Born In A Barn?

Yesterday we learned that Mary and Joseph weren’t locked out of an over-crowded inn. Rather, the Greek word describes a “guest room,” or the “upper room,” of a first-century house.

So, where was Jesus born?

Well, many of Joseph’s relatives were in Bethlehem because of the census, so the guest room was already full. So Mary and Joseph were sent to the stable, right? After all, Jesus was laid in a manger!

Well, at that time, animals were often brought into the house at night. A manger was installed in the living quarters for these animals. So Jesus was probably born in the common living quarters and laid in the manger because there was no room for them in the guest room.

Dig Deeper

• Common Misconceptions About Creation
• Born in a Barn (Stable)?