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Selected Verse: Matthew 5:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mt 5:6	Strong Concordance	Blessed [3107] are they which [3588] do hunger [3983] and [2532] thirst [1372] after righteousness [1343]: for [3754] they [846] shall be filled [5526].
	King James	Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled--"shall be saturated." "From this verse," says THOLUCK, "the reference to the Old Testament background ceases." Surprising! On the contrary, none of these beatitudes is more manifestly dug out of the rich mine of the Old Testament. Indeed, how could any one who found in the Old Testament "the poor in spirit," and "the mourners in Zion," doubt that he would also find those same characters also craving that righteousness which they feel and mourn their want of? But what is the precise meaning of "righteousness" here? Lutheran expositors, and some of our own, seem to have a hankering after that more restricted sense of the term in which it is used with reference to the sinner's justification before God. (See Jer 23:6; Isa 45:24; Rom 4:6; Co2 5:21). But, in so comprehensive a saying as this, it is clearly to be taken--as in Mat 5:10 also--in a much wider sense, as denoting that spiritual and entire conformity to the law of God, under the want of which the saints groan, and the possession of which constitutes the only true saintship. The Old Testament dwells much on this righteousness, as that which alone God regards with approbation (Psa 11:7; Psa 23:3; Psa 106:3; Pro 12:28; Pro 16:31; Isa 64:5, &c.). As hunger and thirst are the keenest of our appetites, our Lord, by employing this figure here, plainly means "those whose deepest cravings are after spiritual blessings." And in the Old Testament we find this craving variously expressed: "Hearken unto Me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord" (Isa 51:1); "I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord," exclaimed dying Jacob (Gen 49:18); "My soul," says the sweet Psalmist, "breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments at all times" (Psa 119:20): and in similar breathings does he give vent to his deepest longings in that and other Psalms. Well, our Lord just takes up here--this blessed frame of mind, representing it as--the surest pledge of the coveted supplies, as it is the best preparative, and indeed itself the beginning of them. "They shall be saturated," He says; they shall not only have what they so highly value and long to possess, but they shall have their fill of it. Not here, however. Even in the Old Testament this was well understood. "Deliver me," says the Psalmist, in language which, beyond all doubt, stretches beyond the present scene, "from men of the world, which have their portion in this life: as for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psa 17:13-15). The foregoing beatitudes--the first four--represent the saints rather as conscious of their need of salvation, and acting suitably to that character, than as possessed of it. The next three are of a different kind--representing the saints as having now found salvation, and conducting themselves accordingly.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled--"shall be saturated." "From this verse," says THOLUCK, "the reference to the Old Testament background ceases." Surprising! On the contrary, none of these beatitudes is more manifestly dug out of the rich mine of the Old Testament. Indeed, how could any one who found in the Old Testament "the poor in spirit," and "the mourners in Zion," doubt that he would also find those same characters also craving that righteousness which they feel and mourn their want of? But what is the precise meaning of "righteousness" here? Lutheran expositors, and some of our own, seem to have a hankering after that more restricted sense of the term in which it is used with reference to the sinner's justification before God. (See Jer 23:6; Isa 45:24; Rom 4:6; Co2 5:21). But, in so comprehensive a saying as this, it is clearly to be taken--as in Mat 5:10 also--in a much wider sense, as denoting that spiritual and entire conformity to the law of God, under the want of which the saints groan, and the possession of which constitutes the only true saintship. The Old Testament dwells much on this righteousness, as that which alone God regards with approbation (Psa 11:7; Psa 23:3; Psa 106:3; Pro 12:28; Pro 16:31; Isa 64:5, &c.). As hunger and thirst are the keenest of our appetites, our Lord, by employing this figure here, plainly means "those whose deepest cravings are after spiritual blessings." And in the Old Testament we find this craving variously expressed: "Hearken unto Me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord" (Isa 51:1); "I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord," exclaimed dying Jacob (Gen 49:18); "My soul," says the sweet Psalmist, "breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thy