19 Bible Verses About Christmas (NIV & KJV)

Christmas is the story of a promise kept. Centuries before a manger in Bethlehem, the prophets said a child would come, God with us, and the Bible carries that promise from prophecy to fulfillment in one continuous thread.

These Bible verses about Christmas draw from both the NIV and KJV to trace that story: the prophecy of a coming Savior, the angel's announcement to Mary, the night in Bethlehem, and the joy that followed. Together they answer the question every Christmas asks again, why did God send His Son.

Read them slowly. Let the story do what it has always done.

The Prophecy of a Coming Savior

Long before the first Christmas, the prophets described exactly who was coming.

“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.”— Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)“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.”— Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”— Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”— Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)

““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, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.””— Micah 5:2 (NIV)“But thou, Beth-lehem 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; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”— Micah 5:2 (KJV)

Immanuel, God With Us

The angel's words to Mary and Joseph explain what the child's birth actually meant.

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”— Matthew 1:20 (NIV)“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”— Matthew 1:20 (KJV)

“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.””— Matthew 1:21 (NIV)“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”— Matthew 1:21 (KJV)

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

“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. 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 1:31-33 (NIV)“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”— Luke 1:31-33 (KJV)

The Night in Bethlehem

The nativity itself, told plainly, without ornament.

“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.”— Luke 2:7 (NIV)“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.”— Luke 2:7 (KJV)

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “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.””— Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV)“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, 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.”— Matthew 2:1-2 (KJV)

“The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”— Luke 1:35 (NIV)“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”— Luke 1:35 (KJV)

Good News of Great Joy

The angels' announcement to the shepherds is still the center of the Christmas story.

“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 2:10 (NIV)“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”— Luke 2:10 (KJV)

“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.””— Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)“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.”— Luke 2:13-14 (KJV)

““Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””— Luke 2:14 (NIV)“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”— Luke 2:14 (KJV)

The Gift of Christ

Christmas points forward, past the manger, to why the Son was given at all.

“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 1:14 (NIV)“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.”— John 1:14 (KJV)

“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.”— John 3:16 (NIV)“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.”— John 3:16 (KJV)

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”— Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”— Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)

“while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”— Titus 2:13 (NIV)“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”— Titus 2:13 (KJV)

Mary's Response

Mary's own words show what it looks like to receive this gift with a full heart.

“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”— Luke 1:30 (NIV)“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.”— Luke 1:30 (KJV)

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”— Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”— Luke 1:46-47 (KJV)

What Is the Real Meaning of Christmas?

Strip away the lights and the gift wrap, and Christmas is still the same claim it was two thousand years ago: God did not stay distant. He sent His Son, born as a child in Bethlehem, so that He could be called Immanuel, God with us.

The prophets promised Him centuries in advance. The angels announced Him to shepherds who had nothing to offer but their attention. And Mary, an ordinary young woman, said yes to carrying Him. Christmas is the story of a God who keeps His promises and a gift that was never really about presents at all.

However you're celebrating this year, let these verses remind you what the day is actually for. For more Scripture to carry into the season, explore our Bible verses about joy, Bible verses about peace, and Bible verses about hope.