The story of the birth of Jesus is a beloved and integral part of the Bible. It is a reminder of the miracle of God coming into the world in human form, and the beginning of the ultimate plan for our salvation.
As we approach the holiday season, let us take a moment to reflect on some powerful and comforting Bible verses about the birth of Jesus. These verses remind us of the love, hope, and joy that came with the birth of our savior and can inspire us to live with faith and purpose throughout the year.
Bible Verses About the Birth of Jesus
Isaiah 9:6
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
This verse from Isaiah prophesies the birth of Jesus, describing Him as a child who will be born and a son who will be given. It also indicates that Jesus will bear the weight of government and will be known by titles such as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This verse highlights the divine nature and significance of Jesus’ birth, as He comes to bring guidance, strength, eternal fatherhood, and ultimate peace to humanity.
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Here, Micah prophesies that the birthplace of the Messiah will be Bethlehem Ephrathah. The verse emphasizes the seeming insignificance of Bethlehem, yet declares it to be the source of a future ruler over Israel. It further reveals that this ruler has an ancient origin, indicating the eternal nature of Jesus’ existence even before He was physically born into the world. This verse highlights God’s sovereign plan and the fulfillment of prophecy through Jesus’ humble birth in Bethlehem.
Matthew 1:23
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
In this verse, the Gospel of Matthew recounts the angel’s revelation to Joseph about Mary’s pregnancy by the Holy Spirit. The verse refers to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 and affirms that Mary, a virgin, will give birth to a son. It underscores the significance of Jesus’ name, Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” This verse highlights the miraculous nature of Jesus’ birth and emphasizes the divine presence of God among humanity through His Son.
Luke 2:11
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
These words, spoken by an angel to the shepherds in the fields, announce the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The verse emphasizes Jesus’ role as the long-awaited Savior and the Messiah promised throughout the Old Testament. It also acknowledges His divine authority by proclaiming Him as the Lord. This verse highlights the joyous proclamation of the birth of Jesus and the fulfillment of God’s plan to bring salvation to humanity through His Son.
John 1:14
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John’s Gospel reflects on the incarnation of Jesus, where the eternal Word of God took on human form and dwelled among humanity. The verse emphasizes the eyewitness testimony of John and his fellow disciples who witnessed the fullness of Jesus’ glory, characterized by grace and truth. It highlights the profound mystery of God becoming man and dwelling among His creation, identifying Jesus as the unique Son of God who came from the Father. This verse underscores the divine nature and purpose of Jesus’ birth in bringing grace, truth, and revealing the glory of God to humanity.
Galatians 4:4-5
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
In this verse, the Apostle Paul reflects on the timing and purpose of Jesus’ birth. It highlights that Jesus was born of a woman according to God’s plan and was subject to the same laws that governed humanity. The verse states that Jesus came to redeem those who were under the law, freeing them from its burdens and allowing them to be adopted as God’s sons and daughters. This verse underscores the significance of Jesus’ birth and His mission to bring redemption and adoption into the family of God.
Matthew 2:1-2
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'”
In this passage, Matthew describes the arrival of the Wise Men, or Magi, who came from the east to Jerusalem seeking the newborn King of the Jews. The Wise Men had seen a star that signaled Jesus’ birth and were determined to find and worship Him. This verse highlights the international significance of Jesus’ birth, as representatives from the Gentile nations come to honor and pay homage to the newborn King. It also reveals the recognition of Jesus’ authority and His role as the long-awaited Messiah.
Luke 2:10-11
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'”
These words were spoken by an angel to the shepherds in the fields as they received the news of Jesus’ birth. The angel reassured them and announced that the birth of Jesus marked the arrival of good news that would bring great joy to all people. The verse reiterates the Savior and Messiah titles given to Jesus, emphasizing the universal significance and impact of His birth. This verse highlights the hope, joy, and salvation that Jesus’ birth brings to humanity, extending far beyond a specific group or nation.
Luke 2:13-14
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'”
Following the angel’s announcement, a multitude of heavenly beings joined in praising God and proclaiming glory to Him. They also declared a message of peace to those upon whom God’s favor rests. This verse signifies the divine celebration and worship that accompanied the birth of Jesus. It emphasizes the significance of Jesus’ birth as a pivotal moment for bringing glory to God and establishing peace between God and humanity. This verse highlights the harmonious response of the heavenly realm to the birth of the Prince of Peace.
Matthew 1:21
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Here, an angel directs Joseph to name the child Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. This verse emphasizes the redemptive purpose of Jesus’ birth, signaling the beginning of God’s plan to offer forgiveness and salvation to humanity through His Son. The name Jesus derives from the Hebrew “Yeshua,” meaning “Yahweh saves” or “God is salvation.” This verse highlights Jesus’ role as the Savior, who rescues people from the power and consequences of sin, and grants them the opportunity to enter into a restored relationship with God.
Luke 2:15
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'”
After receiving the angelic declaration, the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem to witness the event that had taken place. They responded to the divine message and chose to actively seek out the fulfillment of God’s promise. This verse underscores their eagerness to encounter the newborn Savior and their determination to witness the incredible event foretold by the Lord. It serves as an encouragement for believers to respond actively to the knowledge and revelation of Jesus’ birth, seeking to encounter and know Him more intimately.
John 1:1-2
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
John begins his Gospel by introducing Jesus as the Word who was with God and who was God from the beginning. This verse highlights Jesus’ eternal existence, coexisting with God the Father. It also stresses Jesus’ divine nature, emphasizing that He is not only with God but is Himself God. This verse establishes the preeminence and significance of Jesus’ birth, as the eternal Word took on flesh and entered into human history. It conveys the idea that Jesus, with His birth, brings the revelation and presence of the Creator into the world.
