Bethlehem

Small town in Judea, eternally significant as the birthplace of King David and Jesus Christ. The name means “House of Bread” in Hebrew, a fitting designation for the birthplace of Jesus, who called himself the “bread of life.”

Bethlehem first appears in Scripture as the burial place of Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife, who died giving birth to Benjamin nearby (Genesis 35:19). The town gained prominence as David’s hometown, where the prophet Samuel anointed the young shepherd as Israel’s future king (1 Samuel 16). This Davidic connection made Bethlehem prophetically significant—Micah 5:2 declared that from this small town would come a ruler over Israel.

The Nativity of Jesus fulfilled Micah’s prophecy when Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the Roman census. The humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem—born in a stable because there was no room in the inn—contrast sharply with his identity as the Davidic Messiah and King of Kings. The Magi came seeking “the King of the Jews” born in Bethlehem, while shepherds in surrounding fields received the angelic announcement.

Today, the Church of the Nativity marks the traditional site of Jesus’ birth, making Bethlehem one of Christianity’s holiest sites and a major pilgrimage destination.