The complete Book of Jasher (Sefer haYashar) as a free, searchable PDF. The ancient narrative referenced twice in the Hebrew Bible — Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18 — retells the history from creation through the conquest of Canaan. This is the 1840 English translation, fully public domain.
The Book of Jasher (Hebrew: Sefer haYashar, meaning 'Book of the Upright') is mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible — in Joshua 10:13 ('Is not this written in the book of Jasher?') and 2 Samuel 1:18 (the lament of David over Saul and Jonathan). The original ancient text it referenced was lost in antiquity. This PDF contains the medieval Hebrew narrative of the same name (Sefer haYashar), first printed in Venice in 1625 and translated into English in 1840. It retells biblical history from Adam through the death of Joshua, expanding many familiar stories with traditional Jewish material.
No — and most scholars are clear about this. The original Book of Jasher cited in Joshua and 2 Samuel has been lost since antiquity. The text in this PDF is a medieval Hebrew midrashic narrative that bears the same name. It is a valuable Jewish literary work that draws on the same biblical stories, but it is not the lost source referenced in the canonical Bible. We include it here for historical and devotional study, not as a substitute for inspired Scripture.
The complete 1840 English translation by Moses Samuel, published in New York by Mordecai Manuel Noah. The narrative covers 91 chapters from creation through the conquest of Canaan, expanding stories about Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua with traditional Jewish material not found in the Bible. Use Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on Mac) to search any chapter, name, or phrase.
No. The Book of Jasher is not included in the King James Version or any standard Protestant or Catholic Bible. However, the KJV does reference a book by this name in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18 — that original source was lost in antiquity.
Almost certainly not. The original Book of Jasher cited in Joshua and 2 Samuel has been lost for thousands of years. The text in this PDF is a medieval Hebrew narrative (Sefer haYashar) that shares the same name and retells biblical history, but is a separate literary work.
The medieval Hebrew Sefer haYashar in this PDF was compiled by an unknown Jewish author, with most scholars dating it to roughly the 12th–16th centuries. It was first printed in Venice in 1625. The English translation was produced by Moses Samuel and published by Mordecai Manuel Noah in New York in 1840.
The original Book of Jasher referenced in Joshua and 2 Samuel was apparently a national epic or song collection that did not survive. Early Jewish and Christian councils did not include it among the canonical Scriptures, and the medieval text bearing the same name was never considered for inclusion either.
The 1840 English translation by Moses Samuel, published by Mordecai Manuel Noah in New York. It is the most widely circulated English edition and is fully in the public domain.
It expands many biblical stories with additional details from Jewish tradition (for example, more about Enoch's reign, Abraham's youth, and the lives of Joseph's brothers). Some details align with Scripture; others are traditional embellishments. Always weigh anything in Jasher against the inspired text of the King James Bible.
Yes. The 1840 Moses Samuel translation is fully public domain. You may print, copy, share, or quote it freely for any personal, ministry, or educational purpose.
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