Matthew 5:3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
The Beatitudes[a]
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- 5:3–12 The form Blessed are (is) occurs frequently in the Old Testament in the Wisdom literature and in the psalms. Although modified by Matthew, the first, second, fourth, and ninth beatitudes have Lucan parallels (Mt 5:3 // Lk 6:20; Mt 5:4 // Lk 6:21b; Mt 5:6 // Lk 6:21a; Mt 5:11–12 // Lk 5:22–23). The others were added by the evangelist and are probably his own composition. A few manuscripts, Western and Alexandrian, and many versions and patristic quotations give the second and third beatitudes in inverted order.
- 5:3 The poor in spirit: in the Old Testament, the poor (’anāwîm) are those who are without material possessions and whose confidence is in God (see Is 61:1; Zep 2:3; in the NAB the word is translated lowly and humble, respectively, in those texts). Matthew added in spirit in order either to indicate that only the devout poor were meant or to extend the beatitude to all, of whatever social rank, who recognized their complete dependence on God. The same phrase poor in spirit is found in the Qumran literature (1QM 14:7).
Matthew 5:3
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Matthew 5:3
Good News Translation
True Happiness(A)
3 “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
Matthew 5:3
New American Standard Bible
3 “[a](A)Blessed are the poor in spirit, for (B)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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- Matthew 5:3 I.e., fortunate or prosperous, and so through v 11
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