Luke 2:7 no room at the inn

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [kjv]

και ετεκεν τον υιον αυτης τον πρωτοτοκον και εσπαργανωσεν αυτον και ανεκλινεν αυτον εν φατνη διοτι ουκ ην αυτοις τοπος εν τω καταλυματι [gnt]

The Greek word used by Luke means "guest room" or "upper room" as described for the Last Supper. It is used in the LXX (Septuagint) as a place, such as house or tent, in which to lodge.

There is a Greek word for "inn" which was used by Luke in the story of the Good Samaritan, but that word is not used here.

What did Mary and Joseph think about the "inn"?

They had reservations, but stayed anyway. The light was left on for them at this one star "hotel".

What did the news say about Jesus in the manger?

The baby is doing well and is in stable condition.

What did the cow say in the stable?

Hay, I'm bedding there's some straw here.

Luke 2:7

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KJV: And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Greek: και ετεκεν τον υιον αυτης τον πρωτοτοκον και εσπαργανωσεν αυτον και ανεκλινεν αυτον εν τη φατνη διοτι ουκ ην αυτοις τοπος εν τω καταλυματι

Luke 22:11 … Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? [kjv]

και ερειτε τω οικοδεσποτη της οικιας λεγει σοι ο διδασκαλος που εστιν το καταλυμα οπου το πασχα μετα των μαθητων μου φαγω [gnt]

Mark 14:14 … Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? [kjv]

και οπου εαν εισελθη ειπατε τω οικοδεσποτη οτι ο διδασκαλος λεγει που εστιν το καταλυμαμου οπου το πασχα μετα των μαθητων μου φαγω [gnt]

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [kjv]

The "upper room" or "guestchamber", translated as "inn" in Luke 2:7, is part of the "house".

Luke 22:11

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KJV: And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

Greek: και ερειτε τω οικοδεσποτη της οικιας λεγει σοι ο διδασκαλος που εστιν το καταλυμα οπου το πασχα μετα των μαθητων μου φαγω

Mark 14:14

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KJV: And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

Hebrew: ובאשר יבוא שמה אמרו לבעל הבית כה אמר הרב איה המלון אשת אכלה שם את הפסח עם תלמידי׃

Greek: και οπου εαν εισελθη ειπατε τω οικοδεσποτη οτι ο διδασκαλος λεγει που εστιν το καταλυμαμου οπου το πασχα μετα των μαθητων μου φαγω

The modern Greek word "κατάλυμα" (ka-TA-lee-ma) ≈ "accommodation".
The modern Greek word "καταλύματα" (ka-ta-LEE-ma-ta) ≈ "accommodations"

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. [kjv]

Luke had a word for "inn" or "hotel" and used it in the story of the "good Samaritan".

10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [kjv]

και προσελθων κατεδησεν τα τραυματα αυτου επιχεων ελαιον και οινον επιβιβασας δε αυτον επι το ιδιον κτηνος ηγαγεν αυτον εις πανδοχειον και επεμεληθη αυτου [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "πανδοκεῖον" ≈ "inn" and means, literally, an "everything container". This word became the Spanish word "fonda" ≈ "boarding house, inn".

Another ancient Greek word "ξενοδοχεῖον" ≈ "hotel, inn" and means, literally, an "stranger container". The modern Greek word "ξενοδοχείο" (kseh-no-tho-KHEE-o) ≈ "hotel".

Luke 10:34

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KJV: And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Greek: και προσελθων κατεδησεν τα τραυματα αυτου επιχεων ελαιον και οινον επιβιβασας δε αυτον επι το ιδιον κτηνος ηγαγεν αυτον εις πανδοχειον και επεμεληθη αυτου

The modern Greek word "ξενοδοχείο" (kseh-no-tho-KHEE-o) ≈ "hotel" which is, literally, a "stranger container".
The modern Greek word "πανδοχείο" (pan-tho-KHEE-o) ≈ "inn, guest-house" which is, literally, an "everything container".

There was "no room" or, more precisely, "no place" for Jesus in the "inn" or "guest room" that night.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [kjv]

… domo … mansiones … locum [v]

Contrast this situation with the place being prepared for believers.

For Mary and Joseph, there was no room in the "guest-chamber", changed to "inn" in the Middle Ages.

«καταλυματι» (katalimati) Luke 2:7 (KJV as "inn", Mary and Joseph)
«κατάλυμα» (katalima) Mark 14:14 (KJV as "guest-chamber", for to eat the passover)
«κατάλυμα» (katalima) Luke 22:11 (KJV as "guest-chamber", for to eat the passover)

«πανδοχειον» (pandokeon, literally an "everything container") Luke 10:34 (KJV as "inn", Good Samaritan)
«ξενοδοχείο» (ksenodokeo, literally a "stranger container") Modern Greek for inn or hotel

More: The Last Supper: the guest-chamber

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [kjv]

εν τη οικια του πατρος μου μοναι πολλαι εισιν ει δε μη ειπον αν υμιν οτι πορευομαι ετοιμασαι τοπον υμιν [gnt]

… mansiones … locum [v]

… dwellyngis… [wy]

… mansions… [ty]

John 14:2 is a favorite verse of pastors at funerals. Everyone wants to go to a "mansion".
The English word "mansion" came from the Latin word "mansio" ≈ "dwelling or stopping place" while the Greek word just means an "abode" or "dwelling place" as in where one will "remain". The older English meaning of "mansion", still used today in England, is that of a "dwelling place".

