פשר ישעיה א (4Q161)
Pesher Isaiah A is the Qumran community's commentary on Isaiah 10–11 — the prophet's oracle of the Assyrian march and the messianic Branch. Like all pesharim, it treats each verse of scripture as an encrypted message about the sect's own time: the Assyrian becomes the Kittim — Rome — whose armies advance on Jerusalem in the last days; the Branch of Jesse becomes the Prince of the Congregation, the messianic king who shall arise at the end of days.
Three groups of fragments survive from Cave 4. Fragments 2–4 preserve scattered words from an earlier column (Isaiah 10:12–21). Fragments 5–6 preserve Column ii with running commentary on Isaiah 10:22–32. Fragments 8–10 preserve Column iii with the commentary on Isaiah 10:33–11:5 — the most significant surviving section, naming the Branch of David and the Interpreter of the Law who shall reign beside him.
This is a Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, translated directly from the Hebrew of 4Q161 (García Martínez & Tigchelaar, Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997). No existing English translation was consulted.
Fragments 2–4 (Earlier Column)
[Fragments 2–4 preserve scattered words from commentary on Isaiah 10:12–21. The text is too damaged for continuous translation.]
[...] its interpretation [...] the Kittim [...] the congregation [...]
[...] the elect of Israel [...] the last days [...]
Fragments 5–6, Column ii
[The column opens with commentary on Isaiah 10:22. The biblical lemma is partially quoted, followed by the sect's interpretation. Lacunae are frequent.]
For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them shall return; a destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. (Isaiah 10:22)
Its interpretation concerns the last days [...] those who return [to the Torah of Moses...] and a destruction is decreed upon all [the congregation of the Seekers of Smooth Things...] [...]
O my people who dwell in Zion, do not fear the Assyrian who strikes you with the rod and lifts up his staff against you as Egypt did. For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. (Isaiah 10:24–25)
Its interpretation concerns [the war of the Kittim...] [...] they shall come against [the land] and shall strike [...] the people of [Zion...] but in a little while [God shall turn] their destruction upon them [...]
He has come to Aiath, he has passed through Migron; at Michmash he stores his baggage. They have crossed over the pass; at Geba they lodge for the night; Ramah trembles; Gibeah of Saul has fled. Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim! Give attention, O Laishah! O poor Anathoth! Madmenah is in flight; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. This very day he will halt at Nob; he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. (Isaiah 10:28–32)
Its interpretation concerns the Kittim who [shall march through the passes of Judah...] and they shall encamp before [...] Jerusalem. [All the towns of Judah shall tremble before them...] [...] the hill of [Jerusalem...] they shall raise their hand against it [...]
Fragments 8–10, Column iii
[The column preserves commentary on Isaiah 10:33–11:5. This is the most fully preserved section and contains the scroll's central messianic interpretation.]
Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the great in height will be hewn down, and the lofty will be brought low. He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe, and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall. (Isaiah 10:33–34)
Its interpretation concerns [the warriors of the Kittim. The lofty ones shall be cut down] and the [tall] trees shall fall. Lebanon [is interpreted as] the Council of the Community [...] and they shall fall by the sword at the end of days [...]
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1)
Its interpretation: this is the Branch of David who shall arise at the end of days. [God shall support him with a spirit of] strength [...] a throne of glory and a holy crown and garments of [splendour shall be his...] and the Interpreter of the Law [shall sit beside him. The Prince of the whole congregation, the] Branch of David, shall [rule over all the nations] [...] his sword shall judge all the peoples [...]
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:2)
[The interpretation of this verse is not preserved in the surviving fragments. The six spirits listed by the prophet describe the endowment of the messianic king.]
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. (Isaiah 11:3–4a)
Its interpretation [...] as it is written [...] he shall not [judge] by what his eyes see [...] but by what [...] the Torah [...]
And he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4b)
Its interpretation: the rod is the Torah which [the Priest] commands him. [And with the breath of his lips] he shall kill the wicked — its interpretation concerns [the Interpreter of the Law who walks before him...] [...] all the congregation [of the Community...]
Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (Isaiah 11:5)
[The interpretation of this verse is not preserved in the surviving fragments.]
