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THE GOD CULTURE PHILIPPINES BLOG | SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

Yahusha’s Real Birthday? A Simple, Biblical Timeline (Not December 25)

Luke tells you the month. Jubilees gives the precedent. The calendar of Yahweh gives the day. Test it: Yahusha was born in the third Hebrew month—on the Feast of Covenant Renewal (Shavuot).

Why this matters

Five years ago, we set out to test the traditions about Messiah’s birth. Not opinions—Scripture, calendar, and precedent. This post gives the brief version from our When Was Jesus Born? series. Please watch the full series and test everything.

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” — 1 Thess. 5:21

Step 1 — Luke gives the month of conception (Elul ≈ September)

Luke 1:26 states plainly that Gabriel visited Miriam (Mary) in the sixth Hebrew month. Luke is not talking about Elizabeth’s sixth month here; he is anchoring the scene to the sixth month of the Hebrew year.

• Mary conceives by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35, 38).

• Trying to swap “sixth Hebrew month” for “sixth month of Elizabeth” here rewrites Luke and breaks the flow of the passage.

Precedent:Jubilees 16:12 records that Sarah conceived Isaac “in the middle of the sixth month.” Messiah, the fulfillment of that covenant line, follows the same pattern in Luke’s account. Test it.

Step 2 — Elizabeth’s timing confirms Luke’s anchor

Luke 1:36 notes Elizabeth was already six months pregnant at that time. That means:

• In the sixth Hebrew month, Elizabeth is six months along, and Mary conceives.

• Mary travels to Elizabeth in the hill country (Luke 1:39–40), stays ~3 months (Luke 1:56), and is likely present for John’s birth and the eighth-day circumcision (Luke 1:59).

• Mary then returns to Nazareth, now ~4 months pregnant, in the 10th Hebrew month (roughly Dec–Jan).

Step 3 — The census window fits a late-year order and spring travel

Luke 2:1–5 records an empire-wide census under Rome. Historical records reflect one empire-wide census in this window, with results public in 8 BC, pointing to 9 BC (or labeled 8 BC) for the actual count across the empire. These projects take time.

• Quirinius at this point is not governor; he is functioning as consul over revenues (c. 12–6 BC). That’s why some translations carry parentheses around “governor.”

• A census ordered near the Roman new year (Jan) lines up with Mary at ~5 months.

• Mary and Joseph, being righteous, would keep Yahweh’s Spring Feasts (first month)—they wouldn’t begin the Bethlehem journey in that window except to attend the Feasts.

Step 4 — The journey and birth align with Shavuot (Feast of Weeks)

By mid-second Hebrew month (Iyar ≈ mid-Apr to mid-May), Mary is ~8 months. The Nazareth → Bethlehem journey (~90+ miles) happens when she is “great with child” (Luke 2:5–6).
Now bring back the Jubilees precedent:

• Jubilees 16:13: Isaac is born “in the middle of the third month.”

• Yahusha, the covenant fulfillment, follows the pattern: middle of the third Hebrew month.

What day is that? Shavuot—the Feast of Covenant Renewal / Feast of Weeks—50 days after the Firstfruits offering. In Greek, Pentecost. On this day, covenant is reaffirmed, and in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit is given—which, in this model, aligns with Yahusha’s birthday. That is not a coincidence.

Conclusion: Yahusha was born in the third Hebrew month (Sivan), mid-month—on Shavuot. Not December 25. Test it.

Timeline at a glance

1. 6th Hebrew month (Elul ≈ Sept) — Gabriel visits; Mary conceives (Luke 1:26, 35–38).

2. 6th month status — Elizabeth is 6 months along (Luke 1:36).

3. 6th→9th month — Mary stays ~3 months with Elizabeth (Luke 1:56); likely present for John’s birth/circumcision (Luke 1:59).

4. ~10th Hebrew month (Dec–Jan) — Mary back in Nazareth, ~4 months pregnant.

5. Census ordered around Roman New Year → administratively underway; Mary ~5 months.

6. Spring Feasts (first Hebrew month) — Family observes Feasts (no long journey then).

7. 2nd Hebrew month (Iyar) — Mary ~8 months; travel to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1–6).

8. Mid-3rd Hebrew month (Sivan) — Birth on Shavuot (Jub. 16:13 precedent aligns).

Why December 25 doesn’t fit

Counting nine months from a sixth-month conception lands in the third Hebrew month, not the Roman festival date of December 25. That later date traces to sun-god traditions, not the Biblical calendar. Yahusha affirmed the Feasts (He still lives); why replace His day with a substitute?

Scriptures & Sources to test

• Luke 1:26–59; 2:1–7

• Jubilees 16:12–13 (precedent for conception and mid-third-month birth)

• Leviticus 23 (Firstfruits → Shavuot count)

• Acts 2 (Spirit given at Pentecost/Shavuot)

Full testing, citations, and calendars are in our When Was Jesus Born? series. Watch the full playlist and examine every verse.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. Doesn’t Luke 1:26 mean Elizabeth’s “sixth month,” not the Hebrew month?
A. In Luke 1:26, the time-stamp is the sixth Hebrew month; Luke 1:36 separately notes Elizabeth’s six-month pregnancy. Swapping meanings between these verses breaks the narrative. Keep Luke’s anchors in place and the timeline resolves cleanly.

Q2. How can Shavuot be a birthday?
A. Shavuot is the Feast of Covenant Renewal (counted 50 days from Firstfruits). Jubilees 16:13 places Isaac’s birth mid-third month; Luke mirrors that covenant pattern with Yahusha. In Acts 2, the Spirit is poured out on Pentecost. The covenant theme converges.

Q3. What about Quirinius and “governor” issues?
A. In the 8–9 BC window, Quirinius functions as consul over tax/revenue, not as the later governor. Some translations flag “governor” with parentheses for that reason. The empire-wide census timing fits the Luke 2 travel window without forcing the text.

Q4. Isn’t December 25 a harmless tradition?
A. We’re not debating preferences—we’re testing Scripture. If Yahusha’s birth aligns with Shavuot by the Biblical calendar and covenant precedent, that’s the day that honors His Word. Prove all things.

Call to action

• Watch the full series: When Was Jesus Born?

• Share this post with someone who loves the Bible and wants the text, not tradition.