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Matthew 5: A eulogy of some blessed words on being blissfully happy
by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640
1. Matthew 5: A eulogy of some blessed words on being blissfully happy
Each of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 start with the word "blessed". What does it mean to say someone is "blessed"?

Whisper chain happy to blessedThe Latin word "beati" ≈ "happy, fortunate, blessed" and is the origin of the English word "beatitude" and the name of the "Beatitudes". Latin has one word as "fortunate" for which Greek has two separate words:
Observation: It is easier for a priest, pastor, etc., to wave their hands and "bless" you than to actually make you "happy".
Conflate of bless with blissIn English, both words are merged as one "blessed" and, historically, conflated with the word "bliss" which is associated with "joy".
2. Matthew 5:8 Bless your heart
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [kjv]

Bless your heartThe phrase "bless" your "heart" is a southern saying that has several meanings.
One might hear it used about children who are not well-behaved.
3. Blessed are ...
Each "Beatitude", and some after, starts with "Blessed" as accusative plural! The word "are" is inferred.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: … [kjv]
5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: … [kjv]
5:5 Blessed are the meek: … [kjv]
5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: … [kjv]
5:7 Blessed are the merciful: … [kjv]
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: … [kjv]
5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: … [kjv]
5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted … [kjv]
5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall … [kjv]

Is each group "happy"? Note that the meaning of many of the English words do not match the Greek meanings of the original Greek. Instead, they match the Latin words of the Latin Vulgate. This is sometimes called a Bible dictionary.

Information sign More: Matthew 5:4 B2 Good grief: the consolation prize of comfort
4. Greek language translation

 1   2   3   +   -   ▶ 
The Bible dictionary used by pastors, etc. is often explained away as being a different Greek, the Koine Greek, that the people spoke, with special idioms of Greek.

Changes are often attributed to:
A problem arises when ancient, medieval and modern Greek, as one continuous language, have the same meaning for the same word but the Koine Greek definition is different and matches the Latin word used to translate that Greek word in the 4th century. This happens with many important words but not so much with less important words. Suspicion arises when the common Greek meaning makes more sense in the Bible text than the English word based on the Latin word.

[Amplified Bible, Berean Bible, Bible Hub]
[language ambiguity, preciseness of Greek language fallacy]

Information sign More: An introduction to Bible truth
5. Matthew 5:3
   Matthew 5:3 
 All 
KJV: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Greek: μακαριοι οι πτωχοι τω πνευματι οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων
6. Matthew 5:4
   Matthew 5:4 
 All 
KJV: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Greek: μακαριοι οι πενθουντες οτι αυτοι παρακληθησονται
7. Matthew 5:5
   Matthew 5:5 
 All 
KJV: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Greek: μακαριοι οι πραεις οτι αυτοι κληρονομησουσιν την γην
8. Matthew 5:6
   Matthew 5:6 
 All 
KJV: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Greek: μακαριοι οι πεινωντες και διψωντες την δικαιοσυνην οτι αυτοι χορτασθησονται
9. Matthew 5:7
   Matthew 5:7 
 All 
KJV: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Greek: μακαριοι οι ελεημονες οτι αυτοι ελεηθησονται
10. Matthew 5:8
   Matthew 5:8 
 All 
KJV: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Greek: μακαριοι οι καθαροι τη καρδια οτι αυτοι τον θεον οψονται
11. Matthew 5:9
   Matthew 5:9 
 All 
KJV: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Greek: μακαριοι οι ειρηνοποιοι οτι αυτοι υιοι θεου κληθησονται
12. Matthew 5:10
   Matthew 5:10 
 All 
KJV: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Greek: μακαριοι οι δεδιωγμενοι ενεκεν δικαιοσυνης οτι αυτων εστιν η βασιλεια των ουρανων
13. Matthew 5:11
   Matthew 5:11 
 All 
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.
Greek: μακαριοι εστε οταν ονειδισωσιν υμας και διωξωσιν και ειπωσιν παν πονηρον ρημα καθ υμων ψευδομενοι ενεκεν εμου
14. Latin
The Latin word "beati" ≈ "happy, fortunate" and is the origin of the English word "beatitude" and the name of the "Beatitudes".

