[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/nativity/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [N](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/n/) / nativity # nativity noun (the Nativity; a nativity, nativities) «nativity» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. (church, Bible) The Nativity is the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, as told in the Gospels; Christians celebrate it at Christmas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#m1) 2. A nativity play is a play, often done by children at school or church, that tells the Christmas story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#m2) 3. A nativity scene is a model or picture of the stable with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men and animals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#m3) 4. (formal) Nativity can mean anyone's birth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#m4) ### In the lessons In schools in the UK, Ireland and elsewhere, children act in the nativity play as Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, kings or sheep. In church, a crib or nativity scene is set up at Christmas. In art lessons, pupils study famous paintings of the Nativity. Phrases: «nativity play», «nativity scene», «the Nativity story». ### Examples - I was a shepherd in our school nativity play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#x1) - The nativity scene showed baby Jesus lying in a manger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#x2) - The Nativity is told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#x3) - My little brother was a sheep in the nativity and forgot to say «baa». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#x4) - Families came to watch the children's nativity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#x5) - The painting shows the Nativity with angels above the stable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/#x6) ### Note Use capital N for the birth of Jesus (the Nativity) and small n for the play (a nativity). Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God born as a baby; the Nativity is part of that belief. In art, a «Nativity» is a painting of the scene. ## In Jewish tradition In schools in the UK, Ireland and elsewhere, children act in the nativity play as Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, kings or sheep. In church, a crib or nativity scene is set up at Christmas. In art lessons, pupils study famous paintings of the Nativity. Phrases: «nativity play», «nativity scene», «the Nativity story». ### Examples - Now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy nativity.' (Torah GEN.31.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nativity/#x1) - And Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. (Torah GEN.11.28, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nativity/#x2) - and say: Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem: Thine origin and thy nativity is of the land of the Canaanite; the Amorite was thy father, and thy mother was a Hittite. (Prophets EZK.16.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nativity/#x3) - And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water for cleansing; thou was not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. (Prophets EZK.16.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nativity/#x4) - girded with girdles upon their loins, with pendant turbans upon their heads, all of them captains to look upon, the likeness of the sons of Babylon, even of Chaldea, the land of their nativity. (Prophets EZK.23.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nativity/#x5) ### Note Use capital N for the birth of Jesus (the Nativity) and small n for the play (a nativity). Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God born as a baby; the Nativity is part of that belief. In art, a «Nativity» is a painting of the scene. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «nativity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nativity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«nativity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nativity.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «nativity» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/nativity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«nativity» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/nativity.html) on Mova free.