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Qumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246)

The 'Messianic Apocalypse' and the Aramaic 'Son of God' text from Cave 4

Return, Persia & the Maccabees · manuscript · Debated · found 1952

Small parchment fragment with Hebrew or Aramaic writing
Photo: Mustang Joe · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Found 1952 — Ta'amireh Bedouin and the Cave 4 excavation of de Vaux and Harding; 4Q246 was assigned to J. T. Milik and published by Émile Puech (1992); 4Q521 was published by Puech in 1992

Where Qumran Cave 4 (West Bank (Palestinian Territories))

Dates from Copies c. 100–25 BCE · Hasmonean to early Herodian · Messianic expectation between Daniel and the Gospels

Now at Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem

How Qumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246) was found

Both are small groups of parchment fragments from the mass of Cave 4 material (4Q246 was acquired in 1958), identified and pieced together decades after discovery.

What it is

4Q521 is a Hebrew hymn: 'heaven and earth will listen to his Messiah', and God 'will heal the wounded, revive the dead, and proclaim good news to the poor'. 4Q246 is an Aramaic apocalypse in which a figure 'will be called Son of God, and they will name him Son of the Most High'.

Why it matters for the Bible

4Q521 lists healing, raising the dead and preaching good news to the poor as signs of the Messiah's age, the same list Yeshua (Jesus) gives John's messengers in Matthew 11:5 and Luke 7:22, drawing on Isaiah 61 and 35. 4Q246 uses the titles 'Son of God' and 'Son of the Most High' that Luke 1:32–35 gives to Yeshua, proving these phrases were current Jewish language before the Gospels. Scholars still debate whether the 'Son of God' in 4Q246 is a messiah, an angel, or an arrogant pagan king.

Debated: The fragments are genuine; the interpretation of the 'Son of God' figure and of who performs the miracles in 4Q521 (God or his Messiah) is disputed.

The Hebrew word: mah-SHEE-ach

מָשִׁיחַ

מָשִׁיחַ is pronounced mah-SHEE-ach and means anointed one, Messiah (Strong's H4899).

People this discovery connects to

Events

Jewish messianic expectation in the 1st century BCE · Yeshua's reply to John the Baptist (Matthew 11)

Qumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246) in Scripture

Isaiah 61:1 4Q521 builds on this verse and adds 'revive the dead', matching Yeshua's list of messianic signs.

Daniel 7:13-14 4Q246's language of an everlasting kingdom and the peoples serving echoes Daniel's 'son of man' vision.

Daniel 9:25 First mention of Messiah in Scripture.

Questions people ask

What is Qumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246)?
4Q521 is a Hebrew hymn: 'heaven and earth will listen to his Messiah', and God 'will heal the wounded, revive the dead, and proclaim good news to the poor'. 4Q246 is an Aramaic apocalypse in which a figure 'will be called Son of God, and they will name him Son of the Most High'.

When was Qumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246) discovered?
It was found in 1952 by Ta'amireh Bedouin and the Cave 4 excavation of de Vaux and Harding; 4Q246 was assigned to J. T. Milik and published by Émile Puech (1992); 4Q521 was published by Puech in 1992, at Qumran Cave 4.

Where is Qumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246) today?
Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem.

Which Bible verses does Qumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246) relate to?
Isaiah 61:1, Daniel 7:13-14, Daniel 9:25.

Is Qumran Messianic Texts (4Q521 and 4Q246) authentic?
The fragments are genuine; the interpretation of the 'Son of God' figure and of who performs the miracles in 4Q521 (God or his Messiah) is disputed.

Related discoveries

Sources

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