Sirach facts for kids

Sirach, also known as the Wisdom of Ben Sira, is an ancient book written by a wise man named Ben Sira. It was created around the early 100s BC. The original version was written in Hebrew.

This book is part of a collection of writings called the Apocrypha. These are books that are considered important by some religious traditions, but not by others. They are also known as deuterocanonical books.

What is the Book of Sirach?

The Book of Sirach is a book of wisdom. It shares advice on how to live a good life. It talks about things like how to be respectful, how to be fair, and how to make good choices.

Who was Ben Sira?

Ben Sira was a Jewish scribe and teacher. He lived in Jerusalem during a time when Greek culture was very popular. He wanted to help Jewish people stay true to their traditions and faith.

Why was Sirach Written?

Ben Sira wrote this book to teach young people. He wanted them to understand the importance of wisdom and following God's laws. The book helps readers learn how to act wisely in everyday life.

A Famous Quote

The Book of Sirach starts with a powerful message about wisdom. It says that all wisdom comes from God. It also says that God's wisdom is endless, like the sand on the beach or drops of rain.

"All wisdom is from the Lord and with him it remains for ever. The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity- who can count them?" (Opening of first chapter, New Revised Standard Version)

This quote means that true wisdom is a gift from God. It is something that lasts forever and is too vast to fully understand.

Discoveries of Sirach

Parts of the original Hebrew text of Sirach have been found. One important discovery was made at Masada. This ancient fortress in Israel held fragments of the book.

Masada Discoveries

In a room at Masada, archaeologists found a scroll containing parts of Sirach. This discovery helped scholars learn more about the book's original Hebrew words. It showed how old the text truly was.

Images for kids

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  "Alle Weiſsheit ist bey Gott dem Herren..." (modern spelling: Alle Weisheit ist bei Gott dem Herrn) (Sirach, first chapter, German translation), anonymous artist 1654

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  Illustration for Sirach, c. 1751

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  Illustration of the high priest Jesus Sirach in the Secret Book of Honour of the Fugger by Jörg Breu the Younger, 1545–1549

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  Masada room 1109: Discovery site of Ben Sira scroll (MasSir)

See also

In Spanish: Libro de la Sabiduría de Jesús ben Sirá para niños