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Quotes in Matthew

Matthew quotes from the Old Testament 27 times. Of those, 7 quotes either best match the Septuagint, while 3 quotes better match the Hebrew text. The others match all sources.

Matthew 1:23 quoting Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 1:23

'{Look!} A virgin will get pregnant and then bear a son
Whose name you must call, ImManuEl.’

Isaiah 7:14

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! A virgin will get pregnant and then bear a son
Whom you must call, ImManuEl [meaning, ‘God is with us’].’

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the young woman [Hebrew: עַלְמָה֙, almah] shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘Therefore Yahweh himself will give you … the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’ – Scroll 1Q Isaiah

'… Behold, …’ – Scroll 4Q65 Isaiah

✅ Match

Our comments:

These all match up.

The JPS translators chose to translate ‘virgin’ as ‘young woman’, since the word can mean a young firtile woman who is ready for marriage, implying virginity (it was used for RebekAh in Genesis 24:43).

Some have tried to use this to break it as a prophecy about Mary, claiming there was no prophecy about a virgin giving birth. However, if the word is merely meant to mean ‘young woman’, then it’s unclear how a young woman giving birth is somehow ‘a sign’ from God, making the passage ridiculous.

Also, in the society of the time, morality was strictly enforced; men who slept with their girlfriends were forced to marry them. Therefore, normally a woman who gives birth would be described as a wife, not a young woman.

See the entry for this verse in our list of messianic prophecies for more information.

Matthew 2:6 quoting Micah 5:2-4

Matthew 2:6

‘And you, O BethLehem in the land of Judea
Will no way be the least among rulers of Judah.
For from you, will come forth a leader,
Who will shepherd IsraEl, My people.’

Micah 5:2-4

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘Then from you, O BethLehem of EphRatha
(The few among the thousands of Judah),
Will come a man who’ll be IsraEl’s king…
One whose [roots] are from the most ancient times
And from the days of the ages.

…

‘Yes, by the strength of [Jehovah],
A shepherd will rise to [watch over] them,
And they’ll bask in the glory of the Name of their God,
Which will then become known to the ends of the earth.

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, Which art little to be among the thousands of Judah,
Out of thee shall one come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel;
Whose goings forth are from of old, from ancient days.

…

‘And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; And they shall abide, for then shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.’

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘But you, house of Ephrathah, being small among the thousands of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings out are from of old, from … times. Therefore he will abandon them … that she who is in labor gives birth. Then … will return to the .. He shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh … God: and they will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth.’ — Scroll: Nahal Hever Greek Minor Prophets

‘…you

‘…Bethlehem…’ – Scroll: Wadi Murabba'at Minor Prophets_

✅ Match

Our comments:

The quote differs slightly in wording from the originals, indicating some paraphrasing rather than a direct quote, but it conveys the same meaning. That last line of the quote is more of a summary of the later parts of the quoted passage.

The quote successfully conveys the meaning, but cuts out some of the details for brevity.

Matthew 2:15 quoting Hosea 11:1 (MT)

Matthew 2:15

‘I called My son out of Egypt.’

Hosea 11:1

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘But as an infant, IsraEl was so deeply loved,
So I called his children from Egypt.‘

❌ Differs

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘When Israel was a child, then I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.‘

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

The quote only matches the Hebrew Masoretic Text here, but only in number (’son’ verses ‘sons’, which could also be translated as ‘children’).

Perhaps the Greek Septuagint translator did not appreciate that he was translating a prophecy. He may have thought the Hebrew was worded rather strangely, as many people were called out of Egypt, not just one person! He may have assumed the Hebrew was in error, and meant to say ‘sons’ and then ‘corrected’ it to say so.

Matthew 2:18 quoting Jeremiah 31:15

Matthew 2:18

‘A voice was heard crying from RamAh…
The sounds of weeping, wailing, and grief.
It was the voice of RachEl, crying for her sons,
And she refused to accept any comfort,
Because they’re no longer [alive].’

Jeremiah 31:15 (38:15 in LXX numbering)

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘A voice was heard crying from RamAh…
The sounds of weeping, wailing, and grief.
It was RachEl crying over her sons…
She refused to accept any comfort,
Because they aren’t here anymore.

