Nash Papyrus
The Ten Commandments and the Shema on one sheet, the oldest Hebrew biblical text known before the Dead Sea Scrolls
Found 1902 — Purchased in Egypt by Walter Llewellyn Nash, secretary of the Society of Biblical Archaeology; published by Stanley A. Cook in 1903
Where Egypt (Fayyum, reportedly) (Egypt)
Dates from c. 150–100 BCE · Hasmonean / Ptolemaic Egypt · Second Temple Jewish community in Egypt
Now at Cambridge University Library (MS Or.233)
How Nash Papyrus was found
Bought from a dealer, reportedly from the Fayyum; presented to Cambridge University Library in 1903. Its early date was established by W. F. Albright in 1937.
What it is
Four papyrus fragments forming one sheet of 24 lines of Hebrew. It contains the Ten Commandments in a form mixing Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, followed by the opening of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
Why it matters for the Bible
For half a century it was the oldest known Hebrew text of any part of the Bible. Its pairing of the Decalogue with the Shema matches the Mishnah's statement that these were recited together in the daily Temple liturgy, so it was probably a prayer or teaching sheet rather than a Bible page. Its text often agrees with the Septuagint against the Masoretic Text, and it includes the line 'these are the statutes and judgments' before the Shema, as the Greek does.
The Hebrew word: she-MAH
שְׁמַע
שְׁמַע is pronounced she-MAH and means hear! (first word of the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4) (Strong's H8085).
People this discovery connects to
- Moses — מֹשֶׁה (mo-SHEH) — drawn out
Places
- Egypt — מִצְרַיִם (mits-RAH-yim) — Egypt
Events
Giving of the Ten Commandments · Daily recitation of the Shema
Nash Papyrus in Scripture
Exodus 34:28 One of only 3 verses that name Ten Commandments.
Deuteronomy 4:13 One of only 3 verses that name Ten Commandments.
Deuteronomy 10:4 One of only 3 verses that name Ten Commandments.
Questions people ask
What is Nash Papyrus?
Four papyrus fragments forming one sheet of 24 lines of Hebrew. It contains the Ten Commandments in a form mixing Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, followed by the opening of the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
When was Nash Papyrus discovered?
It was found in 1902 by Purchased in Egypt by Walter Llewellyn Nash, secretary of the Society of Biblical Archaeology; published by Stanley A. Cook in 1903, at Egypt (Fayyum, reportedly).
Where is Nash Papyrus today?
Cambridge University Library (MS Or.233).
Which Bible verses does Nash Papyrus relate to?
Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 4:13, Deuteronomy 10:4.
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