Christmas Bible Verses

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

The angel announcement to the shepherds is the first Christmas proclamation. These words still frame the joy of Christmas worship.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

The Son of God arrives in a manger, not a palace. Christmas begins with humility, scarcity, and astonishing grace.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God with us.

Immanuel means God with us. Those three words carry the deepest meaning of Christmas.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

The angels song has inspired carols, liturgies, and Christmas worship across cultures and centuries.

Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.

The Magi question fixed the Christmas star in the imagination of the world. Wonder leads them to worship.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This prophecy remains one of the most quoted Old Testament passages of Advent. It is majestic and card friendly at the same time.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel.

Micah names Bethlehem centuries in advance. The Christmas story keeps reminding us that small places can change the world.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John gives the theological heartbeat of Christmas. The Incarnation is not only history, it is the meeting of glory and grace.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

The shepherds hurry toward Jesus. The first response to Christmas is urgency, wonder, and movement.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The Magi gifts shaped the imagination of Christmas giving. Their treasures point to worship before they point to festivity.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Mary responds to Christmas with stillness. It is a gentle verse for quiet cards, reflection, and family devotion time.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This is the reason Christmas matters. The gift of the manger is bound to the larger gift of salvation.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice.

Paul writes this from prison. Christmas joy does not depend on perfect circumstances, which is why this verse still rings true.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.

This is the spirit of Christmas caroling. The whole earth is summoned to sing, not only the polished choir.

Thou hast multiplied the nation, and increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest.

Isaiah describes joy that feels like relief after famine. That deep exhale of hope belongs naturally inside the Christmas season.

My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Mary sings before the child is born. Christmas joy often begins with trust before the full answer is visible.

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

This verse turns joy upward and outward. Heaven does not merely permit Christmas joy, it participates in it.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

Christmas joy is often deeper than language. This is the kind of gladness candles and carols try to express.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is one of the best Christmas blessing verses. It reads naturally in a card, a sermon closing, or family prayer.

for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Short, memorable, and steadying, this verse is made for seasons when Christmas feels heavy and joy needs to become strength.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Written to people in exile, this verse reminds readers that Christmas hope often reaches us in seasons of displacement.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Advent is a season of waiting. This promise helps explain why Christmas waiting is not empty time.

It is of the LORDS mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Because of the Lords great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Christmas morning naturally echoes this text. Mercy is renewed, compassion does not run dry.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

This is a Christmas comfort verse for hard years. The stable was not an accident, and nothing in Gods story is wasted.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

This is one of the great Advent prophecies. Hope here is not wishful thinking, it is confidence in what God has promised.

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

This is the posture of Advent. Hope is patient, expectant, and anchored in Gods word.

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are Yes in Christ.

Christmas is Gods Yes to his own promises. That makes this verse especially strong for a card or encouragement note.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Christmas story is full of people who move toward God before seeing the whole outcome. This verse explains that courage.

Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

This verse works as a simple Christmas Eve prayer. It is calm, brief, and full of trust.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

This is one of the most profound Christmas sentences. It turns decoration into declaration. Light wins.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Christmas lights make the most sense when they are read as symbols of this promise. A dawn has come.

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

The Christmas star points beyond itself. It directs attention toward the Light of the World.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Christmas is not only about receiving light. It is also about carrying it into the world.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

The Magi followed a light to find Christ. This verse reminds readers that the word still guides people toward him.

God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Christmas is not only the arrival of light. It is the visible nearness of the God who is light.

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

This ancient blessing remains one of the best Christmas card verses. It carries warmth, peace, and blessing in one movement.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Christmas is love made visible. This verse explains the manger as a revelation of divine love.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The manger and the cross belong to one story. Christmas love comes before deserving, performance, or preparedness.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Faith, hope, and love are all Christmas words. This verse makes a beautiful closing line for a heartfelt card.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.

Christmas invites people to measure the immeasurable. The love of Christ becomes startlingly close in the child of Bethlehem.

We love him, because he first loved us.

We love because he first loved us.

This short verse explains the logic of Christmas. Every gift, song, and act of kindness answers love already given.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends.

The greatest love story starts in a manger and moves toward sacrifice. This verse gives Christmas its depth and gravity.

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Christmas becomes richer when gratitude enters the room. This verse is simple, steady, and durable.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Be still, and know that I am God.

In the noise of Christmas, this is the invitation to pause, breathe, and remember what matters.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Perfect peace is a beautiful Christmas wish, especially for someone carrying a hard season.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

For tired readers, this verse turns Christmas from pressure into invitation.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Christmas often asks people to trust the next step before they can see the whole path. This verse gives that trust a language.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Peace and thankfulness belong together. This verse makes a calm and generous Christmas card line.

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

Short, bright, and complete, this verse works beautifully as a closing line for a Christmas card or table prayer.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

This is the last prayer of the Bible and one of the purest Advent lines. Christmas remembers his coming and longs for it again.