Topical Encyclopedia
A birthday is the anniversary of the birth of a person, traditionally celebrated as a day of joy and festivity. In the context of the Bible, birthdays are mentioned sparingly, and the cultural practices surrounding them during biblical times differ significantly from modern customs.
Biblical References:1.
Pharaoh's Birthday: The earliest mention of a birthday in the Bible is found in the account of Joseph in Egypt.
Genesis 40:20 states, "On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker." This passage indicates that birthdays were occasions for feasting and celebration among the Egyptians, a practice that was not necessarily adopted by the Israelites.
2.
Herod's Birthday: Another notable mention is in the New Testament, concerning Herod Antipas. In
Matthew 14:6-10, it is recorded, "On Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted." This account highlights the potential for excess and moral compromise associated with such celebrations.
Cultural and Theological Considerations:In biblical times, the celebration of birthdays was not a common practice among the Israelites. The Bible does not provide explicit instructions or examples of birthday celebrations among God's chosen people. The two primary examples of birthday celebrations in Scripture are associated with non-Israelite rulers and are depicted in contexts that involve moral and ethical challenges.
The absence of birthday celebrations among the Israelites may be attributed to their focus on religious festivals and observances commanded by God, such as Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These events were central to their communal and spiritual life, emphasizing God's deliverance and provision rather than individual milestones.
Early Christian Views:Early Christians, influenced by Jewish customs and wary of pagan practices, did not traditionally celebrate birthdays. The focus was on spiritual rebirth and the commemoration of significant events in the life of Christ, such as His death and resurrection. Over time, as Christianity spread and interacted with various cultures, the celebration of birthdays became more common among Christians, though it was not without controversy.
Modern Christian Perspectives:Today, many Christians celebrate birthdays as a time to give thanks to God for the gift of life and to reflect on His blessings. While the Bible does not prescribe specific ways to observe birthdays, Christians are encouraged to approach such celebrations with gratitude and humility, recognizing the sovereignty of God over all aspects of life.
In summary, while the Bible provides limited references to birthdays, the practice has evolved over time. Christians are encouraged to celebrate in ways that honor God and reflect their faith, mindful of the cultural and historical contexts of biblical references to birthdays.
Topical Bible Verses
Genesis 40:20And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast to all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
Topicalbible.orgMatthew 14:6
But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
Topicalbible.org
Smith's Bible Dictionary
BirthdayThe 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)
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 (
Genesis 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 (
Matthew 14:6).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The day in which any person is born; day of origin or commencement.
2. (n.) The day of the month in which a person was born, in whatever succeeding year it may recur; the anniversary of one's birth.
3. (a.) of or pertaining to the day of birth, or its anniversary; as, birthday gifts or festivities.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BIRTHDAYburth'-da:
(1) The custom of observing birthdays of great men, especially of kings, was widespread in ancient times (see Genesis 40:20, "the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday," etc.; compare 2 Maccabees 6:7; and Herod. ix0.11; in the New Testament, Matthew 14:6 Mark 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:
(a) Pharaoh, on his birthday "made a feast unto all his servants," etc., and
(b) Herod o n his birthday "made a supper to his lords, and the high captains," etc.
The King James Version (Matthew 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.
(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 (Mark 6:21). Petty ruler as he was, not properly "king" at all, he affected kingly ways (compare Esther 5:3, 6; Esther 7:2).
(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 Mark 6:21, and HDB, under the word) For date of Christ's birth, etc., see JESUS CHRIST; CALENDAR, etc.
George B. Eager
Greek
1077. genesia -- a birthday celebration ... a
birthday celebration. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: genesia Phonetic
Spelling: (ghen-es'-ee-ah) Short Definition: a
birthday celebration
... Strong's Hebrew
3205. yalad -- to bear, bring forth, beget... 1), became the father (144), become the father (2), become the fathers (1), beget
(3), begetting (1), begot (2), begotten (3), birth (2),
birthday* (1), bore
... 3117. yom -- day
... root Definition day NASB Word Usage afternoon* (1), age (8), age* (1), all (1),
always* (14), amount* (2), battle (1), birthday* (1), Chronicles* (38 ...