Matthaeus 5:3 beati pauperes spiritu … [v]
5:4 beati mites … [v]
5:5 beati qui lugent … [v]
5:6 beati qui esuriunt et sitiunt iustitiam … [v]
5:7 beati misericordes … [v]
5:8 beati mundo corde … [v]
5:9 beati pacifici … [v]
5:10 beati qui persecutionem … [v]
5:11 beati … [v]

Is each group "happy" or "fortunate"?
15. Beatnik

This Latin word "beati" does not appear to be related to "beatnik" which was coined from the (music) "beat" generation (Elvis Presley, Beatles, etc.) and the Russian ending "-ник" which became popular for word endings after the launch of the Soviet "Sputnik" satellite in 1957.
16. Sputnik as a traveling companion
Acts 19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. [kjv]

The Russian for "companions in travel" is "спутник" (sputnik) ≈ "wayfarer, traveler", the name of the first artificial satellite of the Earth, launched into orbit on October 4, 1957.

Follow-on words to "sputnik" included "neatnik", "peacenik" (formerly "peace-monger"), etc., but not picnic.

Information sign More: Sputnik as a traveling companion
17. Greek happy
SmileyThere are (at least) two Greek words used for "blessed" in the GNT (Greek New Testament) and LXX (Septuagint).

The ancient Greek word "μακάριος" ≈ "happy".

This word is from the ancient Greek word "μάκαρ" ≈ "happy".

Note that some lexicons conflate the word with "blessed" in the modern sense which can be confusing since one is then defining the word in terms of itself.

18. Modern Greek
The modern Greek word "μακάριος" (ma-KA-ree-os) ≈ "happy, content" and appears to be of pre-Greek origin. This is the word used in the Beatitudes.

The modern Greek word "ευλογία" (ev-lo-Y-a) ≈ "good words, blessing, praise"and literally means "good words" and is the origin of the English word "eulogy". This is not the word used in the Beatitudes.
19. Strongs - Happy
20. Strongs - good words
21. Saying a good word in Greek
RIP tombstoneA word for "blessing" in Greek is «ευλογιά» which means, literally, a "good word". The English word "eulogy" comes from the Greek word for "blessing" and means, literally, a "good word" about someone, usually at a funeral.
22. Good prefixes
The Greek "eu" prefix comes through Latin in many words.

The "Good News" is the source of the English word "evangelical".

Information sign More: Calque: The good news
The Greek word for "thank you" as in "Eucharist" means, literally, a (recognition of a) "good grace" or "good favor".

Information sign More: Thank you for giving thanks and for Thanksgiving

23. A blessed comparison
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
και μακαριος εστιν ος  εαν   αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]
… happy … offended … [ty]

Latin has one word for which Greek has two separate words: Conflate of bless with blissIn English, the word "blessed" comes from the word for "bloody" as in a ritual sacrifice. The meaning for "bliss" was merged with "blessed" and associated with "getting something" and with "joy" (another word mistranslated from the Greek).
24. Bliss as joy
The English word "bliss" and is from the Middle English word "bliss" ≈ "bliss" and is from the Old English word "bliss" ≈ "joy, gladness".

English: KJV (King James Version)
Matthew 13:20 … with joy receiveth it; [kjv]

Middle English: Wycliffe
… with ioye takith it. [wy]

Old English: Wessex Gospels
… mid blisse onfegð. [wes]

25. Matthew 13:20
   Matthew 13:20 
 All 
KJV: But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Greek: ο δε επι τα πετρωδη σπαρεις ουτος εστιν ο τον λογον ακουων και ευθυς μετα χαρας λαμβανων αυτον
Wessex: Soðlice se þe ofer stan asawen is. þaet is se þe þaet godes word ge-hyrð & hraedlice þaet mid blisse onfegð.
Wycliffe: But this that is sowun on the stony loond, this it is, that herith the word of God, and anoon with ioye takith it.
26. Conflation
Conflate of bless with blissIn English, both meanings were merged as one "blessed" and, historically, conflated with the word "bliss" as "joy".

English: KJV
Mark 10:16 … and blessed them. [kjv]

Middle English: Wycliffe
… and blisside hem. [wy]

Old English: Wessex Gospels
… settende bletsede hyo. [wes]

27. Mark 10:16
   Mark 10:16 
 All 
KJV: And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Greek: και εναγκαλισαμενος αυτα κατευλογει τιθεις τας χειρας επ αυτα ηυλογει αυτα
Wessex: Ða be-clepte he hyo & his hande ofer hyo settende bletsede hyo.
Wycliffe: And he biclippide hem, and leide hise hondis on hem, and blisside hem.
Let us look at some verses using "bless" as "good words" and then look at some verses using "bless" as "happy" or "content".
28. Blessing food
Mark 8:7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. [kjv]

Fish symbolJesus said some "good words" about the food. Today, one "blesses" the food with a "prayer" before eating. Jesus did this again at the "Last supper".
Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. [kjv]
εσθιοντων δε αυτων λαβων ο ιησους  τον   αρτον και ευλογησας εκλασεν και  εδιδου   δους τοις μαθηταις  και   ειπεν λαβετε φαγετε τουτο εστιν το σωμα μου [gnt]

