Where was Jesus From?
Jesus was born in Bethlehem (House of Bread) according to Matthew 2:1, but lived and was known to be from Nazareth.
This was also a question in the Lord Jesus’ day because it is noted that Nathanael implied that nothing good comes out of Nazareth (John 1:46), not knowing that Jesus was born in the city of David, Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4–7) in direct confirmation of the Old Testament prophecies (Micah 5:2).
This contrast shadows how God’s plan often defies human expectations, using humble and overlooked places to accomplish divine purposes, and underscores the accuracy of Scripture in linking The Lord Jesus’ lineage and birth to prophetic promises.
| Aspect | Detail | Scriptural Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Pharisees’ Regional Bias | Nazareth was a small, obscure village in Galilee; Galileans were often viewed as unrefined and socially insignificant. | John 1:46 |
| Skeptical Question | Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”, reflecting common Pharisaic or Jewish prejudice. | John 1:46 |
| Messianic Prophecy | Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, not Galilee, fulfilling prophecy despite human expectations. | Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4–7 |
| Theological Significance | God’s plan often defies social and human biases, using the humble and overlooked to accomplish salvation. | Matthew 2:6; John 1:46 |
Here's a table showing the views of biblical scholars on the validity of the Lord Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem.
| Scholar / Years / Institution | Work | View / Interpretation with Scriptural Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John Lightfoot (1602–1675), St. Mary Hall, University of Oxford | Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae | Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, fulfilling prophecy that the Messiah would come from the city of David (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4–7). |
| Matthew Poole (1624–1679), University of Cambridge | Annotations on the Holy Bible | Bethlehem is the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah, emphasizing Jesus’ Davidic lineage (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4–7). |
| John Gill (1697–1771), University of Cambridge | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | Confirms Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, aligning with Jewish genealogical and prophetic tradition (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4–7; Micah 5:2). |
| Adam Clarke (1762–1832), University of Cambridge | Clarke’s Commentary | Bethlehem of Judea, not Galilee, is the birthplace, fulfilling prophecy and confirming Davidic ancestry (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4–7; Micah 5:2). |
| Keil & Delitzsch (1807–1888 / 1813–1890), University of Leipzig / University of Halle | Commentary on the Old Testament | Bethlehem is consistently identified as the birthplace, supporting the historicity of the Nativity narrative (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4–7; Micah 5:2). |
Luke 2:1–7 reports that Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for a Roman census decreed by Caesar Augustus. This aligns with known Roman administrative practices, which required residents to return to ancestral towns for taxation and registration, providing a historically plausible framework for Jesus’ journey and birth location. Joseph’s ancestral connection to Bethlehem (“city of David”) made it his legal residence for Roman census purposes, even though he and Mary lived in Nazareth.
The Lord Jesus' Birth in Matthew 2
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, [a]wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the [b]wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”
