Swaddle
Summary
The practice of wrapping an infant in cloths or bandages to keep its limbs secure, common in the ancient Near East and used for the newborn Jesus.
☩The Practice of Swaddling
Swaddling was a universal practice in the ancient Orient for caring for newborn infants. The swaddling clothes consisted of a square cloth and bandages. The child was laid diagonally on the cloth, with corners folded over the feet and body and under the head. Then the whole was wrapped tightly with swaddling bands, keeping the arms and legs straight. This was believed to protect the infant's tender limbs.
☩Jesus in Swaddling Clothes
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Mary 'wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.' The angel announced to the shepherds that they would find 'a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger' as the sign identifying the newborn Messiah. This humble image—the King of kings dressed as any common infant—powerfully displays the humility of the Incarnation.
Related Verses5 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Swaddle; Swaddling-Band," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Swaddle," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).