ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Matthew 5.9

Book: Matthew · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

"9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God."

"10. Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11. Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." (Matthew 5:7-11, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"7. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

"9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."

"10. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 11. “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake." (Matthew 5:7-11, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

"9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

"10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. falsely: Gr. lying" (Matthew 5:7-11, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"7. 'Happy the kind, because they shall find kindness. 8. 'Happy the clean in heart, because they shall see God."

"9. 'Happy the peacemakers, because they shall be called Sons of God."

"10. 'Happy those persecuted for righteousness' sake, because theirs is the reign of the heavens. 11. 'Happy are ye whenever they may reproach you, and may persecute, and may say any evil thing against you falsely for my sake --" (Matthew 5:7-11, 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

Quoted in

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 (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • 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 for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.