As recorded in Scripture, the first time the word manger is referenced to Christ is in Luke 2:7, which reads, "And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.". Question Why was Jesus born in a manger? Answer It is a common saying at Christmastime that Jesus Christ was "born in a manger." Of course, it wasn't possible for Him to actually be born in the manger, but that's where Mary laid Him after His birth (Luke 2:7). When Jesus was born, Luke tells us that Mary laid him in something called a manger (Luke 2:7).
The word used for manger is the Latin word munducare, which means "to eat." When our Savior left the comfort of Heaven and his earthly mother's womb, his first resting place on earth doubled as a feeding trough for livestock. The manger represents Christ's humility in being born in a lowly place among animals, rather than in a palace, symbolizing how he came to identify with the poor and marginalized. The manger fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem, connecting Jesus to the Davidic line and God's promises to his people.
The manger points to the mystery of the Incarnation. According to the gospel of Luke, Jesus was born in a manger because the rooms were full where they were, and there was no other space. What is the significance of Jesus being born in a manger? IMPORTANT: New format with engaging questions and other great discipleship material coming soon! This page is in the old format but still contains compelling, relevant, and practical biblical content! Believe it or not, Jesus wasn't actually born in a manger (a food trough for animals).
When the child Jesus was born, his mother Mary laid him in a manger (Lk 2:7). The word "manger" comes from the Latin word manducare which means "to eat." A manger or crib is a wooden or stone feeding trough or food box that holds hay for larger farm animals like cattle, horses, and donkeys. The birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events in human history.
Jesus, the Son of God, humbled himself by being born in a manger in Bethlehem. This remarkable event was prophesied centuries earlier and fulfilled God's promise to send a Savior to redeem mankind. Why was Jesus laid in a manger? In his apostolic letter Admirabile Signum (On the Meaning and Importance of the Nativity Scene), Pope Francis said, Coming into this world, the Son of God was laid in the place where animals feed.
Hay became the first bed of the One who would reveal himself as "the bread come down from heaven" (Jn 6:41). A manger is a feeding trough for animals, indicating that Jesus was born in a setting associated with livestock, likely a stable or cave. This humble beginning fulfills the prophecy of the Messiah's lowly origins (Micah 5:2).