Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a city located in the region historically known as Judea, which is in present-day Israel/Palestine. Bethlehem is situated about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of Jerusalem in the West Bank
. At the time of Jesus' birth, Bethlehem was part of the Herodian Kingdom of Judea, a client state under Roman influence but not fully integrated as a Roman province until later
. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both state that Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod the Great
. According to biblical accounts, Mary and Joseph traveled from their hometown of Nazareth to Bethlehem to register for a Roman census, as Joseph was of the house and lineage of David, making Bethlehem his ancestral home
. The traditional site of Jesus' birth is commemorated at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a location venerated since at least the 2nd century AD
. In summary, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea, which corresponds to modern- day Palestine's West Bank region near Jerusalem
