Bethlehem
Where is Bethlehem and why does it matter? The city of Jesus' birth and David's hometown, through the chapters where it appears. Read now, free and ad-free.
Bethlehem is both King David's hometown and, according to the Gospels, the small city where Jesus was born. The prophet Micah names the town beforehand, while Luke and Matthew describe Jesus' birth there. The story of Ruth also largely unfolds around Bethlehem. Each link takes you to the reading page for that chapter.
Read the chapters
- Luke 2
The best-known chapter of the Christmas story — Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, the shepherds' visit and the angelic announcement, loved for its simplicity.
- Matthew 2
- Micah 5
- Ruth 1
A chapter recounting a foreign woman's choice not to leave her poor and grieving mother-in-law but to stay with her, beginning a story of loyalty and devotion amid loss and migration.
Related topics
Related people
- Jesus Christ
- Mary
- Peter
- John the Baptist
- Ruth
- Boaz
- Naomi
- Elizabeth
- Martha
- Matthew
- Mary Magdalene
- Zacchaeus
Related verse collections
- Bible Verses About Prayer
- Bible Verses of Comfort
- Bible Verses About Forgiveness
- Bible Verses About Faith
- Bible Verses About Money and Contentment
- Bible Verses About Humility
- Bible Verses About Generosity
- Bible Verses About Jesus
- Bible Verses About Justice
- Bible Verses About Waiting on God
- Bible Verses About Witness
- Bible Verses About Loneliness
- Bible Verses About Healing
- Bible Verses About Peace and Rest
- Bible Verses About Mercy
- Bible Verses About Honesty
Reading plans
- The Bible for Beginners — 10 Days
- Holy Week — The Final Days of Jesus
- Two Weeks in the Parables of Jesus
- Advent — 24 Days to Christmas
- The Bible in a Year — 365 Days from Cover to Cover
Related guides
- What Is Christmas? When and Where Was Jesus Born?
What is Christmas, and how does the Bible tell of the birth of Jesus Christ? A short, neutral guide to where Jesus was born, the nativity account and the origin of Christmas.
- Who Is Jesus Christ?
Who is Jesus Christ, what does the name mean and what does the Bible tell about him? A short, neutral guide to Jesus in the four Gospels.
Books
Places in the Bible
Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?
According to the Gospel of Luke, Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem, the city of David, for a census, and Jesus was born there. The Gospel of Matthew connects this with the words of the prophet Micah.