967, it has been placed under Israeli control , and the site and facilities are administered by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as part of a national park .It is the western part of the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist ( Matthew 3:13–17 with invalid book ), in Arabic Al-Maghtas , a name which was historically used for the pilgrimage site on both sides of the river.It is also traditionally considered to be the place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River , and the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven.The Times of Israel . 16 May 2016 .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 959395917.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023 4 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Baptism site in the Jordan River Valley, West Bank Qasr al-Yahud ( Arabic : قصر اليهود , lit."The tower of the Jews", Hebrew : קאסר אל יהוד ), also known as Al-Maghtas , is the western section of the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist on the Jordan River ( Matthew 3:13–17 ).It has also been traditionally identified with two episodes from the Hebrew Bible , as one of the possible points through which the Israelites have crossed the Jordan river as they reached the Promised Land ( Joshua 3 ), and as the site where prophet Elijah ascended to heaven ( 2 Kings 2:1–14 )."Qasr al-Yahud" is actually an Arabic name given to the nearby Monastery of St John the Baptist, but is also being used for the West Bank section of the baptism site itself.The spot is located in Area C of the West Bank and it sits directly across the eastern section (on Wikipedia as " Al-Maghtas "; known officially in Jordan as "Baptism Site "Bethany Beyond the Jordan"") and close to the Palestinian city of Jericho .Since the Six-Day War in 1967, the baptism site has been under Israeli occupation , and the site and facilities are currently administered by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as part of a national park , where baptism ceremonies can be performed.Ministry of Foreign Affairs . 28 September 1995 .Palestinians shall have the right to religious pilgrimage to the Al-Maghtas under the Palestinian flag.Safe passage will be provided from the Jericho Area to Al-Maghtas for this purpose.Point 5.) "Baptismal Site on the Jordan River - Qasr al-Yahud" .Israel Nature and Parks Authority . 2019 . The Times of Israel . 16 May 2016 .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1161130454.
The opening as it stood in 2025
Baptism site in the Jordan River Valley, West Bank Qasr al-Yahud ( Arabic : قصر اليهود , lit. "The citadel of the Jews", Hebrew : קאסר אל יהוד ), also known as Al-Maghtas , is the western section of the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist on the Jordan River ( Matthew 3:13–17 ). It has also been traditionally identified with two episodes from the Hebrew Bible , as one of the possible points through which the Israelites have crossed the Jordan river as they reached the Promised Land ( Joshua 3 ), and as the site where prophet Elijah ascended to heaven ( 2 Kings 2:1–14 ). "Qasr al-Yahud" is actually an Arabic name given to the nearby Monastery of St John the Baptist, but is also being used for the West Bank section of the baptism site itself. The spot is located in Area C of the West Bank and it sits directly across the eastern section (on Wikipedia as " Al-Maghtas "; known officially in Jordan as "Baptism Site "Bethany Beyond the Jordan"") and close to the Palestinian city of Jericho . Since the Six-Day War in 1967, the baptism site has been under Israeli occupation , and the site and facilities are currently administered by the Israeli Civil Administration and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism as part of a national park , where baptism ceremonies can be performed. Ministry of Foreign Affairs . 28 September 1995 . Palestinians shall have the right to religious pilgrimage to the Al-Maghtas under the Palestinian flag. Safe passage will be provided from the Jericho Area to Al-Maghtas for this purpose. Point 5.) "Baptismal Site on the Jordan River - Qasr al-Yahud" . Israel Nature and Parks Authority . 2019 . The Times of Israel . 16 May 2016 .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1292601047. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “recent official name of a baptism site in the jordan river valley”. Today it says “western section of the traditional site of the baptism of jesus by john the baptist on the jordan river”. Read the current article and compare.
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
Counts in the opening at each snapshot. Green: the word gained ground. Red: it was cut. Grey: no change.
What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2015, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
recent official name of a baptism site in the jordan river valley
Now
western section of the traditional site of the baptism of jesus by john the baptist on the jordan river
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
