City of David

Occurrences in Scripture

In the Korean Revised Version (Gaeyeok Gaejeong), the phrase rendered "town of David" (Dawit-ui dongne) appears in the account of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2.

• Luke 2:4: Because Joseph was of the house and lineage of David, he went up with his betrothed, Mary, to be taxed "unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem."
• Luke 2:11: The angel tells the shepherds, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Both verses refer to Bethlehem.

Background and Original Language

The Greek polis and the Hebrew ir, rendered "town" in the Korean text, both denote a city, that is, a walled settlement. Bethlehem is called the city of David because David came from there. David's father, Jesse, was "that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah" (1 Samuel 17:12), and it was there that David was anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1-13).

In the Old Testament, the same original-language expression is generally rendered Dawit seong ("David's fortress-city") in the Korean Revised Version and "city of David" in the KJV; it refers not to Bethlehem but to a district of Jerusalem. David captured the stronghold of the Jebusites, which Scripture calls "the strong hold of Zion," adding, "the same is the city of David" (2 Samuel 5:6-9). David and many later kings were buried there (1 Kings 2:10). The record that Hezekiah brought the watercourse "straight down to the west side of the city of David" (2 Chronicles 32:30) and the mention of "the stairs that go down from the city of David" in Nehemiah 3:15 also refer to this district. Today an excavation area on the ridge south of the Temple Mount is known as the City of David, but scholars disagree about the dating and nature of individual remains there.

Significance in the Broader Biblical Narrative

Luke's deliberate designation of Bethlehem as "the city of David" is commonly interpreted as an effort to show that Jesus is the Messiah born of David's line. This connects with the Davidic covenant, which promised that David's throne would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Micah prophesied that out of Bethlehem Ephratah would come one to be ruler in Israel (Micah 5:2), and the Gospel of Matthew links this passage to the birthplace of Jesus (Matthew 2:5-6). The Gospel of John likewise records the contemporary expectation that Christ would come "out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was" (John 7:42).

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• The Old Testament "city of David" (Zion in Jerusalem) and the "city of David" in Luke (Bethlehem) share the same original-language expression but refer to different places. The two are sometimes confused.
• Some interpreters regard Luke's expression as a natural designation that simply reflects Bethlehem's status as David's place of origin. Others see a theological emphasis in Luke's choice to call the small hometown village, rather than the royal capital Jerusalem, "the city of David."
• Scholars debate when the census described in Luke 2 historically took place. This question is separate from the meaning of the phrase "city of David" itself.

In the Korean Church

Luke 2:11 is frequently read in Christmas and Advent services and is often used as a sermon text. The verse also appears widely on Christmas cards and church banners. Sermons commonly expound it in terms of themes such as the King who came from a small village and the fulfillment of the promise made to David.