The story of Jesus’s birth is one of the most well-known narratives in history. At the center lies a manger, where Mary gave birth to Jesus. Surrounding the manger was a cast of both humans and animals who witnessed this miraculous event.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The animals explicitly mentioned as being present at Jesus’s birth in the Bible are oxen, donkeys, and sheep. However, extra-biblical traditions also suggest camels, horses, and other livestock were present in the stable.
In this comprehensive article, we will analyze the biblical accounts of Jesus’s nativity as well as long-held church traditions to uncover what animals were actually there on that momentous night over 2000 years ago.
The Biblical Accounts of Jesus’s Birth
The Gospel of Luke’s Description
The Gospel of Luke provides the most detailed account of Jesus’s birth. Luke describes how Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for a census ordered by Caesar Augustus. While in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to Jesus.
Because there was no guest room available, she gave birth in a stable and laid baby Jesus in a manger. This fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Luke then describes the visit of the shepherds to see the newborn Jesus. An angel had appeared to the shepherds in the fields and told them of Jesus’s birth, referring to him as the savior and messiah. The shepherds went quickly to find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in the manger.
They shared what the angel had told them about the child. Luke notes that Mary treasured their words and pondered them in her heart.
Many key details about Jesus’s birth and infancy come from Luke. These include the census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, Jesus’s humble birthplace, and the visit from the shepherds. Luke establishes an important theme that continues through his Gospel—that Jesus came as a savior for all people, including the poor and outcast.
The Ox and Donkey in Isaiah’s Prophecy
The prophet Isaiah wrote passages that Christians later understood as prophecies about Jesus’s birth and ministry. One passage says, “The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand” (Isaiah 1:3).
Early interpreters connected the ox and donkey knowing their masters to the animals present at Jesus’s birth.
By the third century A.D., the ox and donkey were common in depictions of the nativity scene. They were seen as fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy and symbolizing that animals understood who Jesus was, even if many people rejected him.
However, the Gospels do not mention any animals present at Jesus’s birthplace.
The ox and donkey became staples in later nativity art and Christmas decorations. Along with the manger, they create a picture of the modest and rustic setting of Jesus’s birth. The animals match Luke’s theme about Jesus identifying with the poor and meek.
So while not mentioned in the Bible, the donkey and ox contribute to the spirit of the nativity narrative.
The Nativity Traditions about Animal Witnesses
The Ox and Donkey
The ox and donkey are quintessential parts of nearly every Nativity scene, but are they actually mentioned in the biblical accounts of Jesus’s birth? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The ox and donkey do not explicitly appear in the stories of Jesus’s birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
However, they have become tradition over centuries of artistic renditions of the Nativity story.
So where did they come from? There are a few possible origins:
- A prophecy in Isaiah 1:3 referring to Israel as knowing “his owner” like an ox knows its master has been interpreted as a reference to the ox recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.
- The mention of a “manger” or feeding trough for animals in Luke 2:7,12,16 has led to assumptions that an ox and donkey were present.
- Artistic depictions of the Nativity since the 4th century A.D. have commonly included the ox and donkey, leading to popular tradition.
- The ox and donkey are seen as symbolic of different peoples coming to worship the newborn Jesus – the ox representing the Jewish people and the donkey representing the Gentiles.
So while not strictly biblical, the loyal ox and humble donkey have come to be beloved traditional figures in Nativity scenes representing the entirety of creation worshiping the newborn Savior.
The Camels, Sheep, and Other Animals
Apart from the ox and donkey, a few other animals make occasional appearances in Nativity art and traditions:
- Camels – The Magi or wise men are often depicted as arriving to Bethlehem on camels. This is drawn from Matthew 2:7-11 which says the Magi arrived from the east. Camels were a common mode of long distance transport in the ancient Near East, so having the Magi arrive by camel has become an artistic tradition.
However, the text does not specify their mode of transport.
- Sheep – Luke 2:8-20 describes shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’s birth. Sheep and lambs have therefore become a staple in Nativity art and Christmas decorations as representatives of the shepherds who received the angelic announcement of Jesus’s birth.
- Dove – A dove sometimes represents the Holy Spirit, recalling Luke 2:9-11 where an angel of the Lord announces the “good news” of Christ’s birth. A dove may be painted descending from heaven near the manger scene.
- Other farm animals like cows, horses, chickens, and goats may be added to create a rustic farm scene, though they are not mentioned in Scripture.
While the biblical accounts mention only the shepherds and their flocks, common artistic interpretations have expanded the animal presence at the manger to include camels, doves, and farm livestock. This serves to heighten the rustic, pastoral atmosphere of simplicity and natural wonder surrounding Jesus’s humble birth.
