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

1One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2and he began to teach them. “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole 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 5:4God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Matthew 11:6And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
• Matthew 13:16“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
• Matthew 24:46If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.
• Psalms 1:1Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
• Psalms 2:12Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!
• Psalms 32:1Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
• Psalms 41:1Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
• Psalms 84:12O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.
• Psalms 112:1Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands.
• Psalms 119:1Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.
• Psalms 128:1How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways!
• Psalms 146:5But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.
• Proverbs 8:32“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.
• Isaiah 30:18So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.
• Luke 6:20Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.

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