“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse promises satisfaction not to those who are righteous, but to those who deeply long for it. This intense, almost desperate craving for holiness is presented as something God actively produces in us, leading to a fulfillment that surpasses any earthly need.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is launching into the core of His teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, by starting with a series of "blessed are you" statements, or Beatitudes. These aren't just nice platitudes; they describe the characteristics of those who truly belong to God's kingdom, setting a radical standard that contrasts sharply with the world's values. This specific verse follows the descriptions of those who are "poor in spirit," "mourn," and are "meek," painting a picture of internal longing for divine alignment.
We often talk about 'being righteous' or 'doing the right thing.' But Jesus uses incredibly powerful words here – 'hunger' and 'thirst.' What does this intense language reveal about the kind of righteousness God desires from us?
Jesus isn't just talking about a casual wish to be a better person. The words 'hunger' and 'thirst' describe a desperate, primal need. Think about the most intense physical craving you've ever felt – that's the level of desire Jesus is highlighting.
A Deep, Inescapable Need
This isn't about simply wanting to avoid bad things or even just wanting to do good deeds. It's a deep yearning for a right relationship with God and to live in alignment with His perfect character. It’s a recognition that without this, we are spiritually starving and parched.
God's Gift, Not Our Achievement
This profound longing isn't something we conjure up on our own. The text suggests it's a gift from God, planted in our hearts when we are truly poor in spirit and recognize our utter dependence on Him. It's the Holy Spirit awakening in us a desire for the very righteousness that Christ embodies and provides.
If we're meant to hunger and thirst, what happens when we pursue this righteousness? Jesus offers a powerful promise: 'they shall be satisfied.' What does this incredible 'satisfaction' look like?
The word used for 'satisfied' is incredibly strong. It speaks of being completely filled, even to abundance, far beyond mere contentment. It’s the kind of fullness that animals experience when they are thoroughly fed, or crowds feel after being miraculously nourished.
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More Than Just Relief
This isn't just about having your 'hunger' appeased temporarily. It's about reaching a state of complete fulfillment. This satisfaction comes from receiving God’s own righteousness through faith in Jesus. It means being declared righteous in God's sight and experiencing a transformation to live righteously.
A Present and Future Reality
While this full satisfaction will be realized in its ultimate sense when we are with God forever, Jesus promises that it begins now. Those who truly long for righteousness will find it in Christ, experiencing His presence and power to live a life that increasingly reflects God’s character. It's a promise of both standing right with God and living rightly before Him, now and for eternity.
Understand the original words
makarios · Greek Adjective
A state of spiritual well-being and divine favor, describing those who are rightly related to God and are recipients of His grace and promises.
peinaō · Greek Verb
To have an intense, recurring craving; metaphorically, it describes a deep spiritual longing and recognized need for God's provision.
dipsaō · Greek Verb
To long for or desperately seek after something essential for life; spiritually, it represents an urgent desire for that which only God can provide.
dikaiosunē · Greek Noun
The quality of being right or upright according to God's standard, encompassing both a judicial standing before God and a lifestyle of moral integrity.
chortazō · Greek Verb
To be filled or fed to the point of abundance; spiritually, it refers to the complete satisfaction and contentment found only in God.
This passage echoes the invitation to seek God, urging people to come to Him without money and find satisfaction, directly paralleling the promise of being 'filled' for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Psalm 42:1-2The Psalmist's intense longing for God ('as the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God') beautifully illustrates the 'hunger and thirst' Jesus describes, showing a deep spiritual yearning.
John 4:14Jesus offers 'living water' that will become 'a spring of water gushing up to eternal life,' connecting His offer of spiritual satisfaction to the 'being filled' promised to those who seek righteousness.
Romans 8:18-25This passage speaks of creation groaning and eagerly awaiting redemption, a profound spiritual longing that resonates with the desire for righteousness and the hope of future fulfillment and satisfaction.
Revelation 19:9The call to the 'marriage supper of the Lamb' and the blessing on those invited to it speaks to a future, complete satisfaction and feast, offering a glimpse of the ultimate fulfillment of the hunger for righteousness.
vincentMatthew 5:6: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
Shall be filled (χορτασθήσονται)A very strong and graphic word, originally applied to the feeding and fattening of animals in a stall. In Revelation 19:21, it is used of the filling of the birds with the flesh of God's enemies. Also of the multitudes fed with the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:20; Mark 8:8; Luke 9:17). It is manifestly appropriate here as expressing the complete satisfactio…
bensonMatthew 5:6: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
Matthew 5:6 . Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness — That, instead of desiring the possessions of others, and endeavouring to obtain them by violence or deceit; and instead of coveting this world’s goods, sincerely, earnestly, and perseveringly desire universal holiness of heart and life, or deliverance from all sinful dispositions and practices, and a complete resto…
The verse promises satisfaction not to those who are righteous, but to those who deeply long for it. This intense, almost desperate craving for holiness is presented as something God actively produces in us, leading to a fulfillment that surpasses any earthly need.
Jesus is launching into the core of His teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, by starting with a series of "blessed are you" statements, or Beatitudes. These aren't just nice platitudes; they describe the characteristics of those who truly belong to God's kingdom, setting a radical standard that contrasts sharply with the world's values. This specific verse follows the descriptions of those who are "poor in spirit," "mourn," and are "meek," painting a picture of internal longing for divine alignment.
Jesus is launching into the core of His teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, by starting with a series of "blessed are you" statements, or Beatitudes. These aren't just nice platitudes; they describe the characteristics of those who truly belong to God's kingdom, setting a radical standard that contrasts sharply with the world's values. This specific verse follows the descriptions of those who are "poor in spirit," "mourn," and are "meek," painting a picture of internal longing for divine alignment.
"“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." — The verse promises satisfaction not to those who are righteous, but to those who deeply long for it. This intense, almost desperate craving for holiness is presented as something God actively pro…
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Last reviewed October 2026