What is the difference between Sirach and Ecclesiasticus?
They are the same book. 'Sirach' is the author's name (Jesus son of Sirach); 'Ecclesiasticus' is the Latin title given by the early church because the book was so widely used in liturgy.
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Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) — Free PDF Study Guide
A clear, scholarly introduction to Sirach — also called Ecclesiasticus ('the Church's Book') in the 1611 KJV — the fifty-one-chapter wisdom book written in Hebrew around 180 BC by Jesus son of Sirach (Yeshua ben Sira), a Jerusalem teacher. Of all the Apocryphal books it stands closest in tone and substance to Proverbs, and is the single most-quoted Apocryphal book in early Christian writing.
An original Bible Sundays study companion. The full 1611 KJV text of Sirach (titled 'The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus') is included in our free KJV Apocrypha PDF.
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- Why the same book is called both Sirach and Ecclesiasticus
- Sirach 24 — the personification of Wisdom that stands behind John 1
- How Sirach 51:23–27 echoes through Matthew 11:28–30 ('Take my yoke')
- Sirach 28 on the tongue, source for James 3
- The 'Praise of the Fathers' (chapters 44–50) — 'Let us now praise famous men'
What you get
Why the same book is called both Sirach and Ecclesiasticus
Sirach 24 — the personification of Wisdom that stands behind John 1
How Sirach 51:23–27 echoes through Matthew 11:28–30 ('Take my yoke')
Sirach 28 on the tongue, source for James 3
The 'Praise of the Fathers' (chapters 44–50) — 'Let us now praise famous men'
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What is Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)?
Sirach is a fifty-one-chapter wisdom book written in Hebrew around 180 BC by Jesus son of Sirach (Yeshua ben Sira), a Jerusalem teacher. His grandson translated it into Greek in Egypt around 132 BC and prefaced it with one of the earliest references to a three-part Hebrew canon ('the law and the prophets and the other books'). Of all the Apocryphal books, Sirach stands closest in tone and substance to Proverbs, with longer essays on virtue, friendship, work, speech, and the fear of the Lord.
Why is Sirach also called Ecclesiasticus?
'Sirach' is short for 'Jesus son of Sirach,' the Hebrew author's name. 'Ecclesiasticus' is the Latin title given by the third-century Church Father Cyprian, meaning 'the Church's Book' — a reflection of how widely the book was used in early Christian instruction and liturgy. In the 1611 KJV the long title runs: 'The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus.'
Why this book matters for Bible readers today
Sirach stands behind significant passages in the New Testament. James's teaching on the tongue (James 3:1–12) closely parallels Sirach 28:13–26. Jesus's invitation in Matthew 11:28–30 ('Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden… Take my yoke upon you… ye shall find rest unto your souls') echoes Sirach 51:23–27 almost word for word. Sirach 24's personification of divine Wisdom — dwelling in Israel, tabernacling in Zion — underlies John's prologue ('the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us'). Reading Sirach helps modern Christians hear the language the apostles inherited.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sirach and Ecclesiastes?
Two entirely different books with similar Greek titles. Ecclesiastes is the Old Testament book by 'the Preacher,' traditionally Solomon. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) is the much later Apocryphal wisdom book by Jesus son of Sirach (c. 180 BC).
Is Sirach in the King James Bible?
Yes — in the Apocrypha section of the original 1611 KJV, titled 'The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus.' Most modern KJV editions omit the Apocrypha.
Does the New Testament quote Sirach?
Sirach is not introduced as Scripture in the New Testament, but Jesus, James, and Paul all clearly echo its language. Matthew 11:28–30 (Sirach 51), James 3 (Sirach 28), and John 1 (Sirach 24) are the most striking parallels.
Who was Jesus son of Sirach?
A Jerusalem wisdom teacher writing around 180 BC, before the Maccabean revolt. He ran what amounted to a wisdom school for young men and wrote down his teaching in poetic Hebrew. His grandson translated it into Greek in Egypt around 132 BC.
Why isn't Sirach in the Protestant Old Testament?
The Reformers followed the Hebrew canon, and although a Hebrew Sirach has now been recovered in part (Cairo Geniza, Masada), in the sixteenth century it was known only in Greek and Latin, so it was classed as Apocrypha.
Where can I read the full text of Sirach?
The complete 1611 KJV translation of Sirach is included in our free KJV Apocrypha PDF, which contains all fourteen Apocryphal books bound in the original King James Bible.
Can I share this study guide?
Yes. This Bible Sundays study guide is free to share for any personal, ministry, or educational purpose.
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