Easton's Bible Dictionary (Luke 2:7, 12, 16), the name (Gr. phatne, rendered "stall" in Luke 13:15) given to the place where the infant Redeemer was laid. It seems to have been a stall or crib for feeding cattle. Stables and mangers in our modern sense were in ancient times unknown in the East. The word here properly denotes "the ledge or projection in the end of the room used as a stall on which the hay or other food of the animals of travellers was placed." (see INN.) Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A trough or open box in which fodder is placed for horses or cattle to eat. 2. (n.) The fore part of the deck, having a bulkhead athwart ships high enough to prevent water which enters the hawse holes from running over it. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MANGER man'-jer (phatne): Properly the place in a stall or stable where the food of cattle is placed (in the Old Testament "crib" (Job 39:9 Proverbs 14:4 Isaiah 1:3)); thus also, apparently, in the narrative of the nativity in Luke 2:7, 12, 16. In Septuagint, the Greek word, representing different Hebrew words, has also the extended meaning of "stall" (2 Chronicles 32:28 Habakkuk 3:17); thus also in Luke 13:15, where the Revised Version margin has "manger." Old tradition says that Jesus was born in a cave in the neighborhood of Bethlehem; even so, a place for food for cattle may have been cut in the side of the rock. James Orr

Multi-Version Concordance Manger (7 Occurrences) 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 WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. (KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Luke 13:15 The Lord therefore answered him and said, Hypocrites! does not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the manger and leading it away, water it? (DBY RSV) Job 39:9 "Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough? (See NAS NIV) Proverbs 14:4 Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox. (See NAS NIV) Isaiah 1:3 Even the ox has knowledge of its owner, and the ass of the place where its master puts its food: but Israel has no knowledge, my people give no thought to me. (See NAS NIV)