Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
General Christian
History and Religion
Christmas Story Characters – Significance of Shepherds

Christmas Story Characters – Significance of Shepherds

Last updated on: December 26, 2025 at 12:48 pm by Alice H. Murray

0 Comments

Christmas Story Characters – Significance of Shepherds 2025-12-26T12:48:26-05:00 Alice H. Murray

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Front view of a living nativitysomewhat darkened with a spotlight on the baby in the manger

Shepherds gather around the manger in a live nativity [Image by Michelle Scott from Pixabay]

The Christmas season brings live nativities, Christmas pageants, and readings about Jesus’ birth from Luke 2. Characters in the Christmas story are well known–Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, multitudes of angels, shepherds, and three wise men. Of these participants, shepherds draw the least attention and focus. Believers emphathize with the young parents, are awed by angels, and seem fascinated by wise men from afar. But stinky shepherds? Yes, significantly shepherds play a role in this familiar story.

Front view of shepherd in the field with flock of sheep and Betblehem in the background

Shepherds in a field outside of Bethlehem [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Significance of Shepherds in the Christmas Story

Only the gospels of Luke and John recocunt the story of Jesus’ birth, and Luke alone mentions the shepherds. His account in Luke 2 explains shepherds lived in fields nearby Bethlehem. In fact, they were out watching their flocks the night Jesus was born. An angel suddenly appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. Seeing their terror, the angel told them not to be afraid. He did not come to harm them but to announce good news for all people–the birth of the Messiah. This angel even instructed the shepherds where to find the baby and how to confirm they had found him. A great company of angels filled the skies praising God. Upon their departure, these men talked among themselves and agree to go to Bethlehem to see what had happened.

Two things of significance stand out in this account. First, lowly flock tenders received a divine visit to inform them of the Messiah’s birth. Nothing is said of anyone knowing about or having gone to see Baby Jesus before this point. Why tell humble workers about this huge event rather than political or religious leaders? Second, the shepherds “hurried off” to Bethlehem to check things out. They bravely faced the unknown following heavenly direction to look for the Messiah in Bethlehem.

Close up of white sheet lying down in green grass

A shepherd’s protection of f;locks was significant to an ancient agricultural economy [Image by congerdesign from Pixabay]

Significance of Shepherds’ Societal Role

Archaeological findings in regions such as Israel provide corroboration of the significance of shepherds in biblical times. A common occupation in ancient Israel, shepherding served as a vital part of the agricultural economy. Sheep were a primary source of food, clothing, and livelihood for many families. They supplied wool, milk, and meat. The responsibility for the care and protection of the sheep fell on shepherds, who spent long hours in the field and led their flocks to clean water and green pastures. These caretakers defended their charges from predators sucb as lions and bears and helped them avoid being nabbed by thieves.

While the work of the shepherds supported their society’s economy, the community viewed the profession as menial and humble. In biblical times, others looked down upon them, considering them as unclean and disgraceful. Their uncleanness arose from their frequent contact with animal waste, animal carcasses, and birth fluids. Those working the overnight watch were deemed the lowest of the low, but all shepherds were social outcasts. Their nomadic lifestyle provided separation from an established community and led to social distance as well.

Black and white depiction of Moses as a shepherd standing staff in hand before a burning bush

Moses was working as a shepherd when called by God from a burning bush [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Shepherds of the Bible

While believers might first think of shepherds in connection with the Christmas story, this occupation appears throughout the Bible for significant characters. Genesis 4:2, for example, tells us Adam and Eve’s son Abel kept flocks. Moses, who led God’s people out of Egypt, was in the wilderness tending sheep when God called him for that mission from a burning bush. David, a young shepherd boy, slew Goliath and ultimately became King of Israel.

Although not specific characters, references to shepherds also dot the Scriptures. Beloved Psalm 23 refers to the Lord as “my shepherd” in its first verse. Messianic prophecy also utilized shepherd imagery. Isaiah 40:11 describes the coming Messiah as One who would feed His flock and gather the lambs in His arms. Prohetic books likewise turned to shepherds for their messages. For example, Ezekiel 34 talks of Israel’s leaders as unfaithful shepherds who neglected their flock. And the ultimate shepherd arrives in the New Testament in the person of Jesus Christ who called Himself “the Good Shepherd.” With all these biblical references to shepherds, haveing them as a part of the Christmas story seems appropriate.

Close up view of top of statue of Jesus holding a staff and carrying a lamb around His neck

Significantly Jesus is known as the Good Shepherd of believers I[mage by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay]

Significance of Jesus as the Good Shepherd

The Christmas story incorporatees the significance of shepherds into the plan God intended with Jesus’ birth. Christ was born in humble circumstances around animals, using their feeding trough as His bed. His birth was important for all mankind, even the lowly shepherds in the fields nearby, signinfying the good news was for all men, even stinky outcasts. Their welcoming of Him to this world and inclusion in this beautiful story showed the Messiah was not put off by dirty and sinful men.

Jesus filled the role of a caring and nurturing shepherd to those around Him during His ministry as an adult. He rescued humans from earthly ills by healing them. He gave them spiritual food in the form of words from God and tried to guide them to the living water to provide them eternal life. Finally, as any good shepherd would do, He was willing to lay down His life for His flock to save theirs. So, one more shepherd exists in the Christmas story than we usually count, Jesus. There were shepherds who came from the fields as well as the Good Shepherd who came down from heaven.

Shepherds in Bethlehem’s Fields

Evangelical

History and Religion

About Alice H. Murray

After 35 years as a Florida adoption attorney, Alice H. Murray now pursues a different path in the publishing industry. With a passion for writing, she is constantly creating with words. Her work includes contributions to several Short And Sweet books, The Upper Room, Chicken Soup For The Soul, Abba’s Lessons (from CrossRiver Media), and the Northwest Florida Literary Review. Alice is a regular contributor to GO!, a quarterly Christian magazine in the Florida Panhandle, and she has three devotions a month published online by Dynamic Women in Missions. Her devotions have also appeared in compilation devotionals such as Ordinary People Extraordinary God (July 2023) and Guideposts’ Pray A Word A Day, Vol. 2 (June 2023), pray a word for hope (September 2023), Too Amazing For Coincidence: Heavenly Interventions (August 2024), pray a word for strength (September 2024), and God’s Constant Presence: Held In His Hand, January 2025. Alice’s first book, The Secret of Chimneys, an annotated Agatha Christie mystery, was released in April 2023. Her adoption devotional, God Adopted Us First – Faith Lessons from an Adoption Attorney’s Adventures was published in October 2025. On a weekly basis, Alice posts on her blog about current events with a humorous point of view at aliceinwonderingland.wordpress.com. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

December 11, 2025

Pope's Visit Shines Light On Istanbul's Blue Mosque

Next Post

January 12, 2026 Tapping Into To-Do Lists - Biblical Basis And Benefits

I destroyed the world but saved eight people and many animals in a floating vessel. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A great storm The flood The deluge God's judgment