✅ Match

Note that in traditional Septuagint numbering, this verse appears at 38:15 (if you wish to look it up in a Septuagint interlinear).

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children;
She refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.’

⚠️ Partial match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

The quotes align closely in both wording and meaning, but the Septuagint matches most closely because it lists three things (literally: lamentation, weeping, and mourning) but the Hebrew only lists two (lamentation and weeping).

Matthew 3:3 quoting Isaiah 40:3 (LXX)

Matthew 3:3

‘Prepare the way for the Lord…
Before him, straighten the roads!’

Isaiah 40:3

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘Prepare the way for the Lord…
Straighten the roads for our God!’

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Clear ye in the wilderness the way of the LORD,
Make plain in the desert A highway for our God.’

⚠️ Partial match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! And make a level highway in the desert for our God.’ – Scroll 1Q Isaiah A

‘… Make a level…’ – Scroll 1Q Isaiah B

⚠️ Partial match

Our comments:

The quote is slightly paraphrased, better matching the Septuagint. The Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls mention the wildernes and desert, which the Septuagint does not.

Matthew 4:4 quoting Deuteronomy 8:3

Matthew 4:4

‘Man doesn’t live by just bread alone,
But by every word that comes from God’s mouth.’

Deuteronomy 8:3

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘…[a] man doesn’t only need bread to live, but [he also needs] all the words that come from The God’s mouth.

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘…man doth not live by bread only, but by every thing that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.’

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘…man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of Yahweh’s mouth.’ – Scroll 4Q30

✅ Match

Our comments:

The quote closely matches all sources.

Matthew 4:6 quoting Psalm 91:11-12

Matthew 4:6

‘He’ll assign [His] messengers around you,
And on their hands, they’ll lift you,
So you’ll not hit your foot on a stone.’

Psalm 91:11-12

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

For, to His messengers, He will give orders…
He’ll tell them to keep an eye on your ways,
So then, with their hands, they’ll lift you,
And no stone will hit your feet.

✅ Match as a paraphrase

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘For He will give His angels charge over thee,
To keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee upon their hands,
Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.’

✅ Match as a paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘… They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.’ – Scroll 4Q84 Psalms B

✅ Match

‘For he will put … in charge of you, to guard you in your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that … your foot against a stone.’ – Scroll 11Q11 Psalms F

✅ Match as a paraphrase

Our comments:

The quote closely matches all sources.

Matthew 4:7 quoting Deuteronomy 6:16

Matthew 4:7

‘Don’t put [Jehovah] your God to the test.’

Deuteronomy 6:16

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘You must not test [Jehovah] your God as you tested Him in the [desert]!

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Ye shall not try the LORD your God, as ye tried Him in Massah.’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

The quote matches both main sources as a paraphrase.

Matthew 4:10 quoting Deuteronomy 6:13

Matthew 4:10

‘Indeed; you must worship [Jehovah], your God,
And Him alone should you serve.’

Deuteronomy 6:13

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘So, you must fear [Jehovah] your God and serve only Him!

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; and Him shalt thou serve’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

The quote matches both main sources as a paraphrase, turning ‘fear’ into ‘worship’, with it essentially meaning the same thing.

Matthew 4:16 quoting Isaiah 9:1-2 (LXX)

Matthew 4:16

‘O lands of ZebuLun and NaphTali…
You coasts and those on the Jordan’s east shore,
And you, O Galilee of the gentiles;

‘The people who were traveling in darkness
Then saw a [very] bright light.
For a light will shine upon those
That live in the place of the shadow of death.’

Isaiah 9:1-2

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘O lands of ZebuLun and NaphTali…
You on the coasts and the Jordan’s east shore,
And you, O Galilee of the gentiles!

‘The people who were traveling in darkness
Then saw a [very] bright light.
For a light will then shine upon those
Who live in the place of the shadow of death.’

✅ Match

Masoretic Text (JPS) (8:23-9:1 in the JPS):

‘Now the former hath lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but the latter hath dealt a more grievous blow by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in the district of the nations.