Library
For a Birthday.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXLVI. For a Birthday. 8.6.8.6 James Montgomery. For a Birthday.
Is this the day that gave me birth? Returning year by year,. ...
On the Theophany, or Birthday of Christ.
... Oration XXXVIII. On The Theophany, Or Birthday Of Christ. On the Theophany,
or Birthday of Christ. The Title of this Oration has ...
For a Friend's Birthday.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXLVII. For a Friend's Birthday. 8.8.8.8 James Montgomery.
For a Friend's Birthday. Brother and friend, with heart and voice,. ...
Birthday.
... Birthday. 75. Holy Jesus, every day Keep us in the narrow way, And when
earthly things are past, Bring our ransomed souls at last ...
Preached on his Birthday , or Day of Ordination.
... Sermons. Sermon I. Preached on his Birthday , or day of Ordination. Preached
on his Birthday [645] , or day of Ordination. Having ...
Reflections on his Fiftieth Birthday. What a Wonderful Being is ...
... CHAPTER XIX. Reflections on his Fiftieth Birthday. What a Wonderful Being is Man! ...
Last Three Birthdays. His Trust in God. Reflections on his Fiftieth Birthday. ...
On his Birthday, iii: Delivered on the Anniversary of his ...
... Sermons. Sermon III. On His Birthday, III: Delivered on the Anniversary
of his Elevation to the Pontificate. On His Birthday, III ...
On his Birthday, ii. : Delivered on the Anniversary of his ...
... On his Birthday, II.: Delivered on the Anniversary of his Consecration. On his Birthday,
II.: Delivered on the Anniversary [654] of his Consecration. ...
Marriages and Birthday Feasts are not to be Celebrated in Lent. .. ...
... Canon LII. Marriages and birthday feasts are not to be celebrated in Lent.? Marriages
and birthday feasts are not to be celebrated in Lent. Notes. ...
This Treatise Has a Favourable Beginning, Since it is the Birthday ...
... This treatise has a favourable beginning, since it is the birthday of the holy
Virgin? ... It is the birthday of a martyr, let us offer the victim. ...
Thesaurus
Birthday (4 Occurrences)... 3. (a.) of or pertaining to the day of birth, or its anniversary; as,
birthday gifts
or festivities. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BIRTHDAY.
...Herodias (7 Occurrences)
... At Herod's birthday feast, Herodias induced her daughter Salome, whose dancing had
so charmed the tetrarch, to ask as her reward the head of John the Baptist ...
Officials (229 Occurrences)
... Mark 6:21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for
his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. (See NIV). ...
Banquet (58 Occurrences)
...Birthday banquets are mentioned (Genesis 40:20; Matthew 14:6). They were sometimes
protracted, and attended with revelry and excess (Genesis 21:8; 29:22; 1 ...
Kept (891 Occurrences)
... (KJV WEY BBE WBS). Matthew 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter
of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. (KJV WBS YLT). ...
Nobles (71 Occurrences)
... Mark 6:21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for
his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. (WEB WEY). ...
Opportunity (35 Occurrences)
... Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to the nobles of his court and to the
tribunes and the principal people in Galilee, (WEY RSV). ...
Officers (171 Occurrences)
... Mark 6:21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for
his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. (WEB RSV). ...
Opportune (4 Occurrences)
... Mark 6:21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for
his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. (See NIV). ...
Leading (101 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Mark 6:21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made
a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. ...
Resources
Should Christians celebrate birthdays? | GotQuestions.orgWas Jesus born on December 25? Is December 25 Jesus' birthday? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian celebrate Christmas? | GotQuestions.orgBirthday: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
