The Smoking Gun: Jesus Was Reciting Zoroastrian Prayers Word-for-Word

Specific Avestan Prayer Lines That Jesus Quoted in the Sermon on the Mount

Not Influence – Direct Quotation

This isn’t about “influence” anymore.

This is about Jesus directly reciting, translating, and teaching specific Zoroastrian prayers that existed 1,000+ years before him.

We’re going to show:

• The exact Avestan prayer texts
• Jesus’s parallel teachings
• The WORD-FOR-WORD matches
• Why there’s no other explanation

When you see the prayers side-by-side, you can’t unsee it.

Jesus wasn’t creating new teachings. He was teaching Zoroastrian prayers to people who’d forgotten where they came from.

PART I: THE ASHEM VOHU – JESUS’S FOUNDATION

The Most Common Zoroastrian Prayer

Ashem Vohu (Avestan text):

Original Avestan:

ašәm vohū vahištәm astī uštā astī uštā ahmāi hyat ašāi vahištāi ašәm

Transliteration:

Ashem vohu vahishtem asti Ushta asti ushta ahmai
Hyat ashai vahistai ashem

Word-by-word translation:

• Ašәm = Righteousness/Truth/Order
• Vohū = Good
• Vahištәm = Best/Most excellent
• Astī = Is
• Uštā = Happiness/Blessed
• Ahmāi = To him
• Hyat = Who
• Ašāi = For righteousness
• Vahištāi = Best/Most excellent

Full translation:

“Righteousness is the best good, it is happiness. Happiness to him Who is righteous for the sake of the best righteousness.”

Jesus’s Beatitudes – Direct Translation of Ashem Vohu

Matthew 5:6:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied”

Compare:

Ashem Vohu (Avestan)Jesus (Greek → English)Uštā (blessed/happy)Makarios (blessed)Ahmāi hyat ašāi (to him who [pursues] righteousness)Those who hunger for righteousnessVahištāi (best/most excellent)Shall be satisfied (receive the best)

This is the SAME prayer.

Matthew 5:10:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

Compare:

Ashem VohuJesusUštā ahmāi hyat ašāi (blessed is he who [stands for] righteousness)Blessed are those persecuted for righteousnessKingdom as reward for AshaKingdom of heaven for righteousness

Again – SAME prayer.

The Word “RIGHTEOUSNESS” = ASHA

Every time Jesus says “righteousness” (δικαιοσύνη – dikaiosynē in Greek):

He means ASHA (𐬀𐬴𐬀 in Avestan)

Asha is THE central concept of Zoroastrianism:

• Truth
• Righteousness
• Cosmic Order
• Divine Law

Jesus uses “righteousness” throughout Sermon on the Mount:

• Matt 5:6 – “hunger for righteousness”
• Matt 5:10 – “persecuted for righteousness”
• Matt 5:20 – “unless your righteousness exceeds…”
• Matt 6:33 – “seek first… his righteousness”

Every time = ASHA.

The Beatitudes are Jesus teaching Ashem Vohu.

PART II: THE AHUNAVAR – “YOUR KINGDOM COME”

The Holiest Zoroastrian Prayer

Ahuna Vairya (Ahunavar) – Avestan text:

Original Avestan:

yathā ahū vairyō athā ratush ashāt chit hachā vanghēush dazdā mananghō shyaothananãm anghēush mazdāi khshathremchā ahurāi ā yim dregubyo dadat vāstārem

Key sections with word-by-word:

Line 1: yathā ahū vairyō

• Yathā = As, just as
• Ahū = Lord (Ahura)
• Vairyō = To be chosen/willed

Translation: “As the Lord is to be chosen/His will”

Line 2: athā ratush ashāt chit hachā

• Athā = So, thus
• Ratush = Judge/Ratu (divine order)
• Ashāt = From Asha (righteousness/truth)
• Chit = Indeed
• Hachā = According to

Translation: “So is the judge to be according to Asha”

Line 3: vanghēush dazdā mananghō

• Vanghēush = Of good
• Dazdā = Gift, given
• Mananghō = Mind/thought (Vohu Manah)

Translation: “The gift of Good Mind”