Matthew 2:10-11
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
These verses describe the response of the Wise Men upon finding Jesus and His family. Their initial joy turned into reverent worship as they recognized the significance of the child. They offered valuable gifts, including gold, frankincense, and myrrh, acknowledging Jesus’ worth and symbolic roles as a king, offering priest, and one who would suffer and die on behalf of humanity. This verse underscores the appropriate response to the birth of Jesus, which is to bow down, worship, and present ourselves and our resources in surrender and adoration.
Matthew 2:13-14
“When they [the Wise Men] had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.”
After the visit of the Wise Men, an angel directed Joseph to flee to Egypt with Jesus and Mary to protect the child from Herod’s plot to kill Him. This verse highlights the divine guidance and protection provided by God to ensure the safety of Jesus’ life. It demonstrates God’s sovereignty in orchestrating events to fulfill His purposes and protect His Son. It also foreshadows the hardships and challenges faced by Jesus and His family due to His birth and role as the Messiah. This verse emphasizes the divine intervention surrounding Jesus’ birth and the fulfillment of prophecy.
Luke 2:25
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.”
At the time of Jesus’ birth, Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was in Jerusalem. He fervently anticipated the comfort and salvation of Israel, as promised by God. The Holy Spirit rested upon him, enabling him to recognize the fulfillment of his hope when Jesus was presented in the temple. This verse emphasizes the faithful anticipation of the coming Messiah by individuals such as Simeon, revealing the presence and working of the Holy Spirit in preparing hearts for the acceptance of Jesus’ birth and ministry.
Matthew 1:18
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.”
This verse provides an account of how Jesus’ birth occurred. Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit before they consummated their marriage. This verse underscores the miraculous nature of Jesus’ conception and emphasizes His divine origin. It reveals the role of the Holy Spirit in the incarnation of Jesus and His unique identity as the Son of God. This verse highlights the divine initiation and intervention in the birth of Jesus, emphasizing His extraordinary purpose in coming to earth.
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Luke 2:22-24
“When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.'”
These verses describe Joseph and Mary’s obedience to the Law of Moses, which required presenting Jesus in the temple for consecration and offering a sacrifice. This act signifies their adherence to Jewish customs and regulations. The choice of offering doves or pigeons reflects their humble means, as prescribed for those who could not afford a lamb. This verse emphasizes the faithfulness of Jesus’ earthly parents in fulfilling their religious obligations and demonstrates Jesus’ identification with the Jewish people and the fulfillment of Old Testament requirements through His birth.
Luke 1:26-27
“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.”
Here, Luke records the visitation of the angel Gabriel to Mary in the town of Nazareth. Mary is described as a virgin betrothed to Joseph, who is of the lineage of David. This verse underscores the divine choice of Mary to be the mother of Jesus, fulfilling the Messianic prophecies that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. It highlights God’s deliberate selection and preparation of Mary, a humble young woman, for the extraordinary role she would play in the fulfillment of His redemptive plan.
Matthew 2:16
“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”
Following the visit of the Wise Men, King Herod harbored fear and jealousy, as he perceived Jesus as a threat to his rule. In his rage, Herod ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two. This tragic event, known as the “Massacre of the Innocents,” highlights the opposition Jesus faced from earthly powers even from His birth. It foreshadows the suffering and persecution that Jesus would endure throughout His life, ultimately leading to His sacrificial death on the cross.
Matthew 1:20
“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”
After Joseph discovered Mary’s pregnancy, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, reassuring him and explaining the divine origin of the child she carried. This verse emphasizes God’s intervention and guidance in Joseph’s decision-making and affirms the miraculous nature of Jesus’ conception. It underscores Joseph’s role as the earthly father figure chosen by God to raise Jesus and provides a glimpse into the faithful obedience and trust required to fulfill the call to be part of Jesus’ earthly family.
Luke 2:28-32
“Simeon took him [Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’“
Simeon, a righteous and devout man, recognized Jesus as the promised salvation of God. Holding Jesus in his arms, he praised God for fulfilling His promise, expressing his readiness to depart in peace. Simeon acknowledges that Jesus’ salvation extends to all nations – to both the Gentiles and the people of Israel. He signifies that Jesus is a light revealing God’s truth to people from all backgrounds. This verse underscores the universal impact and significance of Jesus’ birth, bringing salvation, revelation, and the manifestation of God’s glory to all humanity.
Matthew 2:9-10
“After they [the Wise Men] had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”
These verses describe the journey of the Wise Men seeking Jesus. The star they initially observed directed them to Bethlehem and eventually pointed directly to the place where Jesus was in Bethlehem. The Wise Men were filled with great joy upon witnessing the star’s guiding presence. This verse underscores the miraculous sign provided by God to guide those who sought Jesus and the resulting joy and fulfillment experienced upon finding Him. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in leading and directing those who seek Him.
Matthew 2:12
“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they [the Wise Men] returned to their country by another route.”
After worshiping Jesus, the Wise Men were divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod and to take a different route back to their own country. This verse emphasizes God’s protection and guidance of the Wise Men, preventing them from unknowingly aiding Herod’s evil intentions. It underscores the divine intervention and wisdom provided to ensure Jesus’ safety and fulfill God’s redemptive plan. This verse highlights the significance of obedience to God’s instructions and the responsibility of believers to discern and follow His leading, even in unexpected and unconventional ways.
John 1:18
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”
In this verse, John affirms that although no one has directly seen God the Father, the unique Son, who is God Himself, has come to reveal and make Him known. Through Jesus’ birth, life, and ministry, God’s true nature and character are made visible to humanity. This verse highlights Jesus’ role as the ultimate revelation of God to humanity, enabling believers to know and experience a personal relationship with the Father. It underscores the significance of Jesus’ birth as the means by which humanity can understand God’s love and salvation.