𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝! 𝐀 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲

For centuries, birthdays have been both celebrated and scrutinized. Among certain communities, particularly some modern Christian sects, a troubling misconception persists: birthdays are "Satanic" celebrations of self. This claim, often tied to a vague sense of paganism, lacks historical and theological grounding. Tracing its origins, this idea first gained traction in fringe literature from the 19th century that sought to separate Christianity from cultural practices deemed "worldly." (See for example, Alexander Hislop, 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑤𝑜 𝐵𝑎𝑏𝑦𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑠, 1857, and more recently "What Does the Bible Say About Birthdays?" 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐽𝑒ℎ𝑜𝑣𝑎ℎ'𝑠 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑑𝑜𝑚, April 15, 2004, pp. 30–31), and Yet, a closer examination of Scripture, Jewish tradition, and early Christian thought reveals the profound sacredness embedded in the celebration of life—beginning with one’s birth.

𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬

The first explicit mention of a birthday in Scripture appears in 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝟒𝟎:𝟐𝟎: Pharaoh celebrates his birthday with a grand feast. Some argue this secular context suggests birthdays are worldly or even sinful. However, the text does not condemn the event. Instead, Pharaoh’s birthday serves as a backdrop for divine intervention, as Joseph interprets dreams that set the stage for his eventual rise to power. Here, G-d works through an earthly celebration to fulfill His purposes.

Beyond Pharaoh, the Scriptures emphasize significant birth-related events. The birth of Isaac, for example, is celebrated with a great feast (𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝟐𝟏:𝟖). The Torah also records the miraculous births of Samson (𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟑) and Samuel (𝟏 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝟏), highlighting the joy and divine promise tied to their arrivals.

In the New Testament, the nativity of Yeshua is central to the Gospel narrative. Prophecies about the Messiah’s birth abound, from 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝟕:𝟏𝟒 (“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son”) to 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐡 𝟓:𝟐, which foretells Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Savior. The nativity story itself, recounted in 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟏 and 𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝟐, is marked by heavenly rejoicing—angels announce the birth, shepherds come to worship, and wise men bring gifts, echoing the sacredness of this moment.

𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Judaism, deeply rooted in the sanctification of time, recognizes the significance of life events tied to birthdates. The Torah’s commandments coordinate specific rituals with birth and early life milestones:

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐡 (Circumcision): On the eighth day after a male child’s birth, the Brit Milah symbolizes the covenant between G-d and His people (𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝟏𝟕:𝟏𝟎-𝟏𝟐).

𝐏𝐢𝐝𝐲𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐁𝐞𝐧 (Redemption of the Firstborn): Thirty days after birth, the firstborn son is redeemed with a symbolic offering (𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟏𝟖:𝟏𝟓-𝟏𝟔).

The Third-Year Milestone: In some Jewish communities, a child’s first haircut (𝐮𝐩𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧) takes place at age three, marking the beginning of their formal study of Torah.

𝐁𝐚𝐫/𝐁𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐯𝐚𝐡: At thirteen for boys and twelve for girls, Jewish children take on adult responsibilities in the faith. These ceremonies, tied to their birthdates, celebrate maturity and spiritual accountability.

Far from shunning birthdays, Jewish tradition imbues them with ritual significance, acknowledging the divine gift of life and the responsibility it entails.

𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬

In the Mishnah and Talmud, there are no prohibitions against birthdays. Instead, discussions focus on the sanctity of life and the divine orchestration of every individual’s existence. For example, 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐡 𝟏𝟏𝐚 suggests that key biblical figures, such as Sarah and Hannah, were remembered and blessed with children on Rosh Hashanah, a day of divine judgment and renewal.

Early Church Fathers, like Origen, expressed discomfort with the pagan aspects of certain birthday customs, such as astrology. However, this criticism was not a blanket rejection of celebrating births. Over time, Christians began commemorating the nativity of saints and martyrs as "birthdays" into eternal life, a practice still observed in the liturgical calendar.

𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬: 𝐒𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫

Modern birthday celebrations often veer into excess, focusing on materialism or self-glorification. Yet, this secular distortion does not negate the sacred potential of the occasion. Birthdays can and should be redeemed as moments to honor the Creator, express gratitude, and reflect on life’s purpose. Yeshua’s birth reminds us that every life has meaning within G-d’s plan.

𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬

Celebrating a birthday parallels the acknowledgment of spiritual gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit. Just as we honor individuals for the unique ways they reflect the image of G-d, so we celebrate the diversity of gifts within the Body of Messiah (𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟐:𝟒-𝟕). Birthdays provide an opportunity to affirm these gifts and encourage individuals to fulfill their divine calling.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞

Within a Torah Pursuant framework, birthdays align with the biblical call to "choose life" (𝐃𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝟑𝟎:𝟏𝟗). By marking the milestones of birth, bar/bat mitzvot, marriage, anniversaries, and the lighting of candles for loved ones, we testify to the sanctity of life. Celebrating birthdays honors the past, cherishes the present, and anticipates the future—all while giving glory to G-d.

Let us reject baseless claims that birthdays are pagan or self-indulgent.

I am so tired of the "hand-waving" unsubstantiated claims by would-be teachers who do not "test everything" but rather sell their fiction to innocent believers. These false teachers are being judged today by the people of G-d and rejected for profiting from their misinformation. You see, the Lord is returning for a bride who is not "wallowing" in deception. Let's see how many teachers (and their echo-chambered followers) will "come let us reason" and grow their messages to match the evidence. (ok, so that was my soap box moment).

Rather than abandoning the birth of a child, may we redeem the day as a sacred opportunity to value life, honor G-d’s creation, and strengthen our communities through gratitude and love. As the psalmist declares, "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝟏𝟏𝟖:𝟐𝟒).

B"H