The Beatitudes

Excerpt from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the most advanced Bible dictionary.

The group of “blessed are” statements that open the Sermon on the Mount in Matt 5:3–12. The term also refers to the four “blessed are” statements that open the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6:20–23. The word “beatitude” originates from the Latin word beatitudo (Betz, The Sermon on the Mount, 92). They are also called “macarisms,” a label that corresponds to the Greek word usually translated “blessed” (μακάριος, makarios) that begins each of the beatitudes.

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The Lexham Bible Dictionary

Beatitudes

Beatitudes The group of “blessed are” statements that open the Sermon on the Mount in Matt 5:3–12. The term also refers to the four “blessed are” statements that open the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6:20–23. The word “beatitude” originates from the Latin word beatitudo (Betz, The Sermon on the Mount,

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary

Beatitudes

BEATITUDES. Although “beatitudes” is frequently used as a proper noun to denote a collection of eight dominical logia at the beginning of the Matthean Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:3–10; par. Luke 6:20b–21), the term “beatitude” properly designates a whole body of sayings with a similar literary form.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible

Beatitudes, The

Beatitudes, The. Term derived from Latin beatitudo, it is not used in the English Bible. Technically it means “blessedness” as described in the OT and NT. “Blessed” is translated from both Hebrew and Greek words, to refer to divine favor conveyed to man. It is used more particularly of the Sermon on

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised

Beatitudes

Beatitudes Statements of blessedness, particularly those at the beginning of Jesus’ great discourse commonly called the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5) or Sermon on the Plain (Lk. 6).

Tyndale Bible Dictionary

Beatitudes, the

BEATITUDES*, THE Term derived from Latin beatitudo; it is not used in the English Bible. Technically it means “blessedness” as described in the OT and NT. “Blessed” is translated from both Hebrew and Greek words to refer to divine favor conveyed to people.The formal utterance “happy is,” or “blessed

The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)

Beatitudes

Beatitudes (bee-at´uh-tyoodz; Lat., “blesseds”), declarations typically associated with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (5:3–12) and the Sermon on the Plain in Luke (6:20–23). They are pronouncements that confer a blessing upon persons who are characterized by what they are (e.g., the poor) or do

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible

Beatitudes

BeatitudesA literary form best known from the nine plural “Blessed are” statements which begin Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–12; cf. the four in Luke’s Sermon on the Plain, Luke 6:20–23). These statements are examples of a common form known as macarisms (from Gk. makários, “blessed” or “happy,”

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary

Beatitudes

Beatitudes. †A literary formula, generally beginning with the expression “blessed is” or “happy is” (Heb. ˒ašrê Gk. makários), which pronounces a blessing upon or declares praise of an exemplary individual. Beatitudes mostly occur in the Psalms (Ps. 1:1; 2:12), wisdom writings (Prov. 8:34; 16:20;

Catholic Bible Dictionary

Beatitudes

BEATITUDES Most commonly, the eight blessings in Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:3–10; cf. Luke 6:20–26). In a wider sense, the term can describe a literary form found in ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Jewish literature that expresses praise or congratulation.The term “beatitudes” comes from beati

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church

Beatitudes, the

Beatitudes, the. Christ’s promises of coming blessings in the ‘*Sermon on the Mount’ (Mt. 5:3–11) and the ‘Sermon on the Plain’ (Lk. 6:20–2). In Mt. there are eight (or nine) blessings, applicable to all, whereas in Lk. there are four blessings, spoken to the disciples, followed by four ‘Woes’. The Beatitudes

Harper’s Bible Dictionary

Beatitudes

BeatitudesBeatitudes (Lat., ‘blesseds’), declarations typically associated with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (5:3–12) and the Sermon on the Plain in Luke (6:20–23). They are pronouncements that confer an end-time blessing upon persons who are characterized by what they are (e.g., the poor) or

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Beatitudes, the

BEATITUDES, THE — the eight declarations of blessedness made by Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3–12), each beginning with “Blessed are . . .” Some scholars speak of seven, nine, or ten beatitudes, but the number appears to be eight (verses 10–12 of Matthew 5 being one beatitude).

Key passages

Mt 5:3–10

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the ones who mourn, because they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be satisfied. …

Lk 6:20–21

And he lifted up his eyes to his disciples and said, “Blessed are the poor, because yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are those who are hungry now, because you will be satisfied. Blessed are those who weep now, Because you will laugh.

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