The Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
Luke 2:1-7
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Luke.2.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- ημεραις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- εκειναις: DEM,dat,pl,f
- εξηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δογμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- παρα: PREP
- Καισαρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Αυγουστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- απογραφεσθαι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- πασαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οικουμενην·: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 2:2 (verbal): Immediate continuation specifying Quirinius' census that explains the decree mentioned in 2:1 (same event; verbal link to registration/census).
- Luke 2:3-5 (structural): Describes the practical effect of the decree — Joseph and Mary travel to be registered, which leads to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem (narrative consequence of the decree).
- Numbers 1:1-3 (thematic): Earliest OT example of a divinely-ordered census/registration of the people; parallels the motif of numbering/registration of the population.
- 2 Samuel 24:1-2 (cf. 1 Chronicles 21:1-4) (thematic): Royal/institutional census in Israel under David; shows a parallel theme of a ruler ordering a census and its theological and narrative significance.
- Micah 5:2 (thematic): Prophecy locating the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem; the Roman decree that forces Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem is the narrative means by which this prophecy is fulfilled.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the inhabited world should be enrolled.
- In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole inhabited earth should be enrolled.
Luke.2.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- απογραφη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πρωτη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- ηγεμονευοντος: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- Συριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Κυρηνιου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 2:1 (structural): Immediate literary context: Luke 2:1–2 links a Roman decree and a census as the historical occasion for Joseph and Mary's travel to Bethlehem.
- Acts 5:37 (verbal): Mentions a census in the days of Quirinius (the same governor of Syria), connecting Luke's reference to earlier Acts material about unrest associated with that census.
- Luke 3:1 (structural): Luke uses political figures and governors to date events (here listing rulers and 'governor of Syria'), a parallel method of historical dating as in 2:2.
- 2 Samuel 24:1-2 (thematic): The motif of a census/registration and its social and religious consequences appears elsewhere in the Bible (David's census), offering a thematic parallel about the significance of counting people.
Alternative generated candidates
- This enrollment was the first, occurring while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
- This was the first enrollment when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Luke.2.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- επορευοντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- απογραφεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- εκαστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εαυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- πολιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 2:1-5 (structural): Immediate context: Augustus' decree for a census and the resulting requirement that people register in their own towns — this clause explains why Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem.
- Micah 5:2 (thematic): Predicts Bethlehem as the origin of Israel's ruler; Luke's census-induced movement to Bethlehem provides the narrative means for Jesus' birth to fulfill this prophecy.
- Numbers 1:2 (verbal): Uses the same language of taking a census/numbering of the people, paralleling the institutional practice of registration invoked by Luke.
- Exodus 30:11-12 (thematic): Describes an Israelite census accompanied by a ransom/tax; highlights the fiscal and administrative dimensions of population registration that underlie Luke's account of the imperial census.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
- And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
Luke.2.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ανεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- Ιωσηφ: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- Γαλιλαιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- πολεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ναζαρεθ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Ιουδαιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- πολιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- Δαυιδ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ητις: PRON,rel,nom,sg,f
- καλειται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- Βηθλεεμ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- δια: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εξ: PREP
- οικου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- πατριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Δαυιδ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 2:1 (verbal): Names Bethlehem of Judea as the location of Jesus' birth, paralleling Luke's identification of the city of David as Bethlehem.
- Matthew 1:1 (thematic): Opens Matthew with Jesus as 'son of David,' highlighting the same Davidic lineage that motivates Joseph's trip to Bethlehem in Luke.
- Micah 5:2 (quotation): Prophecy that the ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem Ephrathah — the Old Testament expectation behind identifying the Messiah's origin in Bethlehem.
- Romans 1:3 (thematic): Paul affirms Jesus' earthly descent 'from David according to the flesh,' echoing Luke's emphasis on Joseph's Davidic ancestry.
- 1 Samuel 16:1 (cf. 17:12) (thematic): Shows David's own origin in Bethlehem (Jesse's town), providing the historical precedent for Bethlehem as the city of David mentioned in Luke.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.
- And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he belonged to the house and lineage of David,
Luke.2.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απογραψασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- συν: PREP
- Μαριαμ: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εμνηστευμενη: VERB,perf,pass,part,dat,sg,f
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ουση: VERB,pres,act,part,dat,sg,f
- εγκυω: ADJ,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 1:18 (verbal): Describes Mary as betrothed and found to be with child, a close verbal and narrative parallel about Mary's pregnancy before marriage.
- Matthew 1:20-21 (thematic): Angel speaks to Joseph about Mary's divine conception and instructs him to take her as his wife—parallels Luke's concern with Mary's pregnancy within the betrothal context.
- Luke 1:27 (verbal): Earlier Lukan reference identifying Mary as betrothed to Joseph, directly related to Luke 2:5's mention of registration with his betrothed.
- Luke 1:31-35 (thematic): The annunciation narrative explaining that Mary is to conceive by the Holy Spirit provides the theological background for her being 'with child' in Luke 2:5.
- Isaiah 7:14 (allusion): The prophecy that a young woman/virgin will conceive is often invoked in New Testament birth narratives and underlies the significance of Mary's pregnancy.
Alternative generated candidates
- He went to be enrolled with Mary, to whom he was betrothed, who was with child.
- to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
Luke.2.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εκει: ADV
- επλησθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- ημεραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- τεκειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 2:7 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same scene: she gives birth to her firstborn son, completing the action announced by 2:6.
- Matthew 1:25 (thematic): Both passages address the timing and reality of Jesus' birth (Matthew notes Joseph knew her not until she had borne a son), linking to the fulfillment of the days for Mary to give birth.
- Galatians 4:4 (thematic): Paul's language of the 'fullness of time' parallels Luke's emphasis on the appointed moment when the days were fulfilled for Christ's birth.
- Isaiah 7:14 (allusion): The prophecy of a virgin conceiving and bearing a son provides the Old Testament expectation that Luke's birth narrative presents as being fulfilled.
- John 16:21 (thematic): Uses the childbirth motif (sorrow turned to joy at birth) similar to Luke's focus on the decisive moment of delivery as a pivotal, joy-bearing event.
Alternative generated candidates
- And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
- And while they were there the time came for her to give birth.
Luke.2.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ετεκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτης: PRO,gen,sg,f
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πρωτοτοκον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εσπαργανωσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ανεκλινεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- φατνη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- διοτι: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- τοπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- καταλυματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Micah 5:2 (allusion): Predicts the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem; Luke 2:7 places Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, fulfilling this prophetic expectation.
- Isaiah 9:6 (thematic): Announces the birth of a child who will be a divine ruler; Luke’s nativity scene presents the birth of the prophesied child/son.
- John 1:14 (thematic): “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Greek skēnōsen) echoes the motif of God’s humble coming to dwell in human conditions, resonant with the manger setting in Luke 2:7.
- Exodus 13:2 (thematic): God’s claim on the ‘firstborn’ in Israel gives theological weight to Luke’s term 'firstborn' (prototokos) applied to the newborn Jesus, linking birth language to covenantal/ritual significance.
Alternative generated candidates
- And she gave birth to her firstborn son; she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- And she gave birth to her firstborn son; she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room.
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
This census was the first taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem; for he was of the house and lineage of David.
To be enrolled with Mary, to whom he was betrothed, who was expecting a child. And while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.