Bible Dictionary
Birthday
Birthdays were observed in the ancient world, especially by kings and rulers, with feasts and ceremonies. Scripture mentions celebrations connected with Pharaoh and Herod.
Definition
A birthday is the anniversary of a person’s birth, and in ancient usage the term could also be applied to the anniversary of a king’s accession. Birthdays of rulers were marked by feasts, banquets, and public honors.
Biblical Usage
Scripture mentions Pharaoh’s birthday feast and Herod’s banquet on his birthday. The latter celebration included leading officials and became the setting for the request that resulted in John the Baptist’s death.
Historical Background
The custom was widespread in the ancient world. Persian birthdays received special honors, Egyptian royal birthdays were celebrated with great pomp, and royal accession celebrations could also be called birthdays.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The custom of observing birthdays is very ancient, (Genesis 40:20; Jeremiah 20:15) and in (Job 1:4) etc., we read that Job’s sons “feasted every one his day.” In Persia birthdays were celebrated with peculiar honors and banquets, and in Egypt those of the king were kept with great pomp. It is very probable that in (Matthew 14:6) the feast to commemorate Herod’s accession is intended, for we know that such feasts were common, and were called “the day of the king.” (Hosea 7:5)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>burth'-da:</p><p>(1) The custom of observing birthdays of great men, especially of kings, was widespread in ancient times (see Ge 40:20 f, "the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday," etc.; compare 2 Macc 6:7; and Herod. ix.110; in the New Testament, Mt 14:6; Mr 6:21, "Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords," etc., i.e. Herod Antipas). Here we see the ancient custom reflected in two conspicuous instances centuries apart:</p><p>(a) Pharaoh, on his birthday "made a feast unto all his servants," etc., and</p><p>(b) Herod o n his birthday "made a supper to his lords, and the high captains," etc.</p><p>The King James Version (Mt 14:6) has it "when Herod's birthday was kept," etc. The correct text here (Tischendorf, Westcott-Hort) has a very peculiar construction, but without material difference of meaning. The locative case gives the time of the principal action, "danced on Herod's birthday, when it occurred." The construction is not unexampled (see Jelf, section 699). This need not be called "a case absolute," though it corresponds to the Latin ablative (locative) absolute; and the Greek genitive absolute is itself not really "absolute," i.e. it is not cut loose from the rest of the construction, but gives some event to which the principal action is referred, for the indication of its circumstances.</p><p>(2) The term "birthday" (ta genesia) was applied also to the anniversary of a king's accession to the throne (Edersheim); but Wieseler's argument that such is the case here is not conclusive. It is easy to suppose that when Herod's birthday approached he was sojourning at the castle of Macherus, accompanied by leading military and civil officials of his dominions (Mr 6:21). Petty ruler as he was, not properly "king" at all, he affected kingly ways (compare Es 5:3,6; 7:2).</p><p>(3) Genesia, which in Attic Greek means the commemoration of the dead, in later Greek is interchangeable with genethlia = "birthday celebrations"; and there is no good reason why the rendering of the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) here, "birthday," should not be right (See Swete on Mr 6:21, and HDB, under the word) For date of Christ's birth, etc., see JESUS CHRIST; CALENDAR, etc.</p><p>George B. Eager</p>