Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
Luke gives the account of Jesus' birth and mentions that Mary wrapped Him in "swaddling cloths".
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 ESV
What is particular significant about this? Is there any historical material on whether this was a common practice for newborns or whether it was unique to this birth?
I don't want to plagiarize, but there is a very good Catholic article on this here.
In summary, the significance of swaddling clothes lies both in the fact that it is humble, common, ordinary, and also that it ties to Solomon - specifically the Wisdom of Solomon 7, 3-6.
7:3 And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do. 7:4 I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares. 7:5 For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth. 7:6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.
Per the author of the article, this tie is a reinforcement of Christ's place in the Davidic line, and his rightful place as heir to the Throne of David.
This may or may not be agreed upon by all denominations, (The Wisdom of Solomon isn't in the Protestant Bible) or even all Catholics. The idea of it signifying humble beginnings for the King of Kings does seem to be more universal.
Another article at http://living4jesus.net/dynamic/in.swaddling.htm tells that swaddling cloth used in Scripture is not swaddling clothes that a normal infant would be buried in, but rather the strips of cloth used in burial rites.
Have you ever wondered about "swaddling clothes"?
Everyone knows that Jesus was born in a manger, and the 2nd chapter of the gospel of Luke says that he was wrapped in "swaddling clothes" and laid in a manger. In fact, even hospitals today use a cloth that they call a "swaddling" cloth. Unfortunately, it's a misnomer that will soon be over 2,000 years old, because "swaddling clothes" have nothing to do with a child being born!
In the Middle East, people traveling long distances were often met with many hardships and trials on their journeys. In the event of a death in travel, the body could not continue to be transported for many days. For that reason, travelers wrapped a thin, gauzelike cloth around their waist many times. If someone died on the journey, the others would use this cloth, referred to as "swaddling clothes" to wrap the corpse in before burying them.
When Jesus was born, there was no room in the Inn, and so Mary and Joseph used a nearby stable for Jesus' birth. With no other cloth to use, Jesus was wrapped in Joseph's "swaddling clothes" - the cloth normally reserved for a person's death.
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords came into this world in a lowly manger and was wrapped with burial clothes - in truth, He was born to die. To die for the sins of all mankind.
Clearly, there can be many deeper meanings read into the significance of Swaddling Clothes. Whether all are accurate, or simply a part of our tendency to romanticize and look for deeper meaning, I'm not sure, but I thought that each of these was worth sharing.
It's just what people do with newborns: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaddling
We found that wrapping our children with slightly stretchy fabric blankets when they were infants tended to comfort them and help them sleep better than when their limbs would flail about.
This website http://www.arielministries.org/ariel/roar_main_december2012.html has some useful information where there is additional information about the swaddling of the sacrificial lambs.
I have always wondered about the significance of Jesus' having been swaddled and the reason that the Angels proclaiming his birth to the shepherds would have included the statement about swaddling cloths. I was sure that it must have a deeper meaning. As a mother of four, I have always wondered how Mary, who was apparently a wise woman, could have left her home for a long journey without bringing something to wrap her baby in since his delivery was very close. Mothers are known for nesting as soon as they feel the first kick, and I left my "hospital" bag with all the things I knew my newborns would need in the car for the last few weeks of my pregnancies, just in case.
The article I read from the above link tells us that the shepherds near Bethlehem were shepherd-priests, who were the ones who delivered, cared for and raised the lambs which were to be used sacrificially at the nearby Temple. These shepherds swaddled the Passover lambs right after birth as part of their ceremony to keep the animals from blemish. So, it stands to reason, that the Angel described Jesus' being swaddled to them so #1 they would know better where to find him( the birthing cave) and #2 they would know him as the Lamb who would be slain for redemption of their sins.
I have studied and questioned the meaning of the swaddling clothes and why the angel would use those words as well to the shepherds. I know no word is accidentally placed in the bible! Being of Jewish descent I found out years ago that the priest's clothing worn to minister before the Lord in the Holy Place, not Most Holy Place, were never tossed away but prepared as strips of cloth to wrap the Torah scrolls and used when a child was circumcised. When Jesus was brought to the Temple on the eighth day to be circumcised and Simeon took Him who was again going to be wrapped in swaddling clothes into his arms saying mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, He was the Torah the Word of God made flesh, incarnate. The Eighth Day is the Feast Day they celebrate the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai if I remember correctly. Been awhile since I taught on it.
What you have written about the shepherds and the meaning is amazing. God has so so many ways of pointing to the Messiah Yeshua throughout scripture, He does not want any to miss HIM, always saying 'Here He Is!'. One more shadow I can look to :) Thank you Lord when one just makes a turn to You the veil is removed!
As we read the Nativity Story, (esp Luke 2: 7-20) Ponder the questions? Why did the angels go to the shepherds first? Why are swaddling clothes twice mentioned, "And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
I gave a talk a week ago, on the shepherd seeking the lost sheep, when I found the special significance of this verse Christmas Eve, it brought a special testimony of His birth as the Saviour, The shepherds would take the firstborn of the flock for the sin sacrifice offering. To stop the newborn lamb from injuring itself so it would be without blemish they would wrap them in swaddling clothes and usually lay them in a manger until they were stronger and ready to go to the mother. Thus the sign of the firstborn son wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger was of special signifigance to the shepherds, who would share this incredible sign with others who could understand it! May He continue to have a significant place in everyone's heart especially on this day of celebration. Humbly, in His Eternal Love
Bob Lewis
That the baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes has two important connotations, and in order to understand all that goes into the meaning of that scripture, we need to start with the meaning of swaddling clothes.
According to Merriam Webster:
SWAD'DLE, v.t.
1. To swathe; to bind, as with a bandage; to bind tight with clothes; used generally of infants; as, to swaddle a child.
SWAD'DLE, n. Clothes bound tight around the body.
SWATHE, v.t. To bind with a band, bandage or rollers; as, to swathe a child.
1. To bind or wrap.
The words used in Luke 2:7 in the Greek is:
G4683 σπαργανόω sparganoo (spar-gan-oh'-o) v.
1. to swathe (an infant after the Oriental custom)
[from sparganon (a strip]
KJV: wrap in swaddling clothes
and:
G4616 σινδών sindon (sin-done') n.
1. byssos, i.e. bleached linen (the cloth or a garment of it)
KJV: (fine) linen (cloth)
It was a custom of that generation in the Middle East to wrap a newborn in swaddling clothes to accomplish two things;
to give the infant the feeling of still being in the womb where he was unable to move freely and flail his arms and legs.
The infant was used to the warm temperature inside the womb and if it became cold it would not sleep and cry.
This was considered to be the transition from the womb to life. This is eerily similar to what is said about Jesus Burial:
Luke 23:52–53
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Yahushua.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
G3608 ὀθόνιον othonion (oth-on'-ee-on) n.
1. a linen bandage
KJV: linen clothes
Root(s): G3607
G3607 ὀθόνη othone (oth-on'-ay) n.
1. a linen cloth
KJV: sheet
This was considered to be the method of transition from life to death. I am not sure that it was not planned that the man Jesus should enter and depart life in the same manner.