Colophon
Text: Commentary on Isaiah (פשר ישעיה א, 4Q161), Fragments 2–4 (earlier column, scattered) and Fragments 5–6 Column ii and Fragments 8–10 Column iii
Source Language: Late Second Temple Hebrew (Qumran scribal dialect)
Original Manuscript: Qumran Cave 4, discovered 1952
Source Transcription: García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997
Translation: New Tianmu Anglican Church (Good Works Translation), 2026
Translation Method: Translated directly from the Hebrew transcription. No existing English translation was consulted during drafting. Biblical lemmas (the Isaiah verses) are translated fresh from the Qumran text, which agrees closely with the Masoretic tradition. Brackets mark lacunae; parenthetical notes indicate damaged or reconstructed sections.
Register: Gospel (plain, direct, warm)
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: פשר ישעיה א (4Q161)
Hebrew transcription from García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above. Brackets [...] mark lacunae; editorial reconstructions appear in square brackets. Vacat marks intentional blank spaces.
Fragments 2–4 (Earlier Column)
[Fragments preserve scattered words only; continuous text not recoverable.]
]...[הכתיאים]...[ 1
]...[בחירי ישראל]...[ 2
]...[לאחרית הימים]...[ 3
Fragments 5–6, Column ii
[Commentary on Isaiah 10:22–32]
כי אם יהיה עמך ישראל כחול הים שאר ישוב כלה נחרץ שוטף צדקה 1
פשרו ]...[ לאחרית הימים ]...[ השבים ]אל תורת משה...[ 2
]...[ כלה נחרצת ]על[ כל ]עדת דורשי החלקות...[ 3
]...[ 4
עמי היושב בציון אל תירא מאשור אשר יכה בשבט ואת מטהו ישא עליך כדרך מצרים 5
פשרו ]...[ הכתיאים ]...[ הארץ ]...[ 6
]...[ עוד מעט ]...[ 7
]...[כי עד מעט זעם ואף יכלה ומשחיתם 8
]...[ 9
]...[ הגיע אית[ עבר במגרון למכמש יפקיד כליו 10
עברו מעברה בגבע מלון ]...[ רעדה הרמה גבעת שאול נסה 11
צהלי קולך בת גלים הקשיבי לישה עניה ענתות מדמנה נדדה 12
יושבי הגבים העיזו עד היום לעמד בנב ינופף ידו הר בית ציון גבעת ירושלם 13
פשרו על הכתיאים ]אשר יחנו לפני ירושלם...[ 14
]...[ינופף ידו על ]...[ 15
Fragments 8–10, Column iii
[Commentary on Isaiah 10:33–11:5]
]...[ 1
]...[ הנה האדון יהוה צבאות מסעף פארה במערצה 2
]...[ הגבהים קצוצים והרמים ישפלו 3
פשרו על ]גבורי[ הכתיאים ]...[ 4
ונקף סבכי היער בברזל והלבנון באדיר יפול 5
פשרו ]...[ויפלו בחרב לאחרית הימים ]...[ 6
]...[ויצא חטר מגזע ישי ונצר משרשיו יפרה 7
פשרו הוא צמח דויד אשר יעמד באחרית הי]מים[ 8
]...[ אויביו יתן ביד]ו ואל יסמכהו ברוח[ עז ]...[ 9
]...[ כסא כבוד וכתר קד]ש[ ובגדי ]פאר[ יהיו לו 10
ודורש התורה ]...[ ישב לפניו 11
]...[נשיא כל העדה ]...[ יעמד 12
]...[ 13
ונחה עליו רוח יהוה רוח חכמה ובינה רוח עצה וגבורה רוח דעת ויראת יהוה 14
]...[פשרו ]...[ 15
]...[ 16
ולא למראה עיניו ישפוט ולא למשמע אזניו יוכיח 17
ושפט בצדק דלים והוכיח במישור לענוי ארץ 18
פשרו ]...[ כאשר כתוב ]...[ 19
]...[ 20
והכה ארץ בשבט פיו וברוח שפתיו ימית רשע 21
פשרו המטה הוא התורה אשר ]יצוה[ הכוהן 22
]ו[ברוח שפתיו ימית ]...[ פשרו על דורש התורה ]...[ 23
]...[ כל עדת ]היחד...[ 24
והיה צדק אזור מתניו והאמונה אזור חלציו 25
]...[פשרו ]...[ 26
Source Colophon
Script: Late Second Temple Hebrew (Qumran scribal hand)
Source Manuscript: 4Q161 (4QpIsaa), Qumran Cave 4 (discovered 1952)
Transcription: García Martínez, F. & Tigchelaar, E.J.C., The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, Brill, 1997
Palaeographic Date: c. 1st century BCE (Hasmonean–early Herodian)
Scribe: Good Works Translation Lineage, New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026
The Hebrew text is in the public domain, being over two thousand years old.
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