# Matthew 5.4 **Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 2. and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. > > **4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.** > > 5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:2-6, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 2. He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, 3. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. > > **4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.** > > 5. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:2-6, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. > > **4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.** > > 5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:2-6, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 2. and having opened his mouth, he was teaching them, saying: 3. 'Happy the poor in spirit, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. > > **4. 'Happy the mourning, because they shall be comforted.** > > 5. 'Happy the meek, because they shall inherit the land. 6. 'Happy those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, because they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:2-6, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching - **Audience:** Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis) - **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition) - **Time period:** events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80 ## Theological reading ## Key words _No Strong's-tagged lexicon matches found in this passage. (Lexicon coverage is curated, ~159 of the most apologetically-loaded Greek/Hebrew terms.)_ ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses. ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Argument from Meaningful Suffering](/codex/argument-from-meaningful-suffering/), via [Matthew 5.3-12](/codex/matthew-5-3-12/) - [Argument from Sanctity](/codex/argument-from-sanctity/), via [Matthew 5.3-12](/codex/matthew-5-3-12/) - [Argument from the Universal Tear-Hierarchy Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-universal-tear-hierarchy-convergence/) **Concepts:** - [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 5](/codex/matthew-5/) - [Sermon on the Mount](/codex/sermon-on-the-mount/), via [Matthew 5](/codex/matthew-5/), [Matthew 5.3-12](/codex/matthew-5-3-12/) - [Spirit of Sorrow](/codex/spirit-of-sorrow/) - [Survivorship Bias](/codex/survivorship-bias/), via [Matthew 5.3-12](/codex/matthew-5-3-12/)