When Was Jesus Born?

And so it was,

that while they were there,

the days were accomplished

that she should be delivered.

Luke 2:6, NKJV

Jesus was not born on December 25th. I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but that date was a pagan holiday celebrated in many cultures across the Roman Empire in conjunction with the winter solstice, usually marking the rebirth of the sun as the days started getting longer. Early on, the Gentile Christians began to separate themselves from the Jewish roots of Christianity and the celebration of Jewish feasts such as Passover, Pentecost, Trumpets, Tabernacles, and Hanukkah. And when Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire, the state began to incorporate pagan holidays into church worship cycles. Commemorating the birth of Christ on December 25 was one of the ensuing developments of an increasingly paganistic church.

So when was Jesus born? I'm so glad you asked.

The Bible doesn't tell us in terms of dates--such and such a day in such and such a month in such and such a year. But a careful study of the Scriptures does reveal the answer to our question.

Jesus was born during the reign of the Emperor Caesar Augustus, 44 BC - 14 AD.

Jesus was born in the closing years of the reign of King Herod the Great in Jerusalem, before his death in the spring of 1 BC.

Jesus was born at the time of a census that was carried out in Judea 4-3 BC.

Jesus was born under a stellar event observed by Persian or Babylonian astronomers that would have indicated the birth of a Jewish King...likely the convergence of Jupiter (the king of planets) with Venus (the queen of planets) and Regulus (the king of stars) as they appeared to pass from the feet of Virgo (the virgin) into the feet of Leo (the lion). This occurred after months of preamble astronomical activity, and also preceded 15 months of continued stellar events, specifically on 11 September 3 BC.

And it cannot be coincidence that 11 September 3 BC on the Jewish calendar was 1 Tishri--Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year also known as the Feast of Trumpets. Rosh Hashanah has many symbolic and prophetic applications in Judaism. It was supposedly the day Adam was created, and also the day upon which the Resurrection is supposed to take place. It is the day upon which kings were crowned, and the wedding feast of Messiah was supposed to take place. It also ushers in the fall harvest holiday season that incorporates the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.

The feasts of Israel have lots of prophetic significance in the eternal plan of God. Look back at some of my earlier posts concerning the conception and birth of John the Baptist, and the conception of Jesus. John was likely conceived around Pentecost--which is significant because he was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother's womb. Six months later, Jesus was conceived at Hanukkah, the light of the world conceived during the festival of lights. Then John would have been born at Passover, which is often associated with the return of Elijah. And Rosh Hashanah and the Feast of Tabernacles falls at the culmination of Mary's pregnancy.


Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles are closely associated with the promises of Christ's return and other eschatological prophecies. But it is likely that they have association with His brith as well: Born at Trumpets, Circumcised at Atonement, beginning his earthly sojourn during Tabernacles. The language of Luke 2 (as we will see in a later post) indicates that Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem during the season of Trumpets and Tabernacles. John 1:14, in the Greek, reads that Jesus became flesh and "tabernacled" among us.

Other New Testament facts indicate Jesus began his ministry in the fall of 27 AD, and after three and a half years He was crucified in the spring of 31 AD...at the age of 32 and a half.