judgments at all times" (Psa 119:20): and in similar breathings does he give vent to his deepest longings in that and other Psalms. Well, our Lord just takes up here--this blessed frame of mind, representing it as--the surest pledge of the coveted supplies, as it is the best preparative, and indeed itself the beginning of them. "They shall be saturated," He says; they shall not only have what they so highly value and long to possess, but they shall have their fill of it. Not here, however. Even in the Old Testament this was well understood. "Deliver me," says the Psalmist, in language which, beyond all doubt, stretches beyond the present scene, "from men of the world, which have their portion in this life: as for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psa 17:13-15). The foregoing beatitudes--the first four--represent the saints rather as conscious of their need of salvation, and acting suitably to that character, than as possessed of it. The next three are of a different kind--representing the saints as having now found salvation, and conducting themselves accordingly.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Blessed are they which do hunger ... - Hunger and thirst, here, are expressive of strong desire. Nothing would better express the strong desire which we ought to feel to obtain righteousness than hunger and thirst. No needs are so keen, none so imperiously demand supply, as these. They occur daily, and when long continued, as in case of those shipwrecked, and doomed to wander months or years over burning sands, with scarcely any drink or food, nothing is more distressing. An ardent desire for anything is often represented in the Scriptures by hunger and thirst, Psa 42:1-2; Psa 63:1-2. A desire for the blessings of pardon and peace; a deep sense of sin, and want, and wretchedness, is also represented by thirsting, Isa 55:1-2. They shall be filled - They shall be satisfied as a hungry man is when supplied with food, or a thirsty man when supplied with drink. Those who are perishing for want of righteousness; those who feel that they are lost sinners and strongly desire to be holy, shall be thus satisfied. Never was there a desire to be holy which God was not willing to gratify, and the gospel of Christ has made provision to satisfy all who truly desire to be holy. See Isa 55:1-3; Isa 65:13; Joh 4:14; Joh 6:35; Joh 7:37-38; Psa 17:15.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Shall be filled (χορτασθήσονται) A very strong and graphic word, originally applied to the feeding and fattening of animals in a stall. In Rev 19:21, it is used of the filling of the birds with the flesh of God's enemies. Also of the multitudes fed with the loaves and fishes (Mat 14:20; Mar 8:8; Luk 9:17). It is manifestly appropriate here as expressing the complete satisfaction of spiritual hunger and thirst. Hence Wycliffe's rendering, fulfilled, is strictly true to the original.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
They that hunger and thirst after righteousness - After the holiness here described. They shall be satisfied with it.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
They which do hunger and thirst - As the body has its natural appetites of hunger and thirst for the food and drink suited to its nourishment, so has the soul. No being is indestructible or unfailing in its nature but God; no being is independent but him: as the body depends for its nourishment, health, and strength upon the earth, so does the soul upon heaven. Heavenly things cannot support the body; they are not suited to its nature: earthly things cannot support the soul, for the same reason. When the uneasy sensation termed hunger takes place in the stomach, we know we must get food or perish. When the soul is awakened to a tense of its wants, and begins to hunger and thirst after righteousness or holiness, which is its proper food, we know that it must be purified by the Holy Spirit, and be made a partaker of that living bread, Joh 8:48, or perish everlastingly. Now, as God never inspires a prayer but with a design to answer it, he who hungers and thirsts after the full salvation of God, may depend on being speedily and effectually blessed or satisfied, well-fed, as the word χορτασθησονται implies. Strong and intense desire after any object has been, both by poets and orators, represented metaphorically by hunger and thirst. See the well-known words of Virgil, Aeneid iii. 55. - Quid non mortalia pectora cogis, Auri sacra Fames! "O cursed hunger after gold! what canst thou not influence the hearts of men to perpetrate?" How frequently do we find, inexplebilis honorum Fames-Sitiens virtutis-famae Situs, the insatiable hunger after honor, a thirst for virtue, thirst after fame, and such like! Righteousness here is taken for all the blessings of the new covenant - all the graces of the Messiah's kingdom - a full restoration to the image of God!

