Bible Dictionary

Birth

Jewish Life & Customs • Both

Birth was a time of rejoicing and involved customs such as washing, swaddling, circumcision of sons, and a mother’s period of purification. Natural birth also provides the biblical picture of spiritual new birth.

Definition

Birth is the beginning of a child’s life and, in the biblical setting, was marked by washing, rubbing with salt, swaddling, and rejoicing. A son was circumcised on the eighth day, and the mother observed a period of seclusion followed by a sacrifice of purification.

Biblical Usage

Birth is associated with joy, the removal of reproach, and the hope connected with God’s promises. Scripture also compares distress with the pains of labor and prosperity with the joy after childbirth. Natural birth serves as an image of the new birth.

Historical Background

A Hebrew mother remained secluded for forty days after the birth of a son and twice that period after the birth of a daughter. At its close she offered purification at the tabernacle or temple. Birth, especially of a son, was regarded as an occasion of rejoicing.

Scripture References

Ezekiel 16:4 Job 38:9 Luke 2:7 Luke 2:12 Leviticus 12:1-8 Luke 2:22 Genesis 17:10-12 Romans 4:11 Isaiah 13:8 Jeremiah 4:31 John 16:21 John 16:22 John 3:3-8 Galatians 6:15 Titus 3:5

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary

As soon as a child was born it was washed, and rubbed with salt (Ezek. 16:4), and then swathed with bandages (Job 38:9; Luke 2:7, 12). A Hebrew mother remained forty days in seclusion after the birth of a son, and after the birth of a daughter double that number of days. At the close of that period she entered into the tabernacle or temple and offered up a sacrifice of purification (Lev. 12:1-8; Luke 2:22). A son was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, being thereby consecrated to God (Gen. 17:10-12; comp. Rom. 4:11). Seasons of misfortune are likened to the pains of a woman in travail, and seasons of prosperity to the joy that succeeds child-birth (Isa. 13:8; Jer. 4:31; John 16:21, 22). The natural birth is referred to as the emblem of the new birth (John 3:3-8; Gal. 6:15; Titus 3:5, etc.).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

burth (genesis):(1) It was said by the angel beforehand of John the Baptist, "Many shall rejoice at his birth"; and when he was born Elisabeth said, "Thus hath the Lord done unto me .... to take away my reproach among men" (Lu 1:14,25). Among the ancient Hebrews barrenness was a "reproach" and the birth of a child, of a son especially, an occasion for rejoicing.(2) This, no doubt, was due in part to the Messianic hope inspired and sustained by prophecy (see Ge 3:15, where it was foretold that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; and subsequent prophecies too numerous to mention). Cases in point worth studying are found in Ge 4:1, where Eve rejoices over the birth of her firstborn and cries, "I have gotten a man with the help of Yahweh"; and 1Sa 1:20, where Hannah exults over her firstborn, calling his name "Samuel," "because," she says, "I have asked him of Yahweh."(3) The marvelous passage in Isa 7:14, "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel," must have intensified the longing and hope of every devout Jewish maiden to be a mother, if mayhap, under God, she might be the mother of Messiah--Immanuel! (Compare Mt 1:22,23; Lu 1:13 f.)See JESUS CHRIST; VIRGIN BIRTH.George B. Eager

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