The Symbolism of the Nativity Animals
The Ox and Donkey as Representatives of Israel
The ox and donkey are common nativity scene animals that represent the people of Israel. The ox symbolizes strength and provision, qualities associated with the tribe of Joseph, while the donkey represents humility and peace, recalling Jesus’s triumphal entry on a donkey’s colt (Matthew 21:5).
Together they nod to Israel’s role in salvation history. As Isaiah writes, “An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master’s crib” (Isaiah 1:3). Though oxen and donkeys lack words, their presence honors Israel’s special relationship with God.
Sheep as Symbols of Jesus’s Future Sacrifice and Ministry
Sheep often populate nativity scenes as well, recalling the lambs sacrificed daily in the Jerusalem temple. Just as these spotless lambs atoned for sin, Jesus – the spotless “Lamb of God” (John 1:29) – would offer himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Sheep also symbolize Jesus’s later ministry, as he declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). So whether resting beside the manger or grazing on a nearby hillside, the sheep foreshadow Jesus’s identity as both sacrificial lamb and caring shepherd.
Other Animals as Emissaries from Afar
The Magi’s camels kneel before Jesus in honor of the newborn king, having completed their long trek to deliver gifts and pay homage to the Messiah. Camels symbolize the Gentiles’ pilgrimage to worship Jesus, who came not only for the Jews but also for the nations.
Exotic animals like elephants and giraffes likewise represent the far-off lands from which pilgrims travel to see the Christ child. Their presence signifies that Jesus is Savior of all peoples, extending God’s covenant promise that through Abraham’s seed “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).
Apocryphal Texts on the Stable Animals
The Ox and Donkey in the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
The extra-biblical Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, likely composed in the 7th or 8th century, expands on the nativity story with vivid embellishments. It describes how an ox and a donkey knelt and worshipped the baby Jesus in the manger:
“On the third day after the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mary went out of the cave, and, entering a stable, placed her child in a manger; and an ox and an ass worshipped him. Then was fulfilled that which was said by the prophet Isaiah: ‘The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib'”.
While this legend isn’t found in the biblical gospels, it reflects the Christological interpretation of Isaiah 1:3 applied to the nativity scene. The ox and donkey have become ubiquitous in modern re-tellings and artistic depictions of Christ’s birth.
The Palm Tree Miracle in the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
According to the text, Mary and Joseph rested under a palm tree on their journey to Egypt. The tree miraculously bowed down to provide dates for the hungry family:
“Then the child Jesus, sitting in the lap of His mother, cried out to the palm tree, saying: ‘Bend down, O tree, and refresh my mother with your fruit.’ Immediately at these words the palm tree bent its top down to the very feet of the blessed Mary”.
This fanciful story emphasizes Jesus’ miraculous power even as a baby. It also draws a parallel to the Israelites who were fed manna and quail in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. Though not factual history, these kinds of mystical legends reflect the deep symbolic meaning early Christians perceived in Jesus’s life.
Artistic Depictions of the Nativity Scene
Common Animal Motifs in Art
Artworks depicting the birth of Jesus often include certain animals like donkeys, camels, sheep, oxen, and doves. The inclusion of these creatures draws from biblical accounts in the Gospels and prophetic books.
For instance, Isaiah 1:3 refers to the ox knowing its owner and the donkey knowing where its master feeds it. Such verses likely inspired placing oxen and donkeys in nativity scenes with the Christ child.
Shepherds watching their flocks by night also feature prominently around Jesus’s birth. Artists accordingly incorporate sheep to represent these shepherds caring for their livestock. Camels frequently transport the magi in artwork as well.
And passages like Luke 2:24 mention sacrificial doves, explaining their common appearance.
Noteworthy Historic Portrayals of the Animals at Christ’s Birth
Many seminal paintings prominently showcase animals present at Jesus’s nativity. For example, Duccio’s 1311 Adoration of the Magi features horses, camels, cows, and sleeping sheep. Hugo van der Goes later includes a cow and a donkey bowing before the infant Jesus in his seminal 1470 work The Portinari Altarpiece.
This particular painting also contains exquisite depictions of lambs and doves housed within the stable alongside other animals.
Additional famous depictions include Correggio’s 1522 painting The Mystical Nativity. An angel suspends Jesus over adoring animals like a cow, a donkey, and two sheep. These creatures reference not only the biblical accounts but also tie into symbolic aspects pointing to Christ’s later crucifixion and resurrection.
Conclusion
While the Gospels themselves mention only oxen, donkeys, and sheep, the rich imagery surrounding Jesus’s nativity has led to many more animals being associated with that first Christmas night. The ox and donkey perhaps enjoy pride of place as the most ubiquitous animal witnesses to Christ’s birth, acting as symbols of Israel and Jesus’s future sacrifice.
In the end, the animals are not core to the story. Rather, the narrative turns on the miracle of the incarnation – God becoming man. However, these lowly beasts keeping watch over the infant Jesus in the manger serve to highlight the humble and unassuming nature of Christ’s entry into human history.
