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. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]
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. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]
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. [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]
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. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]
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). Jim Showers, Executive Director and President, Friends of Israel: Mary and Joseph likely traveled with other family members to Bethlehem to be counted and sought accommodation with family living in Bethlehem. Luke records that “there was no room for them” in what English translations call an “inn,” but the Greek word used means “upper room” or “lodging room.” The many family members visiting Bethlehem filled their relative’s upper room. With so many sleeping in the chamber, it was no place for a birth to occur. Homes in Jesus’ day were typically small, and some had an open room on the second floor where people slept at night. The ground floor was used for cooking and storing goods. One corner of the first floor was used to pen animals for the night. Many believe Jesus was born in a stable, while others think it was a cave, although there is no direct mention of either in the biblical account. But a first-floor room adjoined to the animal pen of a relative’s home fits well with Luke’s description of the place of Jesus’ birth. There is no biblical record of the relatives and neighbors of Christ's family attending to His delivery. Only Mary and Joseph are pictured at the birth, along with the animals. Perhaps, to the family, His birth during the night was just a common event—one they slept through.
a). I want to share a memory that has to do with part of our text. Twenty five years ago the Cincinnati Post included an article in their 12/15/94 paper entitled “Jesus born in home, not stable?” The article cites two scholars in the article, 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 or a downstairs storage area and not in a stable. 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. I then decided to write a letter to the editor. Graciously they printed it in their 12/23/94 Letter to the Editor section of their Editorial page. The main point in the letter focused on 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.” The Greek word for manger is “phatne,” and 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”, (Luke 2:7), a logical conclusion is that Jesus was born in a stable area. Another factor is that of accessibility. The shepherds were told in Luke 2:12 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. Saints, A lesson I have learned is not to waste time with scholarship that undermines the Biblical record, it will not build faith. The point I want to make is according to contemporary scholarship these guys were not wrong, but me in my opinion were not as close as they were.
2). In the Hebrew culture, it would have been customary for Joseph to stay in the home of his relatives, in the guest room, not in a local inn. Some might argue that Joseph probably headed to an inn rather than to his family because he was afraid he might be shunned considering Mary’s condition outside of wedlock. But there is more to this picture than meets the eye. Did Mary give birth the night they arrived in Bethlehem? Well, verse 6 says: 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. This text seems to indicate that they were there for a while before Mary gave birth. If Joseph could find nothing more than a stable that first night, it seems he could have found 11 something better before Mary had her baby. Verse 7 says: 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.“Inn.” Doesn’t that refer to a hotel, or something like one? Actually, the Greek word translated here as “inn” is the word kataluma which usually refers to a “guest room.” The word kataluma only occurs two other times in Scripture—both of those are translated “guest room,” and they refer to the upper room where Jesus gave instructions to His disciples regarding the Last Supper: 14 “Where is the guest room [the kataluma] in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” – Mark 14:14 (see also Luke 22:11) NKJV You may recall that Luke does refer to an “inn” and an “innkeeper” in the parable of the Good Samaritan, but there, instead of the word kataluma, Luke uses the word pandocheion which means “an inn, a public house for the reception of strangers.” So when you read “inn,” think “guest room.” Now that certainly paints a different picture, doesn’t it? She laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the guest room. 13 the guest room (kataluma) We’ll probably never be able to dig up firstcentury Bethlehem. It’s been built over many times and is considered a holy site by some groups since it is the town of King David and the birthplace of our Lord. But archaeologists have recently uncovered and reconstructed other first-century towns that are probably very similar to the Bethlehem of Jesus’s day. These reconstructions give us a better picture of the homes that occupied the hillsides of Judea at the time of Jesus’s birth. Some of these homes were multiple stories tall, and some were only one. A multiple story home was often built into the side of a hill. The lower portion of the house was sometimes built around a cave or carved out by hand. The lower portion of a peasant home is most likely where the family lived. There was usually a raised platform at 15 the back of the room that many archaeologists believe is the place where the family prepared and ate their meals, visited together, and then rolled out their mats to sleep. The upper portion of the house is often where the guest room—the kataluma—was located. In the case of a single-story home, the kataluma may have been as simple as a corner of the main living area that was set aside for guests. This model was based on a multiple story version of a first-century Hebrew home. 16 the manger Mary laid the baby Jesus in a manger. Doesn’t that automatically mean they were in a stable? Over the last several centuries, that is the only explanation that seemed to make any sense, but first-century Bethlehem was not like the farm communities that have been developed since that time. When we read “manger,” we tend to project our current understanding of where a manger should be located onto the biblical text. Now many archaeologists believe that the lowest level of the common peasant home was where animals were brought in at night. This would have protected the animals from thieves and may have provided extra warmth to the family on cold desert nights. There was often a manger, a feeding trough for animals, which was carved into the floor or built into the wall of the main living area. This is not surprising because even as recently as modern times, many Middle Eastern homes have lower levels with mangers built into them. 17 With this biblical, historical, and archaeological understanding in mind, let’s re-evaluate the arrival of Mary and Joseph. Joseph and Mary were probably welcomed into the home of relatives. But due to the census, many people were returning to Bethlehem, including Joseph’s other out-of-town relatives. Because the traditional guest room, the kataluma, was already taken, Mary laid the baby Jesus in a manger. Under the circumstances, a built-in stone manger would be unusual and humble, but a perfectly suitable place to serve as a temporary crib to lay the newborn Son of God.
