Digital Manuscript Study
The Nash Papyrus
One of the earliest surviving Hebrew biblical manuscripts, preserving the Ten Commandments and the Shema.
- Date
- c. 150–100 BCE
- Language
- Hebrew
- Material
- Papyrus
- Script
- Jewish square script
- Current Location
- Cambridge University Library
- Estimated Age
- c. 2,100–2,175 years
Quick Overview
Discovery
Acquired in Egypt by Walter Llewellyn Nash in 1898; presented to Cambridge University Library.
Dating
First published by Stanley A. Cook in 1903; later paleographic reappraisal placed it at roughly 150–100 BCE.
Significance
Was the oldest known Hebrew biblical manuscript fragment before the 1947 discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Biblical Contents
The Ten Commandments, blending readings from Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, followed by the opening of the Shema.
Current Location
Cambridge University Library, shelfmark Or.233.
Historical Context
Likely a liturgical excerpt reflecting the daily worship of a pious Egyptian Jew, possibly related to a phylactery.
Reading Time
About 6 minutes for the overview; longer if exploring every line in Scholar mode.
Manuscript Viewer
Zoom, pan, or switch to fullscreen to examine the papyrus closely.
Scholar tools for this manuscript are being prepared — check back soon.
- Repository
- Cambridge University Library
- Current Location
- Cambridge, England
- Shelfmark
- Or.233
Interactive Line Explorer
Click a numbered line on the manuscript to study it in detail. Toggle Beginner or Scholar mode to control how much depth is shown.
Line 1
English Translation
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Biblical Parallel
Exodus: Exodus 20:2
Deuteronomy: Deuteronomy 5:6
Visible Letters
Restored Reading
Diplomatic Transcription
Burkitt (1903)
Cook (1903)
Textual Notes
The papyrus omits the phrase "out of the house of bondage," found in both biblical versions of this verse — a curiosity possibly reflecting where the papyrus was composed.
Line 21
English Translation
Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
Biblical Parallel
Exodus:
Deuteronomy: Deuteronomy 6:4
Visible Letters
Restored Reading
Diplomatic Transcription
Burkitt (1903)
Cook (1903)
Textual Notes
The Shema here is prefaced by a short line not found in the Masoretic Text but paralleled in the Septuagint — important evidence for the papyrus's non-Masoretic textual character.
Parallel Text Comparison
Or.233, Cambridge University Library
Combines readings from Exodus and Deuteronomy; omits "house of bondage."
Exodus 20:2–17 / Deuteronomy 5:6–21
The received Hebrew text as preserved by the Masoretes.
LXX
Shows notable agreement with the papyrus against the Masoretic Text.
A related but independent tradition, useful for comparison.
Scribal Features
Physical and paleographic characteristics of the manuscript.
Timeline
Key moments in the manuscript's history and study.
c. 150–100 BCE
Composition
The text is copied, likely as a liturgical excerpt combining the Decalogue and the Shema.
1898
Discovery
Acquired in Egypt, reportedly from the Fayum region, by Walter Llewellyn Nash, secretary of the Society of Biblical Archaeology.
1903
Publication by Cook
Stanley A. Cook publishes the first description, initially dating the papyrus to the 2nd century CE.
1903
Publication by Burkitt
F. C. Burkitt publishes a detailed transcription and translation in The Jewish Quarterly Review.
1903
Cambridge Acquisition
Nash presents the fragments to Cambridge University Library, where they remain today as Or.233.
1947–present
Modern Scholarship
Following the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, paleographers reassess the papyrus's date to roughly 150–100 BCE and compare it against the wider Qumran corpus.
Historical Significance
Discovery
The Nash Papyrus was acquired in Egypt in 1898 by Walter Llewellyn Nash, who later presented the four joined fragments to Cambridge University Library.
Textual Importance
Before the 1947 discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was the oldest known Hebrew manuscript containing biblical text, making it a uniquely early window into the pre-Masoretic Hebrew Bible.
Relationship to the Septuagint
The papyrus shows notable agreement with the Greek Septuagint against the later Masoretic Text, suggesting the Hebrew text underlying the Septuagint circulated in Egypt around this period.
Relationship to the Masoretic Text
Its order of the Ten Commandments differs from both the Hebrew Bible and the Septuagint, and it blends wording from Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 rather than following either strictly.
Liturgical Use
Because the Decalogue is followed directly by the Shema, scholars believe the papyrus reflects an ancient custom — later discontinued — of reciting the Ten Commandments before the Shema in daily worship.
Dating
Cook's original 1903 estimate placed it in the 2nd century CE; subsequent paleographic reappraisal, especially after the Dead Sea Scrolls gave scholars a wider comparison set, moved the date back to roughly 150–100 BCE.
Scholarly Debate
Questions remain over whether the papyrus served as a phylactery text, a teaching excerpt, or part of a longer liturgical document — the precise purpose behind combining the Decalogue and Shema is still discussed.
Scholarly Resources
Burkitt (1903)
"The Hebrew Papyrus of the Ten Commandments," The Jewish Quarterly Review 15, 392–408.
Cook (1903)
"A Pre-Masoretic Biblical Papyrus," Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology 25, 34–56.
Cambridge Digital Library
High-resolution digitization and full catalog record for Or.233.
View →Open Siddur Project
Transcription and liturgical context for the Decalogue and Shema as found in the papyrus.
View →Educational Resources
The Nash Papyrus at a Glance
A visual summary of the manuscript's discovery, dating, and contents.
View →Scholar Commentary
A short video introduction to the Nash Papyrus and its place in biblical scholarship.
Related Terms
Look up Decalogue, Shema, phylactery, and other terms used on this page.
View → TimelinePapyrus to Modern Bibles
See how manuscripts like this one connect to the Bible you read today.
View →Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Nash Papyrus important?
It was the oldest known Hebrew biblical manuscript before the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947, giving scholars an early, non-Masoretic witness to the biblical text.
Is it a Dead Sea Scroll?
No. It was acquired in Egypt in 1898, decades before the Dead Sea Scrolls were found near Qumran starting in 1947, though the two discoveries are often studied together.
How old is it?
Current scholarly consensus dates it to roughly 150–100 BCE, based on paleographic comparison with other dated Hebrew inscriptions.
Why does it differ from the Masoretic Text?
It blends wording from Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, orders the commandments differently, and omits a phrase found in both biblical versions — suggesting it drew on a liturgical rather than strictly scriptural source.
Why is the Shema included?
The Talmud records that the Ten Commandments were once recited before the Shema in daily worship; the papyrus is thought to preserve that older liturgical custom.
How do scholars date it?
Primarily through paleography — comparing the shapes of its Hebrew letters against other inscriptions and manuscripts of known or estimated date.