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¹³ Arise [06965], O LORD [03068], disappoint [06923] him [06440], cast him down [03766]: deliver [06403] my soul [05315] from the wicked [07563], which is thy sword [02719]:
¹⁴ From men [04962] which are thy hand [03027], O LORD [03068], from men [04962] of the world [02465], which have their portion [02506] in this life [02416], and whose belly [0990] thou fillest [04390] with thy hid [06840] treasure: they are full [07646] of children [01121], and leave [03240] the rest [03499] of their substance to their babes [05768].
¹⁵ As for me, I will behold [02372] thy face [06440] in righteousness [06664]: I shall be satisfied [07646], when I awake [06974], with thy likeness [08544].

²⁰ My soul [05315] breaketh [01638] for the longing [08375] that it hath unto thy judgments [04941] at all times [06256].

¹⁸ I have waited for [06960] thy salvation [03444], O LORD [03068].

¹ Hearken [08085] to me, ye that follow after [07291] righteousness [06664], ye that seek [01245] the LORD [03068]: look [05027] unto the rock [06697] whence ye are hewn [02672], and to the hole [04718] of the pit [0953] whence ye are digged [05365].

⁵ Thou meetest [06293] him that rejoiceth [07797] and worketh [06213] righteousness [06664], those that remember [02142] thee in thy ways [01870]: behold, thou art wroth [07107]; for we have sinned [02398]: in those is continuance [05769], and we shall be saved [03467].

³¹ The hoary head [07872] is a crown [05850] of glory [08597], if it be found [04672] in the way [01870] of righteousness [06666].

²⁸ In the way [0734] of righteousness [06666] is life [02416]; and in the pathway [05410] [01870] thereof there is no death [04194].

³ Blessed [0835] are they that keep [08104] judgment [04941], and he that doeth [06213] righteousness [06666] at all times [06256].

³ He restoreth [07725] my soul [05315]: he leadeth [05148] me in the paths [04570] of righteousness [06664] for his name's [08034] sake.

⁷ For the righteous [06662] LORD [03068] loveth [0157] righteousness [06666]; his countenance [06440] doth behold [02372] the upright [03477].

¹⁰ Blessed [3107] are they which are persecuted [1377] for [1752] righteousness' sake [1343]: for [3754] theirs [846] is [2076] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772].

²¹ For [1063] he hath made [4160] him to be sin [266] for [5228] us [2257], who [3588] knew [1097] no [3361] sin [266]; that [2443] we [2249] might be made [1096] the righteousness [1343] of God [2316] in [1722] him [846].

⁶ Even as [2509] David [1138] also [2532] describeth [3004] the blessedness [3108] of the man [444], unto whom [3739] God [2316] imputeth [3049] righteousness [1343] without [5565] works [2041],

²⁴ Surely, shall one say [0559], in the LORD [03068] have I righteousness [06666] and strength [05797]: even to him shall men come [0935]; and all that are incensed [02734] against him shall be ashamed [0954].

⁶ In his days [03117] Judah [03063] shall be saved [03467], and Israel [03478] shall dwell [07931] safely [0983]: and this is his name [08034] whereby he shall be called [07121], THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS [03072].

¹⁵ As for me, I will behold [02372] thy face [06440] in righteousness [06664]: I shall be satisfied [07646], when I awake [06974], with thy likeness [08544].

³⁷ [1161] In [1722] the last [2078] day [2250], that great [3173] day of the feast [1859], Jesus [2424] stood [2476] and [2532] cried [2896], saying [3004], If [1437] any man [5100] thirst [1372], let him come [2064] unto [4314] me [3165], and [2532] drink [4095].
³⁸ He that believeth [4100] on [1519] me [1691], as [2531] the scripture [1124] hath said [2036], out of [1537] his [846] belly [2836] shall flow [4482] rivers [4215] of living [2198] water [5204].