‘The people that walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
They that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them hath the light shined.’

❌ Differs

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.’ – Scroll 1Q Isaiah A

❌ Differs

Our comments:

The quote overwhelmingly matches the Septuagint, but the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls differ quite a bit in the first half. However, one could argue that the Greek text has paraphrased it in an extreme way, which is possible.

Interestingly, the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls differ quite a bit from each other in the first half too! Perhaps this suggests that the Hebrew suffered some corruption here that led to different versions. We hope the Greek text preserves the original prophecy; indeed, the fact it’s quoted in Matthew builds this hope.

Matthew 5:33 quoting Numbers 30:2

Matthew 5:33

‘You must not swear a false oath; rather, you must do as you vow to [Jehovah].’

Numbers 30:2

Septuagint (30:3 in the LXX):

‘Whenever a man makes a vow to [Jehovah], or swears an oath that binds his soul, he must not break his word. Rather, he must do everything that comes out of his mouth.’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘When a man voweth a vow unto the LORD, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘…an oath to bind… with a bond,…’ – Scroll 4Q27

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Our comments:

The quote matches all sources as a paraphrase.

Matthew 8:17 quoting Isaiah 53:4 (MT)

Matthew 8:17

‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.’

Isaiah 53:4

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

But, he has carried our sins;
And because of us, he came to know grief [or pains].’

❌ Differs

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A

‘Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering’ – Scroll 1Q Isaiah B

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Our comments:

One could argue that the quote matches all sources as a paraphrase, but it definitely more closely matches the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls. While the Septuagint says he carries our ‘sins’ particularly ‘because of us’, the other sources he bears our ‘sickness/diseases’, our ‘suffering’, and our ‘pains’, which agrees more closely with what’s said in Matthew.

Matthew 11:10 quoting Malachi 3:1

Matthew 11:10

'{Look!} I’ll send My messenger ahead
To prepare the road that’s before him!’

Malachi 3:1

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘So, {Look!} I’ll be sending My messenger to you,
To prepare the way for the face of the Lord.’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Behold, I send My messenger,
And he shall clear the way before Me’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘Therefore behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me’ – Scroll 4Q76 Minor Prophets A

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Our comments:

The quote matches all sources as a paraphrase.

Matthew 12:18-21 quoting Isaiah 42:1-4 (LXX)

Matthew 12:18-21

'{Look} My servant, whom I have chosen…
My loved one who’s approved by My Soul!
In him, I’ll now put my breath,
And he’ll tell the nations about My decisions.

‘Yet, he won’t argue or shout,
Nor in the main streets, will they hear his voice.
He won’t crush a bruised reed,
Nor will he extinguish a smoking flax wick
Until he brings triumph to justice
And the nations put hope in his name.’

Isaiah 42:1-4

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘Jacob, My child, I’ll hold onto you…
O IsraEl, you’re the one whom I’ve chosen.
So I’m sending someone] who will pour out [my breath
And who will pass judgment on the gentiles.
He won’t cry out or raise his voice,
And his words won’t be heard out of doors.

‘No crushed reed will he break,
And no smoking flax wick will he snuff.
But, he will truly bring what is fair…
He’ll endure and not be destroyed
Until he brings justice to the earth.

‘In his name, the nations will hope,’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Behold My servant, whom I uphold;
Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth;
I have put My spirit upon him,
He shall make the right to go forth to the nations.

‘He shall not cry, nor lift up,
Nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

‘A bruised reed shall he not break,
And the dimly burning wick shall he not quench;
He shall make the right to go forth according to the truth.

‘He shall not fail nor be crushed,
Till he have set the right in the earth;
And the isles shall wait for his teaching.’

❌ Differs

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘'Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights—I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. 3 He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice. 4 And He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands will wait for his law.’ – Scroll 1Q Isaiah A’

‘…his voice… in the street. … a bruised reed. … justice. He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set …’ – Scroll 1Q Isaiah B

❌ Differs

Our comments:

While the three broadly agree, the Septuagint matches the Matthew quote more closely.