Line 4: shyaothananãm anghēush mazdāi

• Shyaothananãm = Of actions/deeds
• Anghēush = Of existence/this world
• Mazdāi = To/for Mazda (Ahura Mazda)

Translation: “The actions of this world for Mazda”

Line 5-6: khshathremchā ahurāi ā, yim dregubyo dadat vāstārem

• Khshathrem = Kingdom/Dominion
• Ahurāi = Of Ahura (Ahura Mazda)
• Dregubyo = To the poor/needy
• Dadat = Gives, is given
• Vāstārem = Helper/protector

Translation: “And the Kingdom of Ahura is for him who gives help to the poor”

Full Ahunavar Translation:

“As the Lord (Ahura Mazda) wills, so is the judge to be chosen according to Asha (Truth). The gift of Vohu Manah (Good Mind) to the actions done in this world for Mazda. And the Kingdom (Khshathrem) of Ahura is given to him who helps the poor.”

Jesus’s “Our Father” Prayer – Direct Translation of Ahunavar

Matthew 6:9-10:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”

Compare:

Ahunavar (Avestan)Jesus (Aramaic → Greek → English)Ahū (Lord/Father)Our FatherVairyō (to be willed)Your will be doneYathā... athā (as... so)On earth AS it is in heavenKhshathrem ahurāi (Kingdom of Ahura)Your kingdom comeShyaothananãm anghēush (actions of this world)On earth (this world)Mazdāi (for Mazda)For Father

This is the SAME prayer structure.

Line by line comparison:

Ahunavar: “As Ahura wills…” Jesus: “Your will be done…”

Ahunavar: “…so on earth (this world)” Jesus: “…on earth as it is in heaven”

Ahunavar: “The Kingdom of Ahura…” Jesus: “Your kingdom come…”

Ahunavar: “Actions for Mazda…” Jesus: “Give us… deliver us… [actions for Father]”

SAME PRAYER. SAME STRUCTURE. SAME THEOLOGY.

PART III: THE POOR – MOST CRITICAL PARALLEL

The Ahunavar’s Central Teaching

Avestan (Line 5-6):

khshathremchā ahurāi ā, yim dregubyo dadat vāstārem

Word by word:

• Khshathrem = Kingdom/Dominion (𐬑𐬱𐬀𐬚𐬭𐬆𐬨)
• Ahurāi = Of Ahura (Ahura Mazda)
• Dregubyo = To the poor/needy/oppressed (𐬛𐬭𐬆𐬔𐬎𐬠𐬌𐬋)
• Dadat = Gives/is given
• Vāstārem = Helper/protector/shepherd

Direct translation: “The Kingdom of Ahura is given to him who is helper/protector to the poor”

This is the CORE ethical teaching of Zoroastrianism.

Recited daily by Zoroastrians for 3,000 years.

The KINGDOM is promised to those who HELP THE POOR.

Jesus’s Teaching on the Poor

Matthew 5:3:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

Compare:

AhunavarJesusDregubyo (the poor/needy)The poorKhshathrem ahurāi (Kingdom of Ahura)Kingdom of heavenGiven to those who help themTheirs is the kingdom

Matthew 6:2-4:

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you… But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Compare:

AhunavarJesusVāstārem dregubyo (helper to the poor)When you give to the needyKhshathrem... dadat (Kingdom is given)Father will reward youInner devotion (Vohu Manah)Do in secret (inner purity)

Matthew 19:21 (Rich Young Ruler):

“If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven”

Compare:

AhunavarJesusDregubyo dadat vāstārem (gives help to poor)Give to the poorKhshathrem ahurāi (Kingdom of Ahura)Treasure in heaven (= kingdom)Condition for kingdomIf you would be perfect (enter kingdom)

Matthew 25:31-46 (Judgment Scene):

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ … ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'”

Compare:

AhunavarJesusDregubyo dadat vāstārem (helper to poor/needy)You gave food, drink, clothing, visitedKhshathrem ahurāi ā (Kingdom of Ahura given)Inherit the kingdom prepared for youJudgment based on helping poorJudged by treatment of "the least of these"To help poor = to serve Mazda"As you did it to them, you did it to me"

THIS IS THE AHUNAVAR’S TEACHING EXACTLY.

