description Nash Papyrus Overview
The Nash Papyrus is a small Hebrew manuscript fragment from ancient Egypt, generally dated to the second or first century BCE. Its text combines a version of the Ten Commandments with the Shema prayer from Deuteronomy, apparently for devotional or instructional use rather than as part of a complete biblical scroll. Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was the oldest Hebrew manuscript known to contain passages from the Hebrew Bible; it is held by Cambridge University Library.
help Nash Papyrus FAQ
What biblical passages appear on the Nash Papyrus?
The fragment preserves a combined form of the Ten Commandments followed by the Shema, the declaration beginning "Hear, O Israel." Its wording draws on material found in Exodus and Deuteronomy rather than reproducing one continuous biblical passage.
How old is the Nash Papyrus?
Scholars generally date it to the second or first century BCE. Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, it was among the oldest Hebrew biblical manuscripts known to scholarship.
Was the Nash Papyrus originally part of a complete Torah scroll?
Probably not, because its selected texts and combined wording suggest a devotional, liturgical, or instructional document. The surviving object is a small set of papyrus fragments rather than part of a conventional synagogue Torah scroll.
Where is the Nash Papyrus kept today?
The manuscript is held by Cambridge University Library. It takes its modern name from W. L. Nash, who acquired it in Egypt and presented it to the library in the early 20th century.
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