The Hebrew sources have him going forth to the gentile nations or bringing justice to them (which sounds positive), whereas Matthew’s paraphrase talks of him specifically ‘telling the nations about My decisions’ which the Septuagint says is to ‘pass judgment on the gentiles’, which may sound negative.

Also, Matthew and the Septuagint have the nations putting ‘hope’ in him, but the Hebrew sources have them waiting for his law, or teaching. Hoping in someone (perhaps hoping for them to deliver you) is different from waiting for them to teach you something.

Matthew 13:14-15 quoting Isaiah 6:9-10

Matthew 13:14-15

‘By listening, you’ll hear, but not understand,
And by looking, you’ll look, but not see.

‘For the hearts of these people have grown thick;
So their ears now listen very slowly,
And all their eye lids are closed.
So they’re unable to see with their eyes,
And they can’t hear with their ears,
Nor can they understand in their hearts,
Then turn back, so that I can heal them.’

Isaiah 6:9-10

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘When it comes to hearing, you’ll hear,
But no way will you comprehend.
And when it comes to seeing, you’ll see,
But no way will you understand!’

‘Since the hearts of these people have hardened,
Their ears now listen too slowly,
And their eyes cannot see, since their eyelids are closed.
Thus, they will not hear with their ears
Nor will they see with their eyes.
So their hearts will not understand
And make them turn back, so I’d heal them.’

✅ Matches

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Hear ye indeed, but understand not;
And see ye indeed, but perceive not.’

‘Make the heart of this people fat,
And make their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And turn, and be healed.’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand; and you see indeed, but don’t perceive.’ Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A

‘…and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again…’ — Scroll 4Q60 Isaiah F

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Our comments:

All three match, but the Septuagint matches the Matthew quote more closely, as it contains the same extra wordiness. However, this may simply be because both are in Greek.

Matthew 13:35 quoting Psalm 78:2 (MT)

Matthew 13:35

‘With parables, I’ll open my mouth.
And I’ll talk about things that have been hidden
Since the founding of the world.’

Psalm 78:2

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

For, I’ll now speak illustrations,
And I’ll talk in riddles from the start.

❌ Differs

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old;’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

The quote certainly matches the Masoretic Text as a paraphrase, while the Septuagint doesn’t have anything like a mention of things being ‘hidden’ or ‘dark’, so doesn’t really match too well.

Matthew 15:9 quoting Isaiah 29:13 (LXX)

Matthew 15:9

‘So it’s in vain that they come to bow before Me,
Since they’re teaching the ideas and instructions of men.’

Isaiah 29:13

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘With their mouths, these people approach Me,
And with their lips, they offer Me praise…
But they’re far away from Me in their hearts.
So they’re wasting their time when they bow before Me,
Since they’re teaching the ideas and instructions of men!’

✅ Matches as a paraphrase

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Forasmuch as this people draw near,
And with their mouth and with their lips do honor Me,
But have removed their heart far from Me,
And their fear of Me is a commandment of men learned by rote;’

❌ Differs

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘Because this people draws near with their mouth and I am honored with their lips, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is like a commandment of men which has been taught.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A

❌ Differs

Our comments:

The quote is a paraphrase, but it most closely matches the Septuagint because of the reference to bowing or worshipping, whereas the Masoretic Text and Dead Sea Scrolls just talk about honoring with their lips, meaning verbally praising God.

Matthew 19:5 quoting Genesis 2:24

Matthew 19:5

‘This is why a man will leave his father and mother and join to his woman, making the two one flesh.’

Genesis 2:24

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘Because of this, a man will leave his father and mother
And bond with his woman,
And the two will become one flesh.’

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.’

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

Both sources match, with some light paraphrasing.

Matthew 21:5 quoting Zechariah 9:9

Matthew 21:5

‘Say this to the daughter of Zion:
Look! Your King is coming to you!
[He’s] gentle and comes riding the colt of a burro…
The foal of a creature that bears heavy loads.’

Zechariah 9:9

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

_‘So rejoice, O daughter of Zion;
Shout aloud, you daughters of JeruSalem;
For {Look!} your king will be coming to you…
The righteous one who’s your Savior.

