What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls — Meaning Explained

Discovered by a Bedouin shepherd in caves near Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls date from approximately 250 BC to 68 AD. They include copies of every Old Testament book except Esther, along with commentaries, sectarian documents, and other writings. The most significant find was a complete scroll of Isaiah, over 1,000 years older than any previously known copy. Remarkably, the text was virtually identical to later manuscripts, confirming the accuracy of Scripture's transmission over centuries. The scrolls were likely preserved by the Essenes, a Jewish sect. This discovery is considered the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century for biblical studies, powerfully demonstrating God's preservation of His Word.