29. Mark 8:7
   Mark 8:7 
 All 
KJV: And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
Greek: και ειχον ειχαν ιχθυδια ολιγα και ευλογησας αυτα ειπεν παραθειναι και αυτα ταυτα παρατιθεναι
Latin: et habebant pisciculos paucos et ipsos benedixit et iussit adponi
Wessex: & hyo naefden buten feawe fisxe. & he þä bletsede. & het be-foren heom asetten. & hyo swa dyden.
Wycliffe: And thei hadden a few smale fischis; and he blesside hem, and comaundide, that thei weren sette forth.
Luther: Und hatten ein wenig Fischlein; und er dankte und hieß dieselbigen auch vortragen.
30. Latin
Marcum 8:7 et habebant pisciculos paucos et ipsos benedixit et iussit adponi [v]

The Latin word "benedixit" ≈ "good words" which is the source of the English word "benediction" which are "good words" at the end of the service.
The Latin word "benedico" ≈ "speak well of" and is from two Latin parts. The Latin word "pisces" ≈ "fish" is in the zodiac constellation Pisces.
31. German
Markus 8:7 Und hatten ein wenig Fischlein; und er dankte und hieß dieselbigen auch vortragen. [lu]

Luther uses the German word "dankte" ≈ "thanked" as in saying "thank you". The German word is related to the English word "thank" and the English word "think".

Information sign More: Thank you for giving thanks and for Thanksgiving
32. Old English
The Old English word used in the Beatitudes is "eadig" ≈ "happy, prosperous" and is the source of the English name "Edgar".

Matthew 5:3 Eadige synde þa gastlice þearfan. … [wes]
5:4 Eadige syndde þa lyðan. … [wes]
5:5 Eadige sind þa þe nu wepeð … [wes]
5:6 Eadiga synd þa þe rihtwysnissa hingreð … [wes]
5:7 Eadige synd þa mild-heortan. … [wes]
5:8 Eadige synd þa claen-heortan. … [wes]
5:9 Eadige synd þa sibsume. … [wes]
5:10 Eadige synd þa þe hehtnysse þoliað. … [wes]

33. Blessing with blood
The Old English word "bletsede" ≈ "blessed" came from the Old English word "bledsian" ≈ "consecrate or sprinkle or hallow with blood" and is related to the Old English word "bledan" ≈ "bleed" which is the source of the English word "bleed" and "blood".

The German word "Blut" ≈ "blood".
34. English
The Old English word "bletsede" ≈ "blessed" turned into the Middle English word "blesside" ≈ "blessed" which, influenced by "bliss", replaced the Old English word "eadig" ≈ "happy, prosperous"
35. Verses
How does the Greek definition of "blessed" as "happy" or "content" fit the following verses?
36. Morning has broken
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. [kjv]

I heard one pastor (2021-02-07) explain that he could not think of anyone who could be happy about mourning or hungering and thirsting or suffering or being persecuted and so dismissed the Greek word used here and then used the other Greek word that fit his mind better.

Information sign More: Matthew 5:4 B2 Good grief: the consolation prize of comfort
37. Psalms 1: Here come the pigs
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men. [bs3]
μακιαριος ανηρ ος ουκ επορευθη εν βουλη ασεβων και εν οδω αμαρτωλων ουκ εστη και επι καθεδραν λοιμων ουκ εκαθισεν [lxx]

Walk stand sit Slippery slope
Psalms 1 presents an interesting bottom-up forward-chaining progression of the toleration and acceptance of sin. It is a slippery slope.
From the "not" and "nor", there are three ways to avoid. Barnabas makes these connections but Jesus uses each of "fish", "pigs", "birds" and "sheep" (and others) in corresponding roles.

The word for "walked" is the same word that is translated as "go" in the mandate of the Great Commission.

Information sign More: The mandate of Maundy Thursday
Information sign More: Epistle of Barnabas
Information sign More: Psalms 1: Here come the pigs
38. Psalms 1:1
   Psalms 1:1 
 All 
KJV: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Hebrew: אשרי האיש אשר לא הלך בעצת רשעים ובדרך חטאים לא עמד ובמושב לצים לא ישב׃
Greek: μακαριος ανηρ ος ουκ επορευθη εν βουλη ασεβων και εν οδω αμαρτωλων ουκ εστη και επι καθεδραν λοιμων ουκ εκαθισεν
39. Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend
Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he, who soever shall not be offended in me. [kjv]
και μακαριος εστιν ος  εαν   αν μη σκανδαλισθη εν εμοι [gnt]
… beatus … non … scandalizatus … [v]

Stumbling block Reflexive deception DVD: Star wars 6 Snare/trap and sandal

Jesus is speaking. The ancient Greek word "σκάνδαλον" ≈ "trap, snare" as in entice, tempt, etc. Star Wars Admiral Ackbar: "It's a trap!".

