No Inn but a Guest Room

Now that in these days there is, as always, much attention for the birth story of Jesus in Bethlehem, I want to draw attention in the new “examined” section to the famous inn in Luke 2:7. Although in practice it may not be a world-shaking difference, it should be noted that the word “inn” in this passage is quite a discordant rendering of the Greek word kataluma. This Greek word occurs three times in the NT.

Mark 14:14
“Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”

The “inn” in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:34), however, stands for a completely different Greek word (pandocheion). Confusing, then. Where Scripture uses the same or different words, this should be reflected as much as possible in our Bible translations.

Be that as it may, for Joseph and Mary there was no room in “the guest room,” apparently referring to a single well-known lodging place for travelers. Perhaps the same as the station “Geruth-Kimham, near Bethlehem,” which Jeremiah 41:17 mentions.

Delen: