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The Beatitudes KJV
Eight blessings that open the Sermon on the Mount, each one naming a kind of person and what God will do for them.
All eight, from Matthew 5:3-10
- Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3
- Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
- Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
- Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
- Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7
- Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
- Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9
- Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
A ninth blessing follows in Matthew 5:11-12, addressed to 'ye' rather than to a kind of person, which is why it is usually counted separately. Luke gives four of these as blessings in Luke 6:20-22 and sets four woes against them.
The Beatitudes in scripture — 12 verses, quoted in full
Each verse is quoted in full — tap a reference to read it in context, see cross references, and study the original words.
Matthew 5:3 · KJV
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:4 · KJV
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:5 · KJV
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:6 · KJV
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:7 · KJV
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:8 · KJV
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:9 · KJV
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:10 · KJV
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11-12 · KJV
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Luke 6:20 · KJV
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luke 6:21 · KJV
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Luke 6:22 · KJV
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Common questions
What are the Beatitudes?
They are the eight blessings Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with, in Matthew 5:3-10 — on the poor in spirit, those that mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.
How many Beatitudes are there?
Eight, in Matthew 5:3-10. A ninth in verses 11-12 switches from describing a kind of person to addressing the hearers directly, so it is often counted on its own.
Where are the Beatitudes in the Bible?
Matthew 5:3-12, at the start of the Sermon on the Mount. A shorter parallel stands in Luke 6:20-23.
What does 'blessed' mean in the Beatitudes?
The Greek word behind it describes someone who is genuinely well off — happy in the deep sense, and congratulated. It is a statement about their condition, not a wish for their future.
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