Matthew 5:3

Matthew 5:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• New International Version (NIV)“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Context of Matthew 5:3

1When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. 2Then He began to teach them, saying, “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]. 4“Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted]. 5“Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:3 word by word

Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Blessedμακάριοςmakarios · blessedG3107
• the poorπτωχόςptōchos · poorG4434
• in spiritὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• in spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• theirsαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772

Cross-references for Matthew 5:3

• Matthew 5:4“Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].
• Matthew 11:6And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].”
• Matthew 13:16But blessed [spiritually aware, and favored by God] are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
• Matthew 24:46Blessed is that [faithful] servant when his master returns and finds him doing so.
• Psalms 1:1Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).
• Psalms 2:12Kiss (pay respect to) the Son, so that He does not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled and set aflame. How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] are all those who take refuge in Him!
• Psalms 32:1Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, favored by God] is he whose transgression is forgiven, And whose sin is covered.
• Psalms 41:1Blessed [by God’s grace and compassion] is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will save him in the day of trouble.
• Psalms 84:12O Lord of hosts, How blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation].
• Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who fears the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with obedience], Who delights greatly in His commandments.
• Psalms 119:1How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless], Who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the Lord.
• Psalms 128:1Blessed [happy and sheltered by God’s favor] is everyone who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience], Who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments.
• Psalms 146:5How blessed and graciously favored is he whose help is the God of Jacob (Israel), Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
• Proverbs 8:32“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] are they who keep my ways.
• Isaiah 30:18Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].
• Luke 6:20And looking toward His disciples, He began speaking: “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are you who are poor [in spirit, those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for the kingdom of God is yours [both now and forever].

Commentaries on Matthew 5:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Blessed are the poor in spirit, etc. - Or, happy, from or , not, and , fate, or death: intimating, that such persons were endued with immortality, and consequently were not liable to the caprices of fate. Homer, Iliad i, 330, calls the supreme gods, , the ever happy and Immortal gods, and opposes them to , mortal men. ' , "Be ye witnesses before the immortal gods, and before mortal men." From this definition we may learn, that the person whom Christ terms…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Blessed are the poor in spirit - The word “blessed” means “happy,” referring to that which produces felicity, from whatever quarter it may come. Poor in spirit - Luke says simply, Blessed are the poor. It has been disputed whether Christ meant the poor in reference to the things of this life, or to the humble. The gospel is said to be preached to the poor, Luke 4:18; Matthew 11:5. It was predicted that the Messiah would preach to the poor, Isaiah 61:1. It…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-12Verses 3-12 Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. 1. The poor in spirit are happy. These bring their minds to their condition, when it is a low condition. They are humble and lowly in their own eyes. They see their want, bewail their guilt, and thirst after a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of such; the kingdom of glory is for them. 2. Those that mourn are happy. That godly…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The poor in spirit (compare Luke 6:20, 24): in the Old Testament, the poor are often shown as very devoted to God because the rich oppress them. This oppression leads them to trust in the Lord for salvation and help, instead of relying on wealth (Matthew 11:5; Psalms 37:14–15; 40:17; 69:28–33; Isaiah 61:1; 66:2). In both Matthew’s and Luke’s writings, the “poor” are indeed financially poor, but their trust in God, not their poverty, makes them blessed…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Blessed--Of the two words which our translators render "blessed," the one here used points more to what is inward, and so might be rendered "happy," in a lofty sense; while the other denotes rather what comes to us from without (as Mt 25:34). But the distinction is not always clearly carried out. One Hebrew word expresses both. On these precious Beatitudes, observe that though eight in number, there are here but seven distinct features of character…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:3

• Character
• Church
• Graces
• Happiness
• Heaven
• Humility
• Instruction
• Poor
• Readings, Select
• Religion
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Communication
• Despitefully
• Enemy
• Fornication
• Forswear
• Gift
• Hunger
• Inherit
• Jot

Commentaries on Matthew 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings