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22 verses · KJV · every verse read aloud

Bethlehem in the Bible

What does the Bible say about Bethlehem?

Bethlehem is a small town of Judah, south of Jerusalem, whose name means "house of bread." Also called Ephrath, it is where Rachel was buried, where Ruth met Boaz, and where David grew up. Micah foretold a ruler "from everlasting" would come from it (Micah 5:2), and Jesus was born there (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4).

  1. Bethlehem in prophecy: Micah 5:2
  2. Jesus is born in Bethlehem
  3. Ephrath: Bethlehem in the early days

Bethlehem in the Bible: Bethlehem in prophecy — Micah 5:2

God said the ruler of Israel would come from little Bethlehem.

3 verses

Micah 5:2

KJV
King James Version

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel — One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

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Matthew 2:5-6

KJV
King James Version

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’ ”

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John 7:42

KJV
King James Version

Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived? ”

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Bethlehem in the Bible: Jesus is born in Bethlehem

The short story of the birth; see the linked pages for the full Christmas account.

6 verses

Matthew 2:1

KJV
King James Version

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

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Luke 2:4

KJV
King James Version

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.

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Luke 2:11

KJV
King James Version

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

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Luke 2:15

KJV
King James Version

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

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Matthew 2:8

KJV
King James Version

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”

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Matthew 2:16-18

KJV
King James Version

16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

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Bethlehem in the Bible: Ephrath — Bethlehem in the early days

3 verses

Genesis 35:19

KJV
King James Version

And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).

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Genesis 48:7

KJV
King James Version

And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

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Judges 17:7

KJV
King James Version

And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

And there was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah who had been residing within the clan of Judah.

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Bethlehem in the Bible: Ruth and Boaz in Bethlehem

Naomi came home to Bethlehem, and Ruth found a redeemer there.

5 verses

Ruth 1:1

KJV
King James Version

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.

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Ruth 1:19

KJV
King James Version

So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women of the town exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”

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Ruth 1:22

KJV
King James Version

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

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Ruth 2:4

KJV
King James Version

And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.

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Ruth 4:11

KJV
King James Version

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

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Bethlehem in the Bible: Bethlehem, the city of David

David, son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, was anointed king here.

5 verses

1 Samuel 16:1

KJV
King James Version

And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

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1 Samuel 16:4

KJV
King James Version

And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

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1 Samuel 17:12

KJV
King James Version

Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons. And in the days of Saul, Jesse was old and well along in years.

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1 Samuel 20:6

KJV
King James Version

If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.’

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2 Samuel 23:15

KJV
King James Version

And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

Berean Standard Bible (modern English)

David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

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What the first Christians said about Bethlehem

Exact words from our library of the early church writers. Each one opens at the place it was written.

“killed according to the Scriptures, for the sake of Christ, who was born in Bethlehem of Judah, in the city of David.”

IrenaeusAgainst Heresies, Book III
Read and listen to Irenaeus

The Greek and Hebrew words for Bethlehem

The words behind the English. Each word page has a Listen button for how it is said.

Questions people ask about Bethlehem in the Bible

What does Bethlehem mean?

The Hebrew name Beth-lehem means "house of bread" (Strong's H1035). It sat in good farm country: Naomi and Ruth came there "in the beginning of barley harvest" (Ruth 1:22), and Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz.

Listen: Ruth 1:22

Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?

Micah foretold that the ruler of Israel would come out of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). God brought it about through Caesar's census: Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem "because he was of the house and lineage of David" (Luke 2:4), and Jesus was born there (Matthew 2:1).

Listen: Micah 5:2 · Luke 2:4

Who was born in Bethlehem?

King David's family came from Bethlehem; his father was Jesse, "that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah" (1 Samuel 17:12). Centuries later Jesus, the Son of David, was born there (Matthew 2:1). That is why John 7:42 calls it "the town of Bethlehem, where David was."

Listen: 1 Samuel 17:12 · John 7:42

What is Bethlehem Ephratah?

Ephrath, or Ephratah, is the old name for Bethlehem's area. Rachel was buried "in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem" (Genesis 35:19). Micah joins both names, "Bethlehem Ephratah" (Micah 5:2), to point to Bethlehem of Judah, David's home town.

Listen: Genesis 35:19

Were there two Bethlehems in the Bible?

Yes. Almost every verse means Bethlehem of Judah, south of Jerusalem (Micah 5:2). A second Bethlehem was in the tribe of Zebulun in the north (Joshua 19:15). That is why Scripture often says "Bethlehem of Judaea" or "Bethlehemjudah" (Matthew 2:1; Ruth 1:1).

Listen: Joshua 19:15