The Prophets and Their Companions: Why No Birthday Celebrations?
Introduction to Birthday Celebrations
Many cultures around the world celebrate birthdays as a significant event. However, the concept of birthdays was not as widely practiced by the Hebrew prophets and their companions. This article explores the context in which these religious figures lived and the reasons why they did not celebrate birthdays as a custom.
Hebrew Customs and Birth Records
The Hebrew culture had a particular respect for keeping records of births, as evidenced by biblical genealogies and chronologies. The Bible provides numerous examples of how the exact age of individuals, including figures such as Jesus, Job's companions, and the Levites, was recorded with precision. This practice was rooted in a deeper understanding of life's milestones and the significance of each individual's contribution to society.
Key Verses:
Numbers 1:2, 3 - Levites Joshua 14:10 - Age of individuals 2 Chronicles 31:16, 17 - Chronological data Numbers 4:3 - Levite priests Numbers 8:23-25 - Priests 2 Kings 11:21, 2 Kings 15:2, 2 Kings 18:2 - Kings Luke 2:21, 22, 42 - Jesus Luke 3:23 - Jesus Psalm 127:3 - Rejoicing on the day a son is born Jeremiah 20:15 - Fruitage of the belly is a rewardNo Indication of Birthday Celebrations
Despite the significance placed on the day of birth, there is no indication in the Scriptures that faithful worshipers of Jehovah ever celebrated birthdays as a custom. The Bible only refers to two birthday celebrations: one for Pharaoh of Egypt (18th century BCE) and another for Herod Antipas (1st century CE). Both occasions were marked with great feasting but were remembered more for the tragic ends of those feasts.
Key Verses:
Genesis 40:20 - Pharaoh's birthday Matthew 14:6-11, Mark 6:21-28 - Herod AntipasInterpreting Job 1:4
When Job’s sons “held a banquet at the house of each one on his own day,” it may be plausible to assume that they were not celebrating their birthdays but rather were hosting a family gathering or a harvest/feast festival. The Hebrew word for “day” (yohm) may refer to a period from sunrise to sunset, while the phrase “birthday” is a compound of the words “day” and “birth.” This distinction is crucial in understanding the context of the text.
Key Verse:
Job 1:4 - Family gathering or a harvest/feast festivalEarly Christian Perspective
The early Christians, who followed many of the customs and teachings established by the Hebrew prophets, did not celebrate birthdays either. The introduction of Christianity did not change the viewpoint toward birthday celebrations. For instance, Jesus inaugurated a binding Memorial not of his birth but of his death, saying, “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)
Historian Augustus Neander and other authors of the time refuted the idea of birthday festivals, citing that none of the holy people in the Scriptures are recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on their birthdays. Pharaoh and Herod, on the other hand, are remembered for their fates associated with their birthdays.
Key References:
The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913, Vol. X) The History of the Christian Religion and Church During the Three First Centuries by Augustus NeanderConclusion
The customs and practices of the Hebrew prophets and their companions reflect a deep respect for the significance of one's life and the contributions of each individual. While they understood and celebrated the day of birth, they did not indulge in the pagan practice of annually celebrating birthdays. The early Christian faith continued this practice, focusing instead on remembrance and memorial of significant events in the life of Jesus.