John 14:2

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KJV: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Greek: εν τη οικια του πατρος μου μοναι πολλαι εισιν ει δε μη ειπον αν υμιν οτι πορευομαι ετοιμασαι τοπον υμιν

Latin: in domo Patris mei mansiones multae sunt si quo minus dixissem vobis quia vado parare vobis locum

Wycliffe: In the hous of my fadir ben many dwellyngis; if ony thing lesse, Y hadde seid to you, for Y go to make redi to you a place.

Tyndale: In my fathers housse are many mansions. If it were not so I wolde have tolde you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Gothic: in garda attins meinis salithwos managos sind; aththan niba weseina, aiththau qethjau du izwis: gagga manwjan stad izwis.

Luther: In meines Vaters Hause sind viel Wohnungen. Wenn's nicht so wäre, so wollt' ich zu euch sagen; ich gehe hin euch die Stätte zu bereiten.

Spanish: En la casa de mi Padre muchas mansiones hay; si así no fuera, yo os lo hubiera dicho. Voy, pues, a preparar lugar para vosotros.

Portuguese: Na casa de meu Pai há muitas moradas. Se assim não fosse, como teria dito Eu que vos vou preparar um lugar?

John 14:3

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KJV: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Greek: και εαν πορευθω και ετοιμασω υμιν τοπον υμιν παλιν ερχομαι και παραληψομαι παραλημψομαι υμας προς εμαυτον ινα οπου ειμι εγω και υμεις ητε

Latin: et si abiero et praeparavero vobis locum iterum venio et accipiam vos ad me ipsum ut ubi sum ego et vos sitis

*G3438 *2 μονή (mon-ay') : from G3306; a staying, i.e. residence (the act or the place):--abode, mansion.

Usage

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μοναι

John 14:2 ... house are many mansions: if it were not ...

μονην

John 14:23 ... him, and make our abode with him.

KJV (King James Version):

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [kjv]

Latin Vulgate:

εν τη οικια του πατρος μου μοναι πολλαι εισιν ει δε μη ειπον αν υμιν οτι πορευομαι ετοιμασαι τοπον υμιν [gnt]

… mansiones … locum [v]

… dwellyngis… [wy]

… mansions… [ty]

… mansiones … [es]

The Latin word "mansio" ≈ "dwelling or stopping place" and comes from the Latin word "manere" ≈ "stay" which is the sense of the original Greek word.

The PIE (Proto Indo-European) root "*MEN" ≈ "remain". The following words are related.

manor, mansion
remain, remainder
permanent, immanent

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. [kjv]

απεκριθη ιησους και ειπεν αυτω εαν τις αγαπα με τον λογον μου τηρησει και ο πατηρ μου αγαπησει αυτον και προς αυτον ελευσομεθα και μονην παρ αυτω ποιησομεθα [gnt]

… mansiones … [v]

The same Greek word that comes through Latin as "mansion" is used in the same chapter in John as an "abode". The ancient Greek word "μένω" ≈ "stay, wait, remain". This verb is the basis of the name "Meno" in a Platonic dialog that is the source of what is called the "Meno paradox".

The Latin is the same word for "mansion". One meaning of the English word "abode" is that "abide" or "wait" is in a "stay" as part of a "sojourn". It could also be a "residence" or "dwelling place" for habitation.

The modern Greek word "μένω" (MEH-no) ≈ "stay, remain, reside, live".

More: Meno Paradox: Seeking to learn what you do not know

John 14:23

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KJV: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Greek: απεκριθη ο ιησους και ειπεν αυτω εαν τις αγαπα με τον λογον μου τηρησει και ο πατηρ μου αγαπησει αυτον και προς αυτον ελευσομεθα και μονην παρ αυτω ποιησομεν ποιησομεθα

Latin: respondit Iesus et dixit ei si quis diligit me sermonem meum servabit et Pater meus diliget eum et ad eum veniemus et mansiones apud eum faciemus

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [kjv]

εν τη οικια του πατρος μου μοναι πολλαι εισιν ει δε μη ειπον αν υμιν οτι πορευομαι ετοιμασαι τοπον υμιν [gnt]

… domo … mansiones … locum [v]

Jesus is going to prepare a place for believers. There is a place prepared for non-believers too, but it is not the same "place", and, from descriptions, it appears to have central heating that cannot be turned off.
Knock and it will be opened. Or is it central cooling in a "place of outer darkness"? More detail is left for another time.

The ancient Greek word "τόπος" ≈ "place" and is the source of the English word "topology" as the study of shapes. The Latin word "locum" ≈ "place, locus" and is the source of the English word "locus".

The modern Greek word "θέση" (THEH-see) ≈ "place" as in "parenthesis".
The modern Greek word "τόπος" (TO-pos) ≈ "locus, place" as in "topology" or "topographic map".

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. [kjv]

και εαν πορευθω και ετοιμασω τοπονυμιν παλιν ερχομαι και παραλημψομαι υμας προς εμαυτον ινα οπου ειμι εγω και υμεις ητε [gnt]

… locum … [v]