'bema' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'βῆμα (bēma)', where the verb 'bainein' meant 'to go, to step'.

'bema' passed into Late/Medieval Latin and ecclesiastical usage from Greek 'βῆμα (bēma)' and was adopted into English with the form 'bema' (and variant spellings such as 'bimah').

Initially it meant 'a step' or 'place for stepping', but over time it evolved into the specialized meaning 'a raised platform for speaking or ritual'.