Luke 2:7
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
a. NLT: She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
b. NIV: And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
c. YLT: And she brought forth her son -- the first-born, and wrapped him up, and laid him down in the manger, because there was not for them a place in the guest-chamber.
d. Amplified Bible Classic: And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.
e. Worrell Translation: And she brought forth her Son, the Firstborn, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
f. Wuest Translation: And she gave birth to a son, her first-born. And she wrapped Him in a cloth bands and laid Him down in a feeding-trough because there was not a place for them in the caravansary.
1. “And she brought forth her firstborn son…”
a. And [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
b. she brought forth [Strong: 5088 tikto tik'-to a strengthened form of a primary teko tek'-o (which is used only as alternate in certain tenses); to produce (from seed, as a mother, a plant, the earth, etc.), literally or figuratively:--bear, be born, bring forth, be delivered, be in travail.]
c. her [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]
d. firstborn [Strong: 4416 prototokos pro-tot-ok'-os from 4413 and the alternate of 5088; first-born (usually as noun, literally or figuratively):--firstbegotten(-born).]
e. son [Strong: 5207 huios hwee-os' apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship:--child, foal, son.]
2. “…and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger…”
a. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
b. wrapped…in swaddling clothes 4683 sparganoo spar-gan-o'-o from sparganon (a strip; from a derivative of the base of 4682 meaning to strap or wrap with strips); to swathe (an infant after the Oriental custom):--wrap in swaddling clothes.]
c. him [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]
d. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
e. laid 347 anaklino an-ak-lee'-no from 303 and 2827; to lean back:--lay, (make) sit down.]
f. him [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]
g. in [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]
h. a manger [Strong: 5336 phatne fat'-nay from pateomai (to eat); a crib (for fodder):--manager, stall.]
3. “…because there was no room for them in the inn.”
a. because [Strong: 1360 dioti dee-ot'-ee from 1223 and 3754; on the very account that, or inasmuch as:--because (that), for, therefore.]
b. there was [Strong: 2258 en ane imperfect of 1510; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.]
c. no [Strong: 3756 ou oo, also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]
d. room [Strong: 5117 topos top'-os apparently a primary word; a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas 5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard:--coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.]
e. for them [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]
f. in [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]
g. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]
h. inn [Strong: 2646 kataluma kat-al'-oo-mah from 2647; properly, a dissolution (breaking up of a journey), i.e. (by implication) a lodging-place:-- guestchamber, inn.
1). Ellicott’s Commentary: The statement implies that the town was crowded with persons who had come up to be registered there—some, perhaps, exulting, like Joseph, in their descent from David. The inn of Bethlehem—what in modern Eastern travel is known as a khan or caravanserai, as distinct from a hostelry (the “inn” of Luke 10:34)—offered the shelter of its walls and roofs, and that only. It had a memorable history of its own, being named in Jeremiah 41:17, as the “inn of Chimham,” the place of rendezvous from which travellers started on their journey to Egypt. It was so called after the son of Barzillai, whom David seems to have treated as an adopted son (2 Samuel 19:37, 38), and was probably built by him in his patron’s city as a testimony of his gratitude.
2). Twenty two years ago the Cincinnati Post included an article in their 12/15/94 paper entitled “Jesus born in home, not stable?” The actual author of the piece was not given, it was just a press release by the Associated Press. An interesting point is it was written from Bethlehem, Occupied West Bank. (Funny how a news organization wants you to know their view point on a related controversy that is not the focus of the actual article. Things just spill out.) The article cites two scholars, Stephen Pfann of the Jerusalem based Center for the Study of Early Christianity and Murphy O’Connor, a researcher at Jerusalem’s Ecole Biblique. Both individuals say Jesus was born in a home setting and not in a stable. O’Connor adds that Joseph and Mary were living in Bethlehem not visiting in-laws. One of my problems with the article (there were more than a few), centered on their not discussing the Greek word for “manger”, which would have cast doubt on their conclusion. The whole purpose of their conclusion was to deny the Biblical record. After I calmed myself and gained my composure I sat down and wrote a letter to the editor. Graciously they printed it in their 12/23/94 Letter to the Editor section of their Editorial page.
a). The “manger” alternative doesn’t ring true. “I read with much interest your article of Dec. 15 (“Jesus home not a stable, scholars say”). After a little study and thought, I disagree with the conclusions made. For instance, the Greek word for manger, “phatne,” means a crib at which cattle are fed. Now, if Jesus was laid in this because “there was no room for them at the inn”, (Luke2:7), a logical conclusion is that Jesus was born in a stable area. Another factor is that of accessibility. The shepherds were told in Luke 2:8-16 that they would find the savior lying in a manger. It does not say they knocked on doors and asked to see the downstairs storage area. No, the obvious conclusion is they would look for him where the manger would be, in an outdoor place for animals, easy to find. True, the Bible does not say Jesus was born in a stable, but the traditional stable setting is a more logical conclusion than the “scholars” speculation of a downstairs storage area.
b). I am all for good scholarship, but too many times scholarship attempts to deny the truth. I personally know of individuals who entered Bible College as believers and came out unbelievers. These kinds of schools are cemeteries not seminaries, where believers enter in living faith and leave in dead unbelief.
