Paragraph 5:3–10
There are eight “blessings” in verses 3–10. Each of the eight blessings has two parts. Each blessing starts with the words “Blessed are” and tells what kind of person is blessed. Each blessing ends with the reason why that kind of person is blessed. Each blessing is a short statement like a proverb.
Some English versions begin a new section at 5:3. One possibility is to put a general heading like “The sermon on the mountain” at 5:1 and the heading of “God blesses his people” here.
5:3a
Blessed are: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Blessed refers to the good situation/condition that a person is in when a superior person does something good to him. When God does something good to a human being and is kind to him, that person is in a good situation. He is “blessed,” “fortunate,” and “favored.”
Here are some other ways to translate Blessed are:
Favored/fortunate
-or-
⌊God⌋ favors/approves
-or-
Joyful/desirable is the situation of
-or-
How good it is for
This word does not primarily refer to a feeling. However, a person in this good situation will frequently have good feelings like happiness and joy. Do not use a word that only refers to material prosperity or physical health. Do not use a word that refers only to being lucky. See also bless, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.
the poor in spirit: The word poor often means “lacking money or material resources.” However, here the word is used in a spiritual sense. It means “lacking spiritual resources.” People who are poor in spirit know that they are lacking spiritually. They are lacking what it takes to please God. As a result, they know that they need God’s help. They are dependent on God, and they gladly accept his rule over them.
Every person is lacking spiritually without God, but not every person recognizes it.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
those who ⌊know that they⌋ are lacking regarding the things of God
-or-
those who ⌊recognize that they⌋ are dependent on God
-or-
those who realize their need for him (New Living Translation (2004))
5:3b
for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason that the “poor in spirit” are blessed. They are blessed because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. For example:
because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them (New Century Version)
In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here. For example:
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. (God’s Word)
In other languages, it will be more natural to put 5:3b before 5:3a. For example:
The poor in spirit have the kingdom of heaven, ⌊so⌋ they are blessed.
-or-
The kingdom of heaven is for the poor in spirit, ⌊so⌋ they are blessed.
theirs is the kingdom of heaven: The word theirs refers to the people who are “poor in spirit.” They are the kind of people who share in the kingdom of heaven. They belong in it, and it belongs to them. These people who let God rule over them are the ones he blesses.
Here are some other ways to translate these words:
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them! (Good News Translation)
-or-
God accepts them into his kingdom
-or-
they are citizens of the kingdom of God
the kingdom of heaven: The phrase kingdom of heaven has the same meaning as the phrase “kingdom of God.” Both phrases refer to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. Both refer to the relationship that God has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king. The phrase kingdom of heaven does not refer to a land or country that he rules over.
Here are some other ways to translate this expression:
• As a noun. For example:
the kingdom of God
-or-
God’s kingship
-or-
God’s rule over people
-or-
the rule of ⌊the one/Lord who lives in⌋ heaven
• As a verbal expression. For example:
The way God rules his people
-or-
The way God cares for his people as king.
See kingdom of heaven in the Glossary for more information.
This same phrase occurs in 3:2b and 4:17c.
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