Texts in Conversation
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the beatitudes in Matthew describe God’s favor toward the humble and sorrowful. The scroll interprets Isaiah’s messenger bringing joy to the humble, while Jesus similarly blesses the poor in spirit and those who mourn.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1QHa 23:15
The Thanksgiving Hymns
Dead Sea Scrolls, Prayers, Hymns, and Liturgy
11 and stands before you in [perfection. For] you have opened a [source] in the mouth of your servant, and on my tongue 12 you have engraved by the measuring line of [judgment, for one who] proclaims to a creature out of his understanding, and for an interpreter of these things 13 to dust like me. And you have opened a [source] to reprove a thing shaped of clay for its way, and the guilt of one born of 14 a woman according to his works, and to open the [source of] your truth to a creature whom you have upheld by your strength, 15 to [raise up] according to your truth a herald [and to recount] your goodness, to bring good news to the humble according to the abundance of your mercies, 16 [and to] satisfy from the source of [knowledge all the] broken in spirit and those who mourn, for eternal joy.
Date: 150–100 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Matthew 5:3
New Testament
1 When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them by saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Date: 70–90 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Now for the first time, because of the Dead Sea Scrolls, we can understand the phrase 'the poor in spirit.' It was a title of honor among the Essenes. These are the poor to whom the Holy Spirit is given. In one passage from the Essene hymnbook (1QH) the author thanks God for having appointed him preacher of his grace ... these correspond to 'the meek,', 'the poor in spirit,' and 'those who mourn' of the first three beatitudes of Jesus ..."
David Flusser and R. Steven Notley, Jesus (Jerusalem: Magnes, 1997), 95–98.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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