Manger

A long container made of wood or stone, used to hold food for animals.

Feed and water troughs in the stables at Megiddo
Feed and water troughs in the stables at Megiddo (© Immanuel Giel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) Manger, feed trough, feedbox

About Manger

A manger is a trough or container where food is placed for farm animals.

The Greek term for "manger" appears only four times in the New Testament. Three of these instances are in the story of Jesus's birth in Luke's Gospel and are translated with the English word "manger" (Luke 2:7, 12, 16). The fourth time the word appears is also in Luke’s Gospel (13:15). In this verse, some Bible translations use the word "manger" while others use the word "stall."

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Luke 2:7

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Isaiah 1:3

The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”

Job 39:3

They crouch down and bring forth their young; they deliver their newborn.

All Scripture References (6)

Job (1)
Job 39:9

Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night?

Proverbs (1)
Proverbs 14:4

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

Isaiah (1)
Isaiah 1:3

The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”

Luke (3)
Luke 2:7

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:12

And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:16

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.