Matthew 05:09-12 What did Jesus Really say about Persecution?

In Matthew 5:9-12, Jesus created a wordplay with a Hebrew word that can be defined as “Pursue” or to “Persecute.” In Matthew 6:9, the Hebrew term for “peacemakers” literally means “peace pursuers.” In Matthew 6:10-12, the Hebrew word for persecute is the same word that was used for “pursue” in Matthew 6:9.

9          Blessed are the peacemakers {“Make or Pursue” (רודפי) rodpi},

                        for they shall be called sons of God.

10        Blessed are those who are persecuted {“Persecuted” (הנרדפים) Hanarodpiym} for righteousness’ sake,

                        for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute {“Persecute” (ירדפו) arodpi} you, and say all kinds of evil against you [falsely] for my sake. 12 and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted {“Persecuted” (רדפו) rodpe} the prophets who were before you.

Note: Most scholars believe that Jesus spoke a Semitic language either Aramaic or Hebrew or both.

Based on the book, “The Passion: The Poetry of God”