Cities & towns · Judea
Bethlehem
What was Bethlehem?
Bethlehem is the small town south of Jerusalem where King David grew up and where Jesus the Messiah was born.
TodayBethlehem, in the West Bank south of Jerusalem
Name meansHouse of bread
Famous forBirthplace of David and of Jesus
ProphecyMicah 5:2
Bethlehem — “house of bread” — was the setting of the book of Ruth and the hometown of Jesse and his son David, where Samuel anointed the shepherd boy as Israel’s future king.
The prophet Micah foretold that from this little town, “too small to be among the clans of Judah,” would come a ruler whose origins were from of old.
Centuries later, Joseph and Mary traveled there for a census, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem as the angels announced good news to shepherds in its fields.
Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)
Ruth 1:22 “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.” Micah 5:2 “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.” Luke 2:4 “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.” Matthew 2:1 “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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Original BibleDawn profile. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy. Scripture quoted from the public-domain Berean Standard Bible.