Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 KJV)
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 ASV)
Blessed [are] the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. (Matthew 5:3 DBY)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3 WEB)
`Happy the poor in spirit–because theirs is the reign of the heavens. (Matthew 5:3 YLT)
Meaning of ‘The poor in spirit’
The Poor in spirit — One who is deeply sensible of his spiritual poverty and wretchedness. πτωχος, a poor man, comes from πτωσσω, to tremble, or shrink with fear. Being destitute of the true riches, he is tremblingly alive to the necessities of his soul, shrinking with fear lest he should perish without the salvation of God. —-Adam Clarke
The Poor in spirit — Those who feel their inward need of spiritual blessings. Those who count themselves as nothing, and the Lord as everything to them. (Compare Isa 66:2; Lu 6:20; 1Co 1:26.) —- Brethren
The Poor in spirit — That is, the humble and lowly minded – “for their’s is the kingdom of heaven” – for they are fitted to enter into that kingdom here, and to enjoy it hereafter. —- Dr. Whitby.
The Poor in spirit — the humble, who feel their dependence on God in all things, temporal and spiritual, and look to him for the supply of every want; more especially those who feel their need, as sinners, of spiritual blessings, and look to Jesus Christ to grant them. Isa 66:2. —- Family Bible Note
The Poor in spirit — They who are unfeignedly penitent, they who are truly convinced of sin; who see and feel the state they are in by nature, being deeply sensible of their sinfulness, guiltiness, helplessness. —- John Wesley
The Poor in spirit — they, who, though they be not rich in this world’s goods, yet have a spirit suited to their state and condition, not looking for their consolation here, but, having a poor and low opinion of the world and all that is therein, looking after more excellent riches; and, in order to it, are of broken and contrite spirits for their manifold sins, and cannot entertain any proud opinion of their own righteousness, but flee unto the free grace of God, and the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. —- Matthew Poole
The Poor in spirit — the poor in spirit ( i.e. the humble and lowly-minded) —- Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary
The Poor in spirit — The poor in spirit. The humble, in contrast with the haughty; those sensible of spiritual destitution. —- People’s N.T. Commentary
The Poor in spirit — those humble souls that, deeply conscious of their ignorance and guilt, can quietly resign to Divine teachings and Divine disposals, and accommodate themselves to the lowest circumstances which Providence shall appoint them; for howsoever they may be despised and trampled on by men, theirs is the kingdom of heaven; they will be most likely to embrace the gospel, and they alone will be entitled to its most important blessings for time and eternity. —- Philip Doddridge
The Poor in spirit — those who temper of mind corresponds to a condition destitute of worldly advantages; those who are lowly, conscious of ignorance and unworthiness; that is, the humble in mind. Such are truly happy in contrast with the proud, the great, those who are aspiring after the honors of this world. —- Ripley
The Poor in spirit — Poverty of spirit is the humility which leads to communion with and faith in God. —- Teacher’s Commentary