Christmas Bible Verses about the birth of Jesus
50 King James verses that tell the Christmas story, from the prophets to the manger. Tap for a random verse, or read them in order below. They are great for Christmas cards, devotions and family readings.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 · KJV
Prophecies of the Saviour's birth
Hundreds of years before Bethlehem, the prophets spoke of a child who would be born to save God's people.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Isaiah 9:2For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:7But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Isaiah 11:1Behold, the days come, saith the LORD , that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jeremiah 23:5I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Numbers 24:17The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD , make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3
The angel's message to Mary and Joseph
Gabriel came to Mary in Nazareth, and an angel spoke to Joseph in a dream.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Luke 1:28And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
Luke 1:30And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Luke 1:31He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
Luke 1:32And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:35For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:37And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 1:20And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:23And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Luke 1:46And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luke 1:47
The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem, and there Jesus was born and laid in a manger.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Luke 2:1And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Luke 2:4To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Luke 2:5And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Luke 2:6And 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.
Luke 2:7
The shepherds and the angels
The first people to hear the good news were shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luke 2:8And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luke 2:9And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luke 2:10For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luke 2:12And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luke 2:13Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luke 2:15And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Luke 2:16But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Luke 2:20
The wise men and the star
Wise men from the east followed a star to find the young child and worship him.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:1Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Matthew 2:2When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
Matthew 2:9When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Matthew 2:10And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11
The meaning of Christmas
Why did Jesus come? These verses explain the gift of Christmas.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Galatians 4:4In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Timothy 1:15For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 2:11But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Philippians 2:7Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
2 Corinthians 9:15For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous Christmas Bible verse?
Luke 2:11 is one of the best known: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Isaiah 9:6 and John 3:16 are also widely read at Christmas.
Where is the Christmas story in the Bible?
The birth of Jesus is told in Matthew chapters 1–2 and Luke chapters 1–2. The prophecies about his birth are found in books such as Isaiah and Micah.
Which Bible verses are good for Christmas cards?
Short verses such as Luke 2:14, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 1:23 and John 1:14 fit well in Christmas cards.
All Scripture from the King James Version (KJV), public domain.