Matthew · Chapter 5

Matthew 5:3 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.

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Read in chapter context · Matthew 5

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

KJV · King James Version

"Blessed3107 are the poor4434 in spirit4151: for3754 theirs846 is2076 the kingdom932 of heaven3772."

In context

Matthew 5:3 in Matthew 5

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Matthew 5:3 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Matthew 5. Read the full chapter →

v.1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
v.2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
v.3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
v.4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
v.5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Book background

About the Book of Matthew

Testament: New Testament
Genre: Gospel
Author: Matthew (Levi), tax collector turned apostle
Date written: c. 50–70 AD
Audience: Primarily Jewish Christians
Chapters: 28

Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited King in the line of David, structuring his Gospel around five major teaching blocks — most famously the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7). He repeatedly shows how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. The Great Commission (28:18-20) closes the book.

Setting: Written to demonstrate Jesus as Israel's promised Messianic King.

Key themes: kingdom of heaven · fulfillment · discipleship · authority · mission

Read Matthew from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Matthew 5:3

Matthew 5:3 contains 13 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

“Blessed are the poor in spirit

BATPIS
2

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

FTITKO

Frequently asked

FAQ about Matthew 5:3

What does Matthew 5:3 say?

Matthew 5:3 reads: "“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." — from the New Testament, Matthew (Gospel). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Matthew 5:3 in?

Matthew 5:3 is in the book of Matthew, traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax collector turned apostle and written around c. 50–70 AD. Matthew is gospel in the New Testament, originally addressed to Primarily Jewish Christians. Best known for the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.

What is the difference between Matthew 5:3 in WEB and KJV?

Matthew 5:3 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Blessed3107 are the poor4434 in spirit4151: for3754 theirs846 is2076 the kingdom932 of heaven3772.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Matthew 5:3?

Matthew 5:3 is 13 words in the WEB translation (69 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 4 seconds.

How can I memorise Matthew 5:3?

To memorise Matthew 5:3, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Matthew 5:3 matter in Matthew?

How can I apply Matthew 5:3 today?

Many readers use Matthew 5:3 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Matthew 5:3 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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