15 Beautiful Christmas Bible Verses for Your Kids
Christmas is such a magical season — sparkling lights, warm cookies, and the beautiful story of Jesus’ birth. But in the middle of the wrapping paper and wish lists, it can be hard to keep our kids focused on what truly matters. That’s why I gathered these Christmas Bible verses for kids — simple, powerful Scriptures that help little hearts see the real reason we celebrate.
Whether you’re reading them during Advent, using them for family devotions, or sharing them in Sunday school, these verses point children back to Jesus — God’s greatest gift. From the angel’s announcement to the shepherds’ joy, each passage offers a meaningful way to talk about faith, hope, and love this season.
So grab your Bible (and maybe some hot cocoa) and let’s dive into 15 beautiful Christmas Scriptures for kids that will make your home feel peaceful, purposeful, and full of joy.
Why Share Christmas Bible Verses with Your Kids?
These powerful Bible verses can guide them through the Christmas story. The Old Testament verses help paint a picture of our need for a Rescuer to redeem and make right what the fall of man lost. There are prophetic Bible verses that were fulfilled with Jesus and speak to the longing for the coming Savior.
There are also the classic Bible Christmas passages–the ones you hear in church and in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. And then there are some amazing synopsis Bible verses that encapsulate the gift of Jesus at Christmas too!
These are great for Scripture memory, including in Christmas cards, and meditating on during Advent (the four weeks leading up to Christmas). And don’t forget to grab your Color-Your-Own Christmas Bible Verse printable bookmarks at the bottom of this post! They are perfect for kids to color as they listen to the Christmas story this holiday season.
15 Christmas Scriptures and Bible Verses for Kids
Old and New Testament verses to help tell the story of Christmas and the good news of great joy that Jesus brings to all!
Old Testament Christmas Bible Verses for Kids (The Promise of Jesus)
These Scriptures introduce prophecies that point to the coming Messiah — simple ways to help kids see God’s big rescue plan. Help your kids connect the dots between the promises of God and the way He fulfilled every single promise and prophecy in Jesus.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” -Genesis 3:15
This verse is called the protoevangelium; it’s the first preaching of the gospel in Scripture. The “seed” or offspring mentioned is a direct reference to Jesus and His anticipated coming as the Rescuer who will defeat Satan and sin.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. -Isaiah 7:14
Immanuel means God with us. This verse was fulfilled by Mary’s miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:35)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. -Isaiah 9:6
This is a beautiful Christmas promise and is an easy verse for a child to memorize or even act out. Kids can have a great conversation about what each of the names of God mean and mean to them personally.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. -Isaiah 11:1-2
Jesus is the shoot from the stump of Jesse–He is the new life where the line of David failed. He is the coming King who is wise and Spirit-filled.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. -Micah 5:2
This Bible verse predicted the location of the Messiah’s birth, in the tiny city of Bethlehem. This could be a good verse to discuss with your kids about people and places not needing to look big or important to have great significance and purpose in God’s plan.
New Testament Christmas Story Verses for Kids (The Birth of Jesus)
These easy-to-understand Scriptures walk your children through the Nativity story. You can also read through all of Luke 1 and Matthew 2 in smaller chunks leading up to Christmas. Most children will be able to listen and understand this simple, yet powerful story directly from the Bible.
The Angel Visits Mary
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. -Luke 1:30-32
This passage begins with Jesus mother Mary receiving life-changing news–that was also really hard. This could open up some great discussion about what to do we are facing a big challenge that feels scary. Remind kids of what the angel said to Mary “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37).
Traveling to Bethlehem
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. -Luke 2:4-7
The simplest encapsulation of the first Christmas. Baby Jesus is born, wrapped tight like babies like to be and placed in a makeshift cradle. There wasn’t room for this small family in the regular place for travelers like an inn or guest room attached to the house, so they were placed in the area typically for animals, due to the overcrowding from people displaced by the census.