‘He will be [a person who’s] gentle,
And on a beast of burden, he will arrive…
Yes, even upon a young foal!

✅ Matches with some summarization

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

_‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion,
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem;
Behold, thy king cometh unto thee,
He is triumphant, and victorious,
Lowly, and riding upon an ass,
Even upon a colt the foal of an ass.’

❌ Differs

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

The quote matches the Septuagint only, because only it mentions the king being ‘gentle’ and describes the animal as a foal that’s a ‘beast of burden’, but the Masoretic does'nt say he’s gentle, and just says an ass twice without mentioning it being a beast of burden.

Matthew 21:16 quoting Psalm 8:2 (LXX)

Matthew 21:16

‘From the mouths of infants and babies
You have ordered up praises.’

Psalm 8:2

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘From the mouths of infants and babies,
You’ve ordered up praises.’

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘From the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou founded strength’

❌ Differs

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

The Masoretic Text does not mention the ‘ordered up praises’ part, but the Septuagint does.

Matthew 21:42 quoting Psalm 118:22-23

Matthew 21:42

‘The stone that the builders rejected
Has become the foundation cornerstone…
By [Jehovah] this was done,
And this is a wonderful thing in our eyes?’

Psalm 118:22-23

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

So, the stone that the builders rejected
Has become the foundation cornerstone…
It’s by [Jehovah] that this came to pass,
And in our eyes, it’s a beautiful thing.

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘The stone which the builders rejected
Is become the chief corner-stone.
This is the LORD'S doing;
It is marvellous in our eyes.’

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘…This is Yahweh’s doing…’ — Scroll 4Q84 Psalms B

✅ Match

Our comments:

All sources match.

Matthew 22:32 quoting Exodus 3:6

Matthew 22:32

‘I am the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob’

Exodus 3:6

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘I am the God of your ancestors… The God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob.’

✅ Matches with some summarization

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

✅ Matches with some summarization

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

Both sources match, it’s just that ‘the God of your ancestors’ or ‘the God of thy father’ part is skipped for brevity.

Matthew 22:37 quoting Deuteronomy 6:5

Matthew 22:37

In the Greek version:

‘You must love [Jehovah] your God with your whole heart, soul, and mind.‘

In the Aramaic Peshitta:

‘You must love [Jehovah] your God with your whole heart, soul, strength, and mind.‘

Deuteronomy 6:5

Greek Septuagint:

‘And you must love [Jehovah] The God with your whole heart, with your whole life [literally: soul], and with your whole strength.’

✅ Matches with some explanation

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘And thou shalt love the LORD [YHWH] thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.’

✅ Matches with some explanation

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘…Yahweh…’ – Scroll 4Q43

❓ Unknown

Our comments:

The quote in Matthew appears, at first glance, not to match Deuteronomy in either Greek or Hebrew. Matthew says ‘mind’ (or ‘strength and mind’) but Deuteronomy says ‘strength’ only.

Further, we have two different versions of the quote: one in the Greek version of Matthew, and a different one in the Aramaic Peshitta.

  • The Greek version of Matthew appears not to match either version of Deuteronomy because of that last word (‘mind’), which we don’t read in Deuteronomy.

  • The Aramaic version of Matthew appears not to match Deuteronomy because it says ‘strength and mind’, listing four items, not three.

The three items in the Greek of Matthew 22:37 are:

  • heart
  • soul
  • mind

The four items in the Aramaic of Matthew 22:37 are:

  • heart
  • soul
  • strength
  • mind

But the three items listed in Deuteronomy 6:5 are:

  • heart
  • soul
  • strength

In the Greek of Matthew 22:37, the words are:

  • kardia = a word for the physical organ of the heart
  • psyche = a word often translated as ‘soul’ but really just means ‘life’
  • dianoia = a word for the intellect, thought, or purpose

The Aramaic of Matthew 22:37, is different:

  • lebba = a word for the physical organ of the heart
  • napsha = a word for the soul but really just means ‘life’ (or ‘self’)
  • hayla = a word literally meaning an army, but metaphorically means ‘strength’
  • reyana = a word meaning thought or attitude, but also conduct, so could mean ‘mind’

So what’s going on?

