Topical Bible: Births

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Introduction:
The concept of birth in the Bible is both a physical and spiritual event, symbolizing the beginning of life and the potential for new beginnings. Births are significant in the biblical narrative, often marking the fulfillment of God's promises and the continuation of His covenant with humanity.

Biblical Accounts of Births:

1. Creation and the First Births:
The Bible begins with the creation of life, where God forms Adam from the dust and breathes life into him (Genesis 2:7). Eve, the first woman, is created from Adam's rib (Genesis 2:21-22). The first human birth recorded is that of Cain, followed by Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:1-2).

2. The Birth of Isaac:
Isaac's birth is a pivotal moment in the Bible, representing the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and Sarah. Despite their old age, God miraculously enables Sarah to conceive, and Isaac is born, establishing the line through which God's covenant will continue (Genesis 21:1-3).

3. The Birth of Moses:
Moses' birth occurs during a time of great oppression for the Israelites in Egypt. His mother, Jochebed, hides him for three months to save him from Pharaoh's decree to kill all Hebrew male infants. Moses is later placed in a basket and set adrift on the Nile, where he is discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:1-10).

4. The Birth of Samuel:
Samuel's birth is an answer to the fervent prayers of his mother, Hannah, who was barren. She vows to dedicate her son to the Lord's service if He grants her a child. God hears her plea, and Samuel is born, later becoming a significant prophet and judge in Israel (1 Samuel 1:20-28).

5. The Birth of John the Baptist:
John the Baptist's birth is announced by the angel Gabriel to his father, Zechariah, who is initially struck mute for his disbelief. John's birth is significant as he is the forerunner to Jesus, preparing the way for the Messiah (Luke 1:13-17, 57-66).

6. The Birth of Jesus Christ:
The birth of Jesus is the cornerstone of the New Testament narrative. Announced by the angel Gabriel to Mary, a virgin, Jesus' birth fulfills numerous Old Testament prophecies. Born in Bethlehem, Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, whose life and ministry bring salvation to humanity (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20).

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance:

1. New Birth in Christ:
The concept of being "born again" is central to Christian theology. Jesus explains to Nicodemus that one must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-7). This spiritual rebirth signifies a transformation and renewal of life through faith in Christ.

2. Birth as a Metaphor for Renewal:
Birth is often used metaphorically in the Bible to describe renewal and the beginning of a new era. The prophets speak of a time when God will create a new heaven and a new earth, symbolizing the birth of a restored creation (Isaiah 65:17).

Cultural and Historical Context:

1. Childbirth Practices:
In biblical times, childbirth was a significant event, often attended by midwives. The birth of a male child was particularly celebrated, as sons were seen as a continuation of the family line and inheritance (Exodus 1:15-21).

2. Legal and Social Implications:
The birthright, or the rights of the firstborn, held great importance in biblical society. The firstborn son typically received a double portion of the inheritance and held a position of leadership within the family (Deuteronomy 21:17).

Conclusion:
The theme of birth in the Bible encompasses both the physical act of bringing new life into the world and the spiritual rebirth that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a testament to God's sovereignty, His faithfulness to His promises, and the hope of new beginnings.

Greek

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... It is God's warranty that guarantees the fulfillment of the revelation He births
within the receptive believer (cf. 1 Jn 5:4 with Heb 11:1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

Library

For Where There are Weddings, Marriages, Births, Nurses, Arts...
... Book IV. 28 For where there are weddings, marriages, births, nurses, arts?
For where there are weddings, marriages, births, nurses ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/28 for where there are.htm

The Case of Monstrous Births.
... Chapter 87."The Case of Monstrous Births. We are not justified in affirming
even of monstrosities, which are born and live, however ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 87 the case of monstrous.htm

God Cares Even for Adulterous Births; Angels Given to them as ...
... Discourse II."Theophila. Chapter VI."God Cares Even for Adulterous Births;
Angels Given to Them as Guardians. But what need ...
/.../chapter vi god cares even for.htm