Good News of Great Joy
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” -Luke 2:8-12
This classic Bible passage is a beautiful reminder of the joy surrounding Jesus birth. The shepherds were not wealthy or important (but they also weren’t social outcasts)–they were humble workers doing their job diligently and God graced them with the opportunity to be the bearers of the best news in centuries AND a front row view to an angelic choir celebration.
Glory to God in the Highest
For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” -Luke 2:30-32
Simeon, a faithful man of God, used this verse to identify Jesus as the Messiah when he was just a baby.
The Wise Men Rejoiced and Worshiped
When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. -Matthew 2:10-11
The wise men or magi traveled from the East to give honor and reverence to a young Jesus. It seems at this time Mary and Jospeh were living in a house (no longer in the stable) and Jesus was a bit older since he is referred to as a “child” not baby.
If you’re looking for Children’s Bibles with retelling of the Christmas story I recommend…
- The Jesus Storybook Bible
- The Greatest Story Bible Storybook
- The Toddler Bible
Bible Verses About the Meaning of Christmas for Kids (Why Jesus Came)
Help your children connect Christmas to the Gospel story — God’s love shown through His Son.
God So Loved the World He became a baby
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. -John 1:14
John uses poetic prose to describe Jesus coming to earth in terms of light and darkness, glory, and the Word in John 1. This verse will probably take some extra explaining about the term “The Word” being used for Jesus. It could be as simple as: “Jesus was God talking and walking around the world–isn’t that amazing?!”.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16
The gospel in a sentence. This is a great Bible verse to memorize even with young kids!
God sent His son as a servant to redeem us.
When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. -Galatians 4:4-5
Jesus came to earth at just the right moment in human history, just as God promised and planned.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. -Philippians 2:5-7
Use this verse to talk to your kids about the sacrifice Jesus made to become a baby and a human.
“Imagine being the richest person in the world. You could go anywhere and do anything you want. You are super strong and super smart. Now imagine you decide to give up talking, give up walking, give up all your money, all your importance, and choose to be a poor baby, who doesn’t even have a proper bed or house. You grow up and have to learn to walk and talk and read. You have to work with your hands to make things so you can provide for your family when before you were just rich without trying. THAT’s what Jesus did when He came to earth as a baby. He gave up the safety, riches, and power of heaven to be like us–so He could be our Rescuer.”
God sent Jesus to bring hope and eternal life to all who believe in Him
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. -Romans 15:13
Christmas is about hope–the hope that the Savior had come to earth and would rescue all who believe in Him from the power and destruction of sin. His birth brings lasting joy and lasting peace, even when life is hard and unsteady.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. -1 John 5:20
Jesus was the true God and brings life forever to those who follow Him.
How to Use These Christmas Scriptures with Your Kids
- Read one verse a night leading up to Christmas
- Write them on index cards or ornaments
- Memorize one of these verses together and say it each night before bed. Make up hand motions to go with it!
- Use them to make a memorable craft with these bookmarks!
There are so many verses that speak of the indescribable gift of Jesus and His birth. This holiday season use this selection of Bible verses to help your family reflect on the good gift of Jesus, the true light of the world, who came as a baby to rescue each one of us.
Imagine your kiddos pulling these bookmarks out of their hot-cocoa mug, coloring while you read the Christmas story from Luke or Isaiah — and the art they create becomes a little keepsake all season long. Let’s help them color in the Word and make Christmas about the Savior in a joyful, memorable way.
Get your PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS BIBLE VERSE BOOKMARKS to color! These are perfect for Sunday School classes, family Advent or a simple Christmas craft. Just download, print on card stock, trim, color in with your favorite markers, watercolors, crayons, then top with glitter or stickers to make it truly shine!
More Ways to Keep Jesus at the Center of Christmas
- Best Advent Devotionals for Families
- 30 Fun Family Christmas Traditions (that don’t include Santa)
- 35 Best Christmas Poems About Jesus
- 5 Easy Ways to Volunteer with Your Kids at Christmas
- Non Toy Christmas Gift Guide (for kids that have everything)
Merry Christmas! When we fill our homes with God’s Word, we invite peace, joy, and wonder — the true gifts of Christmas.
