Luke 2:4

The Passion Translation

So Joseph and his wife, Mary, left Nazareth, a village in Galilee, and journeyed to their hometown in Judea, to the village of Bethlehem, King David’s ancient home. They were required to register there, since they were both direct descendants of David. Mary was pregnant and nearly ready to give birth.

Cross References

Genesis 35:19

Rachel died and was buried on the road to Ephrath (now Bethlehem).

Genesis 48:7

For when I was returning from Paddan-Aram, my beloved Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan while we were still on our way, not far from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

Matthew 1:20

While he was still debating with himself about what to do, he fell asleep and had a supernatural dream. An angel from the Lord appeared to him and said, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t hesitate to take Mary into your home as your wife, because the power of the Holy Spirit has conceived a child in her womb.

Matthew 2:23

So he settled his family in the village of Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy that he would be known as the “Branch.”

Luke 2:3

Everyone had to travel to the hometown of their family to complete the mandatory census.

Luke 4:16

When he came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, he went into the synagogue, as he always did on the Sabbath. When Jesus came to the front to read the Scriptures, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found where it is written,

John 1:46

Nathanael sneered, “Nazareth! What good thing could ever come from Nazareth?” Philip answered, “Come and let’s find out!”

John 7:42

Don’t the Scriptures say that he will be one of David’s descendants and be born in Bethlehem, the city of David?”

Ruth 1:19

Naomi and Ruth traveled together from Moab until they came to Bethlehem. The entire town was buzzing when they heard they had arrived! Astounded, the women of the town said to one another, “Is this really Naomi, who left us so long ago?”

Ruth 2:4

At that moment, Boaz came from Bethlehem to survey his harvest. He greeted the harvesters, “May Yahweh be with you.” They replied, “May Yahweh bless you.”

Ruth 4:11

Then all the elders and all the people who were at the gate said: “We are witnesses. May Yahweh make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel. May you become famous in Bethlehem! May you become very prosperous!

Ruth 4:17

The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “At last, Naomi has a son!” They named him Obed, and he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.