Whether Certain Monstrous Races of Men are Derived from the Stock ...
... therefore wonderful. The same account which is given of monstrous births
in individual cases can be given of monstrous races. For ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 8 whether certain monstrous races.htm

The Oration on Holy Baptism.
... [4009]. II. The Word recognizes three Births for us; namely, the natural
birth, that of Baptism, and that of the Resurrection. Of ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xl the oration on.htm

On the Nativity of Our Lady
... restless till we find rest in Thee." This restlessness, which should always and
unceasingly be ours, is delayed and hindered by the strange births that are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xix on the nativity.htm

In what Manner the Mathematicians are Convicted of Professing a ...
... times by no means necessarily implies that they must be sick at different times,
why do they contend that the difference in the time of their births was the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 5 in what manner the.htm

The New Nature
... Now, in speaking of these two lives, the apostle brings out, first of all, a comparison
and a contrast between the two births, for each life hath its own birth ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/the new nature.htm

But Now, if all that is Divine, Great, Glorious...
... enjoyments of the creature, is only so much of the greatness, glory, majesty, and
blessedness of God, dwelling in it, and giving forth various births of his ...
/.../address 9 0 but now if.htm

Quibbles of the Numerical Theorists; the Art of the Frontispicists ...
... There are some who ascribe to the stars figures that mould the ideas [207] and
dispositions of men, assigning the reason of this to births (that have taken ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xv quibbles of the numerical.htm

Thesaurus

Births (34 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Births (34 Occurrences). Genesis 2:4 These 'are'
births of the heavens and of the earth in their being ...
/b/births.htm - 17k

Birth-right (9 Occurrences)
Birth-right. Birthright, Birth-right. Births . Multi-Version Concordance
Birth-right (9 Occurrences). ... Birthright, Birth-right. Births . Reference Bible
/b/birth-right.htm - 9k

Virgin (62 Occurrences)
... or miraculous conception" is equally unsatisfactory as it involves a question-begging
comparison between the birth of Christ and the exceptional births of the ...
/v/virgin.htm - 64k

Begotten (77 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Genesis 11:27 And these 'are' births of Terah: Terah hath begotten
Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran hath begotten Lot; (YLT). ...
/b/begotten.htm - 33k

Birth (357 Occurrences)
... or miraculous conception" is equally unsatisfactory as it involves a question-begging
comparison between the birth of Christ and the exceptional births of the ...
/b/birth.htm - 71k

Host (261 Occurrences)
... Numbers 1:20 And the sons of Reuben, Israel's first-born -- their births, by their
families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, by their ...
/h/host.htm - 54k

Tenth (89 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 12:17 In your towns you are not to take as food the tenth part of your
grain, or of your wine or your oil, or the first births of your herds or of ...
/t/tenth.htm - 38k

Generation (150 Occurrences)
... reference to hereditary quality; the wicked (Deuteronomy 32:5 Proverbs 30:11); the
righteous (Psalm 14:5; Psalm 112:2). (2) toledhoth, "births," hence (a) an ...
/g/generation.htm - 44k

Enjoying (9 Occurrences)
... Genesis 37:2 These 'are' births of Jacob: Joseph, a son of seventeen years, hath
been enjoying himself with his brethren among the flock, (and he 'is' a youth ...
/e/enjoying.htm - 9k

Delos
... of Delos, across a very narrow strait, lies Rheneia, another island which was the
burying-ground of Delos; for on the sacred isle neither births, deaths nor ...
/d/delos.htm - 10k

Resources

Is it wrong for a woman to get an epidural and/or other pain relievers during childbirth? | GotQuestions.org

How many children did King David have? | GotQuestions.org

What is the biblical fix for sexual brokenness? | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance

Births (34 Occurrences)

Genesis 2:4
These 'are' births of the heavens and of the earth in their being prepared, in the day of Jehovah God's making earth and heavens;
(YLT)

