Bible Dictionary
Birth-day
Birth-day means the anniversary of a person’s birth. Scripture records royal birthday celebrations, including Pharaoh’s feast and Herod’s banquet at which John the Baptist was killed.
Definition
Birth-day is the anniversary of a person’s birth. In the biblical record, birthdays were associated especially with royal or courtly celebrations, including the feast of Pharaoh and the banquet held by Herod.
Biblical Usage
The Bible records Pharaoh’s birthday feast and Herod’s birthday, during which John the Baptist was beheaded. The supplied material says there is no recorded example of birthday celebration among the Jews.
Historical Background
Birthday observance was common in early times and was especially practiced in Egypt. The supplied material distinguishes these royal celebrations from any specifically recorded Jewish practice.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The observance of birth-days was common in early times (Job 1:4, 13, 18). They were specially celebrated in the land of Egypt (Gen. 40:20). There is no recorded instance in Scripture of the celebration of birth-days among the Jews. On the occasion of Herod’s birth-day John the Baptist was beheaded (Matt. 14:6).