³⁵ And [1161] Jesus [2424] said [2036] unto them [846], I [1473] am [1510] the bread [740] of life [2222]: he that cometh [2064] to [4314] me [3165] shall never [3364] hunger [3983]; and [2532] he that believeth [4100] on [1519] me [1691] shall [1372] never [3364] [4455] thirst [1372].

¹⁴ But [1161] whosoever [3739] [302] drinketh [4095] of [1537] the water [5204] that [3739] I [1473] shall give [1325] him [846] shall [1372] never [1519] [165] [3364] thirst [1372]; but [235] the water [5204] that [3739] I shall give [1325] him [846] shall be [1096] in [1722] him [846] a well [4077] of water [5204] springing up [242] into [1519] everlasting [166] life [2222].

¹³ Therefore thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069], Behold, my servants [05650] shall eat [0398], but ye shall be hungry [07456]: behold, my servants [05650] shall drink [08354], but ye shall be thirsty [06770]: behold, my servants [05650] shall rejoice [08055], but ye shall be ashamed [0954]:

¹ Ho [01945], every one that thirsteth [06771], come [03212] ye to the waters [04325], and he that hath no money [03701]; come [03212] ye, buy [07666], and eat [0398]; yea, come [03212], buy [07666] wine [03196] and milk [02461] without money [03701] and without price [04242].
² Wherefore do ye spend [08254] money [03701] for that which is not bread [03899]? and your labour [03018] for that which satisfieth [07654] not [03808]? hearken [08085] diligently [08085] unto me, and eat [0398] ye that which is good [02896], and let your soul [05315] delight [06026] itself in fatness [01880].
³ Incline [05186] your ear [0241], and come [03212] unto me: hear [08085], and your soul [05315] shall live [02421]; and I will make [03772] an everlasting [05769] covenant [01285] with you, even the sure [0539] mercies [02617] of David [01732].

¹ A Psalm [04210] of David [01732], when he was in the wilderness [04057] of Judah [03063]. O God [0430], thou art my God [0410]; early will I seek [07836] thee: my soul [05315] thirsteth [06770] for thee, my flesh [01320] longeth [03642] for thee in a dry [06723] and thirsty [05889] land [0776], where no [01097] water [04325] is;
² To see [07200] thy power [05797] and thy glory [03519], so as I have seen [02372] thee in the sanctuary [06944].

¹ To the chief Musician [05329], Maschil [04905], for the sons [01121] of Korah [07141]. As the hart [0354] panteth [06165] after the water [04325] brooks [0650], so panteth [06165] my soul [05315] after thee, O God [0430].
² My soul [05315] thirsteth [06770] for God [0430], for the living [02416] God [0410]: when shall I come [0935] and appear [07200] before [06440] God [0430]?

¹⁷ And [2532] they did eat [5315], and [2532] were [5526] all [3956] filled [5526]: and [2532] there was taken up [142] of fragments [2801] that remained [4052] to them [846] twelve [1427] baskets [2894].

⁸ So [1161] they did eat [5315], and [2532] were filled [5526]: and [2532] they took up [142] of the broken [2801] meat that was left [4051] seven [2033] baskets [4711].

²⁰ And [2532] they did [5315] all [3956] eat [5315], and [2532] were filled [5526]: and [2532] they took up [142] of the fragments [2801] that remained [4052] twelve [1427] baskets [2894] full [4134].

²¹ And [2532] the remnant [3062] were slain [615] with [1722] the sword [4501] of him that sat [2521] upon [1909] the horse [2462], which [3588] sword proceeded [1607] out of [1537] his [846] mouth [4750]: and [2532] all [3956] the fowls [3732] were filled [5526] with [1537] their [846] flesh [4561].

⁴⁸ Then [3767] answered [611] the Jews [2453], and [2532] said [2036] unto him [846], Say [3004] we [2249] not [3756] well [2573] that [3754] thou [4771] art [1488] a Samaritan [4541], and [2532] hast [2192] a devil [1140]?