Genesis 5:1
This 'is' an account of the births of Adam: In the day of God's preparing man, in the likeness of God He hath made him;
(YLT)

Genesis 6:9
These 'are' births of Noah: Noah 'is' a righteous man; perfect he hath been among his generations; with God hath Noah walked habitually.
(YLT)

Genesis 10:1
And these 'are' births of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and born to them are sons after the deluge.
(YLT)

Genesis 10:32
These 'are' families of the sons of Noah, by their births, in their nations, and by these have the nations been parted in the earth after the deluge.
(YLT)

Genesis 11:10
These 'are' births of Shem: Shem 'is' a son of an hundred years, and begetteth Arphaxad two years after the deluge.
(YLT)

Genesis 11:27
And these 'are' births of Terah: Terah hath begotten Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran hath begotten Lot;
(YLT)

Genesis 25:12
And these 'are' births of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, hath borne to Abraham;
(YLT)

Genesis 25:13
and these 'are' the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their births: first-born of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
(YLT)

Genesis 25:19
And these 'are' births of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham hath begotten Isaac;
(YLT)

Genesis 36:1
And these 'are' births of Esau, who 'is' Edom.
(YLT)

Genesis 36:9
And these 'are' births of Esau, father of Edom, in mount Seir.
(YLT)

Genesis 37:2
These 'are' births of Jacob: Joseph, a son of seventeen years, hath been enjoying himself with his brethren among the flock, (and he 'is' a youth,) with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and Joseph bringeth in an account of their evil unto their father.
(YLT)

Exodus 6:19
And the sons of Merari 'are' Mahli and Mushi: these 'are' families of Levi, as to their births.
(YLT)

Exodus 11:5
And death will come to every mother's first male child in all the land of Egypt, from the child of Pharaoh on his seat of power, to the child of the servant-girl crushing the grain; and the first births of all the cattle.
(BBE)

Exodus 12:29
And in the middle of the night the Lord sent death on every first male child in the land of Egypt, from the child of Pharaoh on his seat of power to the child of the prisoner in the prison; and the first births of all the cattle.
(BBE)

Exodus 28:10
six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the second stone, according to their births;
(YLT)

Numbers 1:18
and all the company they assembled on the first of the second month, and they declare their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names from a son of twenty years and upward, by their polls,
(YLT)

Numbers 1:20
And the sons of Reuben, Israel's first-born -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, by their polls, every male from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:24
Of the sons of Gad -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:26
Of the sons of Judah -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:28
Of the sons of Issachar -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:30
Of the sons of Zebulun -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:32
Of the sons of Joseph -- of the sons of Ephraim -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:34
Of the sons of Manasseh -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:36
Of the sons of Benjamin -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:38
Of the sons of Dan -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:40
Of the sons of Asher -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 1:42
Of' the sons of Naphtali -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host --
(YLT)

Numbers 3:1
And these 'are' births of Aaron and Moses, in the day of Jehovah's speaking with Moses in mount Sinai.
(YLT)

Numbers 3:41
And give to me the Levites (I am the Lord) in place of the first sons of the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites in place of the first births among the cattle of the children of Israel.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 12:17
In your towns you are not to take as food the tenth part of your grain, or of your wine or your oil, or the first births of your herds or of your flocks, or anything offered under an oath, or freely offered to the Lord, or given as a lifted offering;
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 14:23
And make a feast before the Lord your God, in the place which is to be marked out, where his name will be for ever, of the tenth part of your grain and your wine and your oil, and the first births of your herds and your flocks; so that you may have the fear of the Lord your God in your hearts at all times.
(BBE)

Psalms 58:8
Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth away, Like the untimely birth of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.
(See JPS)

Subtopics

Births

Related Terms

Births (34 Occurrences)

Midwife (4 Occurrences)

Birth-stool (1 Occurrence)