It’s likely simply a matter of translation.

Remember, the original quote of Deuteronomy is in Hebrew… And the Hebrew word for ‘strength’ (which literally means very or exceedingly) likely had a broader meaning that encompassed thinking, as it’s not just about physical strength, but also about will or willpower.

With that in mind, remember that Jesus was probably speaking in Aramaic. If the Aramaic word for strength has a much narrower meaning, then Jesus likely (correctly) translated the single Hebrew word into two Aramaic words in order to convey the full, broader meaning of the Hebrew word.

However, when the Greek translator had to turn Jesus’ Aramaic words into Greek, he tried to translate the single Hebrew word into a single Greek word, missing the full range of meaning. He therefore created a broken quote, as the Septuagint chose a different aspect of the word to emphasize (mind versus strength).

So while we can’t know for sure, it’s likely that Jesus quoted the verse perfectly, but just translated it into Aramaic using additional words. The Greek translators of Jesus’ words and the Greek Septuagint just made different choices.

Interestingly, when Luke has Jesus quote these words in Luke 10:27, it agrees with the Aramaic version of Matthew.

Matthew 22:39 quoting Leviticus 19:18

Matthew 22:39

‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’

Leviticus 19:18

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘You must love your neighbor as you [love] yourself’

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

All quotes match.

Matthew 22:44 quoting Psalm 110:1

Matthew 22:44

‘[Jehovah] said this to my lord:

‘Sit here at my right hand,
‘Til I set your enemies as a stool for your feet’’

Psalm 110:1

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘[Jehovah] said this to my lord:

‘Sit here at My right hand
‘Til I set your enemies as a stool for your feet.’

✅ Match

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘The LORD [YHWH] saith unto my Lord:

‘Sit thou at My right hand,
Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

All quotes match.

Matthew 24:29 quoting Isaiah 13:10

Matthew 24:29

‘The sun will grow dark,
The moon won’t give out its light,
The stars will fall from the skies,
And the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

Isaiah 13:10

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

Then the stars in the skies (including Orion)
And the heaven’s arrangement will no longer shine.
The rising sun will be darkened,
And the moon won’t give out its light.

✅ Matches in paraphrase

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof
Shall not give their light;
The sun shall be darkened in his going forth,
And the moon shall not cause her light to shine.’

✅ Matches in paraphrase

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

‘For the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened in its going out, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. — Scroll 4Q Isaiah A

‘For the stars of the sky and its constellations…’ — Scroll 4Q55 Isaiah A

‘For… in its going out, and the moon will not cause its light to shine’ — Scroll 4Q56 Isaiah B

✅ Matches in paraphrase

Our comments:

All quotes match, but the quote in Matthew appears to be a greatly paraphrased version of Isaiah 13:10 and its surrounding context, probably for brevity, and perhaps because Jesus was speaking in Aramaic.

Matthew 26:31 quoting Zechariah 13:7 (MT)

Matthew 26:31

‘When the shepherd is struck, the sheep will be scattered.’

Zechariah 13:7

Greek Septuagint (our translation):

‘Strike the shepherds, and the sheep scatter…’

❌ Differs

Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):

‘Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered’

✅ Match

Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):

(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)

Our comments:

This only matches with the Masoretic Text, because it’s in singular form (’the shepherd’), whereas the Septuagint is in the plural form (’the shepherds’).

The reason they differ is either because the Greek Septuagint translator understood the ‘shepherd’ as a category of people rather than an individual person, or he was translating an older version of the Hebrew text that was worded differently. We don’t know, but the former is the simplest explanation.

Note that the words in Zechariah 13:7 are likely not a Messianic prophecy, because in context it’s talking about a wicked and unfaithful shepherd whom Yahweh will punish.

Indeed, we list this as ‘disputed’ in our catalog of Messianic Prophecies. Jesus probably quoted the verse because it reflects a general principle that followers tend to scatter when their leader is gone; he was likely not applying a passage about a wicked shepherd to himself!

Quotes Index

Or return to the introduction to this series.