By Evangelist Peter Gee
Editor-in-Chief, Christianity News Daily
12/21/2025
The connection between David and Jesus Christ is central to understanding Bethlehem’s theological importance. Jesus is repeatedly identified in the New Testament as the “Son of David,” a title that affirms His rightful claim to the Davidic covenant.
EDITOR’S NOTE :
Editor’s Note: As part of our Christmas Theology series, this article examines the biblical and prophetic significance of Bethlehem, the city chosen by God to bring forth both King David and Jesus Christ.
The city of Bethlehem occupies a small place on the map of the Middle East, yet it holds an outsized role in the history of redemption recorded in Scripture. Situated a few miles south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem has been known by several names across time, including Ephrath and Bethlehem Ephrathah, each reflecting layers of history, geography, and covenant meaning. Though modest in size, Bethlehem stands at the intersection of prophecy, kingship, and incarnation. It is the birthplace of King David, Israel’s greatest king, and later became the prophesied birthplace of Jesus Christ, the Son of David and Savior of the world. Understanding Bethlehem’s history and significance helps illuminate how God fulfills His promises through places, people, and generations, even when those fulfillments unfold in humble and unexpected ways.
Bethlehem is located in the hill country of Judea, resting on a limestone ridge approximately 2,500 feet above sea level. Its elevation provides cool nights and fertile surrounding fields, conditions well-suited to shepherding and agriculture in ancient times. The name Bethlehem means “house of bread,” a fitting designation for a town surrounded by grain fields and sustenance. Long before it became associated with kings and messiahs, Bethlehem functioned as a small agrarian settlement whose people lived close to the land. Its proximity to Jerusalem placed it near the political and religious center of Israel, yet it remained culturally rural, shaped more by pasture and harvest than by palace or temple.
In the book of Genesis, Bethlehem is mentioned as Ephrath, indicating it was an ancient settlement associated with the patriarchal period. Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, died near Ephrath and was buried along the road to Bethlehem, giving the town early emotional and ancestral significance within Israel’s collective memory. Over time, Bethlehem became part of the tribal territory of Judah, the tribe from which kings would arise according to Jacob’s prophecy. This tribal association laid the groundwork for Bethlehem’s later role in Israel’s monarchy and messianic expectation. Even before David was born, the town was already positioned within God’s unfolding plan.
The rise of King David brought Bethlehem into national prominence. David was the youngest son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite, and spent his early life tending sheep in the fields surrounding the town. When the prophet Samuel came to Bethlehem at God’s command to anoint Israel’s next king, none of Jesse’s older sons were chosen. Instead, God selected David, the overlooked shepherd boy, emphasizing that divine calling does not depend on outward appearance or human expectation. David’s anointing in Bethlehem established the town as the cradle of Israel’s royal line and forever linked it to the concept of God-chosen kingship.
David’s reign marked a turning point in Israel’s history. He united the tribes, established Jerusalem as the capital, and desired to build a house for the Lord. Although David was not permitted to construct the temple, God made a covenant with him, promising that his throne would be established forever. This Davidic covenant became foundational to Israel’s messianic hope. The promise did not merely concern David’s immediate descendants but pointed forward to a future ruler whose kingdom would have no end. From that moment onward, Bethlehem was remembered not only as David’s birthplace but as the origin point of a royal promise that transcended generations.
The prophetic literature of the Old Testament reinforces Bethlehem’s enduring importance. The prophet Micah declared that from Bethlehem, Ephrathah would come forth a ruler in Israel whose origins are from ancient days. This prophecy was remarkable because it identified a specific town, small and seemingly insignificant, as the birthplace of the future Messiah. In a world where power typically arises from major cities and strongholds, God once again chose what appeared small to accomplish what was eternally significant. Bethlehem thus became a focal point of expectation, watched by generations who awaited the fulfillment of God’s word.
The connection between David and Jesus Christ is central to understanding Bethlehem’s theological importance. Jesus is repeatedly identified in the New Testament as the “Son of David,” a title that affirms His rightful claim to the Davidic covenant. This connection raises an important theological question. If Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, how can He be considered a descendant of David? The answer lies in the biblical understanding of lineage, covenant, and legal inheritance. Scripture presents Jesus as both divinely conceived and legally descended from David through His earthly family.
The genealogies recorded in the Gospels establish Jesus’ rightful place in Israel’s history. Matthew’s Gospel traces Jesus’ lineage through Joseph, presenting a royal genealogy that moves from Abraham through David and the kings of Judah. Though Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father, he was His legal father. In Jewish culture, legal fatherhood conferred full rights of lineage and inheritance. By being legally recognized as Joseph’s son, Jesus inherited the legal claim to David’s throne. This legal descent fulfilled the covenant requirement without compromising the doctrine of the virgin birth.
Luke’s Gospel provides a complementary genealogy that many scholars interpret as reflecting Mary’s lineage. This genealogy also traces back to David, though through a different branch of David’s family. Through Mary, Jesus is physically descended from David, sharing in the bloodline of Israel’s greatest king. Through Joseph, He inherits the legal rights of Davidic kingship. Together, these genealogies demonstrate how Jesus fulfills the messianic requirement of being David’s descendant while remaining the Son conceived by the Holy Spirit. Bethlehem stands at the center of this fulfillment, anchoring Jesus’ birth in the town of David as foretold by the prophets.
The circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth further highlight Bethlehem’s role in divine providence. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, far from Bethlehem, yet a Roman census required them to travel to Joseph’s ancestral town. This imperial decree, issued for administrative purposes, served a higher purpose in God’s plan. It moved the expectant parents to Bethlehem at precisely the right moment, ensuring that Jesus would be born in the prophesied location. The journey was difficult, the accommodations humble, and the birth took place in conditions far removed from royal splendor. Yet these circumstances underscored the nature of Christ’s mission, a kingdom not built on earthly power but on humility and grace.
Bethlehem’s association with shepherds further enriches its symbolism. David himself had been a shepherd, and the fields around Bethlehem were well known for their flocks. When the angels announced the birth of Jesus, they first appeared to shepherds living in those same fields. This continuity between David’s shepherding past and Jesus’ birth announcement emphasizes the shepherd motif that runs throughout Scripture. David was called to shepherd Israel as king, and Jesus later identified Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. Bethlehem, with its pastoral setting, becomes the backdrop for this enduring biblical theme.
Over the centuries, Bethlehem has experienced conquest, destruction, rebuilding, and political change. Empires have risen and fallen around it, yet its biblical identity has endured. For Christians, Bethlehem is not revered because of architectural grandeur or military might, but because of what God accomplished there. It represents the meeting of promise and fulfillment, the convergence of Davidic kingship and divine incarnation. Pilgrims have traveled to Bethlehem for generations, seeking to connect with the place where heaven touched earth in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Theologically, Bethlehem teaches that God works through history in concrete ways. Prophecy is not abstract or symbolic alone; it unfolds in real locations among real people. The town’s small size magnifies the glory of God’s choice, reminding believers that divine significance is not measured by human standards. Bethlehem’s history invites reflection on the faithfulness of God, who keeps His promises across centuries and uses even the decrees of empires to bring His purposes to pass.
In the relationship between King David and Jesus Christ, Bethlehem serves as both a geographical and a theological bridge. David’s kingship established the covenant promise, and Jesus’ birth fulfilled it. Though conceived by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is genuinely connected to David through both legal and physical descent, satisfying the requirements of Scripture and affirming the unity of God’s redemptive plan. Bethlehem, the city of David, thus becomes the birthplace not only of a king but of the King, the one whose reign extends beyond Israel to all nations.
Today, Bethlehem continues to symbolize hope rooted in God’s promises. Its story reassures believers that God’s plans are precise, purposeful, and trustworthy. From the shepherd boy David to the newborn Jesus laid in a manger, Bethlehem testifies that God chooses the humble to reveal His glory and that His word, once spoken, will surely be fulfilled in His time and in His way.
Bethlehem’s enduring importance is also tied to how Scripture frames memory and expectation. Biblical faith is not merely about abstract belief but about remembering what God has done in specific places and times. Just as Israel was instructed to remember the Exodus, believers are called to remember the incarnation. Bethlehem becomes a theological marker, reminding the faithful that God entered human history at a precise point, fulfilling words spoken long before through prophets and covenants. This remembrance strengthens confidence in God’s future promises, including the return of Christ and the establishment of His everlasting kingdom.
The contrast between Bethlehem’s humility and Jerusalem’s grandeur also carries spiritual meaning. Jerusalem would later become the city of sacrifice, where Jesus was crucified, while Bethlehem was the city of birth. Together, the two cities frame the beginning and climax of Christ’s earthly mission. Bethlehem represents arrival and incarnation, while Jerusalem represents atonement and redemption. The journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem mirrors the journey of Christ’s life, moving from obscurity to rejection, and ultimately to victory through resurrection. This geographical progression reinforces the unity of God’s redemptive plan across Christ’s life and ministry.
Another dimension of Bethlehem’s significance lies in its challenge to human expectations of leadership and power. Both David and Jesus emerged from Bethlehem, not from centers of political dominance or cultural influence. David rose from shepherd to king, and Jesus from manger to Messiah. In both cases, God demonstrated that His criteria for leadership differ radically from those of the world. Bethlehem thus stands as a rebuke to pride and a call to humility, teaching that divine authority is rooted in obedience and faithfulness rather than status or strength.
Bethlehem’s role in salvation history also underscores the reliability of prophecy. The precise fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy regarding the Messiah’s birthplace strengthens confidence in the Scriptures as divinely inspired. The alignment of genealogies, historical events, and prophetic declarations converging on Bethlehem is not accidental. It reveals a coherent narrative woven across centuries, affirming that God’s word governs history rather than being shaped by it. This assurance has sustained believers through persecution, exile, and uncertainty, anchoring faith in the unchanging character of God.
In Christian theology, Bethlehem ultimately points beyond itself. While the town is honored for its role in Christ’s birth, it is not an object of worship. Instead, it directs attention to the person of Jesus Christ and the purpose of His coming. The incarnation did not end in the manger but moved toward the cross and the empty tomb. Bethlehem marks the entrance of redemption into the world, but its full meaning is realized in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. This perspective guards against sentimentalizing the nativity while preserving its profound theological weight.
As believers reflect on Bethlehem today, the city invites renewed trust in God’s promises. Its history proclaims that God fulfills His word in ways that surpass human planning and expectation. From the fields where David watched sheep to the stable where Jesus was laid, Bethlehem bears witness to a God who acts faithfully across generations. The city’s story encourages believers to see their own lives within God’s unfolding purpose, trusting that what may seem small or insignificant can be used by Him for eternal impact.
In this way, Bethlehem remains more than an ancient town or a historical landmark. It stands as a testament to divine faithfulness, linking the covenant made with David to its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Through Bethlehem, Scripture reveals a God who keeps His promises, enters history, and redeems humanity through humility and love.