25 Christmas Bible Verses

The true meaning of Christmas

We’ve collected the most meaningful Christmas Bible quotes about the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the Saviour of the world. We hope these verses will bring the true meaning of Christmas alive during this holiday season as we celebrate the True Light coming into our world.

Whether you’re taking a moment to reflect within the busyness that leads up to Christmas Day, or are searching for verses to write in your Christmas cards, we hope this list will help you to cherish the coming of Jesus, who was also known by the name Immanuel – ‘God with us’ (Matthew 1:23)

Scripture is way to share the Good News, so we’re also giving away some beautiful Christmas artwork you can share with friends or add to Christmas cards, as well as further inspiration for good gift ideas and how to wrap them in environmentally friendly ways by using our handy DIY wrapping paper guide just for you.

All of these Christmas Bible verses have been taken from the NIV version of the Bible. 

Scripture about the birth of Jesus

These Christmas verses show why Christians love to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus. You can use them to add more than a ‘Merry Christmas’ to your Christmas cards, showing the true meaning of Christmas as you share that Jesus Christ is the True Light for all of humanity..

Even though Jesus was born in a lowly stable, He was destined to be not only the King of the Jews, but of the whole world. The book of Hebrews points to Jesus’ divinity, calling Him the ‘radiance of God’.

Jesus is also called the Word of God in John 1, and the Word that became flesh. He came to Earth to speak God’s message of love and forgiveness to all humanity. In Philippians 2, we learn that even though Jesus is ‘in very nature God,’ He did not try to ‘grasp equality’ with God the Father. Instead, Jesus was willing to be born into human likeness, as a baby in a stable in the famous nativity scene, to demonstrate God’s love for all the world. That’s why Jesus was given the name Immanuel from the Old Testament, because it means ‘God with us’—Jesus is both the expression and the promise that God is always with us.

Luke 2:12 “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Christmas Bible saying about Jesus

Matthew 2: 10 “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”

Luke 1: 30-32 “But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Luke 2 v 11 “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Christmas Bible verses of hope

Christmas is a time of renewal that gives us the opportunity to reflect on the everlasting hope we have in Christ, and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We learn that Jesus was not only the Son of David (fully human) but also the Son of God (fully divine). Jesus Christ came into the world to bring the hope of eternal life to all who put their trust in Him.

Christmas Bible verses art

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Matthew 12:15-22 “In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Galations 4:4-5 “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

Luke 1: 32-33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1: 46-55 “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

The story of Jesus’ birth is full of wonder, but it is also a story of high drama, of fear and the threat of death with King Herod wanting to kill Jesus. An angel of the Lord warned Joseph in a dream of their need to escape. You can read about the flight to Egypt in Matthew 2.

In this lifetime, we will all experience sorrow, fear and hardship at certain times. For some people, Christmas is a time of sadness or loneliness, when remembering loved ones who are gone, or because of broken relationships. It’s precisely because our world is imperfect that Jesus came to rescue us and to be the hope of the world.

Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Peace Bible verses for cards

This collection of Christmas scriptures reminds us that Christ Jesus came to Earth to bring us everlasting peace. We all know that this holiday season can be fraught at times! May you and your loved ones know God’s peace this Christmas.

Luke 2: 13-14 “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 favour rests.’”

John 1: 14 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.

Prince of Peace

Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[a] (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 1: 76-79 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Bible verses make good gifts

It’s easy to think we need to spend lots of money to make Christmas special, but as Christians we know the true meaning of Christmas is much more wonderful than anything money can buy!

With the rising cost of living, and our awareness that too much consumerism is unhealthy for us and for our planet, gestures like a homemade Christmas card that shares a special Christmas Bible verse and message can mean more than anything you get from the shops.

Use these Bible verses to create artwork to share the wonder of Christmas with those you love.

It’s a wonderful truth that God loves a cheerful giver because this reflects His own character of generosity. The whole story of Jesus’ birth is full of examples of giving. From the shepherds who went out sharing the good news of their amazing experience, to the wise men who came with symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Not forgetting Joseph and Mary, who gave themselves in obedience to the will of God, and our God of Hope gave His one and only Son to be born into the world so that we can be saved.

The Bible is packed full of verses about giving, so take a look and be inspired in sharing the heart of God this Christmas in the way you give and show love.

Christmas Bible verses

Luke 2:10 “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Luke 1:14 “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.”

Isaiah 12:6 “Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

John 3:16 “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.”

James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

We’d love you to share these Christmas Bible verses with others. Encourage a friend today and share the true meaning of Christmas by email or on social media.

We hope that reading them will leave you personally encouraged, too. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4: 6, God ‘has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.’

You can also be encouraged by:

•  Bible verses about children

•   Father’s Day Bible verses

•   Bible verses about love

•   Encouraging Bible verses

•   Easter Bible verses

•   Bible verses on forgiveness to bring you peace

•  New Year Bible verses to inspire hope

• New Year Prayers and Blessings

Sources: Bible Gateway