3). Was Jesus born in a house. First let’s look at the “inn.” The Greek word that is sometimes translated inn is kataluma. The word can also mean “guest room.” In fact, Luke uses the same word when referring to the guest room where Jesus and His disciples shared the Passover. Keep this alternate translation in mind as we talk about the culture and archaeology surrounding these events. In first century Palestine (in fact, even today in the Middle East), family heritage and hospitality were very highly valued. Joseph probably had relatives living there who would be deeply offended if he did not seek shelter in their homes. Even if he did not have friends or family in Bethlehem, Joseph would be welcomed as family because of his ancestors—being a descendant of David, he would be at home there. The family ties are enough to ensure that Joseph and Mary would have been taken in, but we can be even more certain because of Mary’s condition. The idea of any woman who is ready to give birth being left out in the elements—with no assistance—would have been unthinkable to the residents of Bethlehem at that time. Archaeology will also help us better understand what actually took place that first Christmas. First-century homes in the Judean hill country have been excavated and studied. They were often in caves or built on caves, and many homes had levels or terraces. They often had an upper room that served as a guest chamber and a raised area in the lower level where the family lived and ate their meals. The lowest level of the home is where the animals would be brought in at night, perhaps four feet lower than the family room. The idea of having farm animals sleep in the house may seem strange to us, but for a peasant family in first-century Bethlehem, it was perfectly natural. They did not think about it or try to make sense of it; they just did it. The animals would be led out first thing in the morning, and then the lower level would be cleaned. Even as recently as the 20th century, many Eastern homes had built-in mangers for the animals that were brought in at night. To a person of this culture, the statement “laid him in a manger” would immediately bring to mind an image of the family room and the manger that is found there, often along the edge of the lowest level where the animals slept. A built-in, stone manger would serve quite well as a temporary crib. As we consider all of this information, we are compelled to paint a new picture in our minds’ eyes of the circumstances of Jesus’ birth. Joseph and Mary sought shelter, probably among relatives, but because the guest room was full because of the census, they may have slept in the family room, which was perfectly natural in that culture. In fact, many homes had only one room where everyone slept, and privacy was not valued like it is in our world. Luke says, “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered” (Luke 2:6). So, at some time during their stay (not on the night of their arrival in Bethlehem), Jesus was born—probably in a humble peasant home—and laid in a manger in the home. While not a stable, a peasant home is a far cry from Herod’s palace—visible from Bethlehem—which would be thought to be a more fitting place for the birth of a king. We may want to cling to long-held traditions like the stable scene, which is often depicted in nativities and Christmas plays, but if He actually was born in a peasant home, then that would mean that is how God Himself planned it. It shows His divine care for Mary and Joseph in how He provided adequate shelter and support from caring individuals during their time of need. It also shows the humility that Christ willingly took on, making it so that no one should feel beneath Him because of economic class or social status. His Story, or history, is beautiful just the way it was, and we should try to see it as accurately as possible so that we can understand the full meaning of God’s Word.
https://answersingenesis.org/jesus/birth/was-jesus-born-in-a-house/