The Greek word "blessed" here means "happy". The "offended" means "entrapped" as in being "tricked" or "deceived" or "seduced". How could someone be "deceived" by themselves or someone else about what Jesus really means? A simple idiom as "misinterpret" helps to understand this word in the GNT.

Paraphrase: Happy is the one who does not misinterpret (entrap themselves) in what I say.

Information sign More: Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend
40. Bread
KJV:
Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. [kjv]

Tyndale Middle English:
When one of them that sate at meate also hearde that he sayde vnto him: happy is he that eateth breed in the kyngdome of God. [ty]

41. Luke 14:15
   Luke 14:15 
 All 
KJV: And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
Greek: ακουσας δε τις των συνανακειμενων ταυτα ειπεν αυτω μακαριος ος οστις φαγεται αρτον εν τη βασιλεια του θεου
Latin: haec cum audisset quidam de simul discumbentibus dixit illi beatus qui manducabit panem in regno Dei
Wessex: Ða þis ge-herde sum of þam sittenden. þa cwaeð he. eadig is se þe hlaf aet on godes riche.
Wycliffe: And whanne oon of hem that saten togider at the mete hadde herd these thingis, he seide to hym, Blessid is he, that schal ete breed in the rewme of God.
Tyndale: When one of them that sate at meate also hearde that he sayde vnto him: happy is he that eateth breed in the kyngdome of God.
Luther: Da aber solches hörete einer, der mit zu Tisch saß, sprach er zu ihm: Selig ist, der das Brot isset im Reich Gottes.
Spanish: Y oyendo esto uno de los que estaban sentados conÉl a la mesa, le dijo: Bienaventurado el que coma pan en el reino de Dios.
42. Romans
KJV:
Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. [kjv]

Tyndale Middle English:
Hast thou fayth? have it with thy selfe before god. Happy is he yt condempneth not him selfe in that thinge which he aloweth. [ty]

43. Romans 14:22
   Romans 14:22 
 All 
KJV: Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Greek: συ πιστιν ην εχεις κατα σαυτον σεαυτον εχε ενωπιον του θεου μακαριος ο μη κρινων εαυτον εν ω δοκιμαζει
Latin: tu fidem habes penes temet ipsum habe coram Deo beatus qui non iudicat semet ipsum in eo quo probat
Wycliffe: Thou hast feith anentis thi silf, haue thou bifore God. Blessid is he that demeth not hym silf in that thing that he preueth.
Tyndale: Hast thou fayth? have it with thy selfe before god. Happy is he yt condempneth not him selfe in that thinge which he aloweth.
44. Revelation
KJV:
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. [kjv]

Tyndale Middle English:
Happy is he that redith and they that heare the wordes of the prophesy and kepe thoo thinges which are written therin. For the tyme is at honde. [ty]

45. Revelation 1:3
   Revelation 1:3 
 All 
KJV: Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Greek: μακαριος ο αναγινωσκων και οι ακουοντες τους λογους της προφητειας και τηρουντες τα εν αυτη γεγραμμενα ο γαρ καιρος εγγυς
Latin: beatus qui legit et qui audiunt verba prophetiae et servant ea quae in ea scripta sunt tempus enim prope est
Wycliffe: Blessid is he that redith, and he that herith the wordis of this prophecie, and kepith tho thingis that ben writun in it; for the tyme is niy.
Tyndale: Happy is he that redith and they that heare the wordes of the prophesy and kepe thoo thinges which are written therin. For the tyme is at honde.
Spanish: Bienaventurado el que lee, y los que oyen las palabras de esta profecía, y guardan las cosas en ella escritas; porque el tiempo está cerca.
46. Psalms
Psalms 144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. [kjv]

Luther uses the German word "Wohl" ≈ "good, wealthy, prosperous" in this verse.
47. Psalms 144:15
   Psalms 144:15 
 All 
KJV: Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Hebrew: אשרי העם שככה לו אשרי העם שיהוה אלהיו׃
Greek: εμακαρισαν τον λαον ω ταυτα εστιν μακαριος ο λαος ου κυριος ο θεος αυτου
Latin: tauri nostri pingues non est interruptio et non est egressus et non est ululatus in plateis nostris
Spanish: Bienaventurado el pueblo que tiene esto; bienaventurado el pueblo cuyo Dios es Jehová.
48. Hymns
Here are some hymns that are associated with the word "blessed".
49. End of page
by RS  admin@creationpie.org : 1024 x 640