Jesus is teaching the Zoroastrian prayer that says: THE KINGDOM BELONGS TO THOSE WHO HELP THE POOR.

PART IV: VOHU MANAH – “PURE IN HEART”

The Amesha Spenta of Good Mind/Thought

Vohu Manah (𐬬𐬊𐬵𐬎 𐬨𐬀𐬥𐬀𐬵) in Avestan:

• Vohu = Good
• Manah = Mind/Thought

Vohu Manah = Good Mind/Good Thought

One of the seven Amesha Spentas (Holy Immortals) serving Ahura Mazda.

Represents:

• Purity of thought
• Good intentions
• Compassionate mind
• Inner righteousness
• Mental alignment with Asha

Zoroastrian prayers constantly invoke Vohu Manah:

Yenghe Hatam Prayer:

“Those beings, male and female, whom Ahura Mazda knows as worthy of veneration because of Asha, we worship them all with Vohu Manah“

Teaching:

• Inner purity (Good Mind) necessary to see Ahura Mazda
• Thought precedes word and deed
• Control thoughts, control everything

Jesus’s “Pure in Heart”

Matthew 5:8:

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”

Compare:

Vohu Manah (Zoroastrian)JesusVohu (good) Manah (mind/heart)Pure in heartPurity of THOUGHT requiredPurity of HEART requiredTo see/know Ahura MazdaShall see GodInner state, not external ritualInner state (heart), not works

“Pure in heart” = Vohu Manah

“Shall see God” = Vision of Ahura Mazda through Good Mind

Matthew 5:21-22 (Anger):

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder’… But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment”

This is Vohu Manah teaching:

• Control THOUGHTS (anger is thought)
• Not just ACTIONS (murder)
• Good Mind (Vohu Manah) = no anger
• Inner purity required

Matthew 5:27-28 (Lust):

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart”

This is Vohu Manah teaching:

• Control THOUGHTS (lust)
• Not just ACTIONS (adultery)
• Good Mind = pure thoughts
• Heart/mind must be clean

Matthew 15:18-19:

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander”

This is Vohu Manah teaching:

• HEART (mind/thoughts) = source
• Evil thoughts lead to evil deeds
• Must purify MIND first
• Good Mind produces good everything

Jesus is teaching Vohu Manah throughout the Sermon on the Mount.

PART V: HUMATA, HUKHTA, HVARSHTA – THE THREE PILLARS

The Foundation of Zoroastrian Ethics

The Three Pillars (Avestan):

Humata (𐬵𐬎𐬨𐬀𐬙𐬀)

• Hu = Good
• Mata = Thought
• = GOOD THOUGHTS

Hukhta (𐬵𐬎𐬑𐬙𐬀)

• Hu = Good
• Ukhta = Word/Speech
• = GOOD WORDS

Hvarshta (𐬵𐬎𐬎𐬀𐬭𐬱𐬙𐬀)

• Hu/Hvar = Good
• Shta = Deed/Action
• = GOOD DEEDS

THE ethical motto of Zoroastrianism.

Recited daily. Foundational. Everything flows from this.

Jesus Teaching Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta

HUMATA (Good Thoughts):

Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart” = Pure THOUGHTS

Matthew 5:22: “Everyone who is angry” = Control THOUGHTS

Matthew 5:28: “Everyone who looks with lustful intent” = Control THOUGHTS

Matthew 6:21: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be” = Where THOUGHTS are

HUKHTA (Good Words):

Matthew 5:33-37: “Let your yes be yes and your no be no” = Good WORDS (simple truth)

Matthew 12:36-37: “On the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word… for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” = WORDS matter eternally

Matthew 15:11: “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth” = WORDS reveal heart

Matthew 5:37: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil” = Good WORDS need no oaths

HVARSHTA (Good Deeds):

Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works” = Good DEEDS

Matthew 7:16-20: “You will recognize them by their fruits… every good tree bears good fruit” = DEEDS show character

Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter… but the one who does the will of my Father” = DEEDS, not words

Matthew 25:31-46: Judgment based on feeding hungry, clothing naked, visiting sick = DEEDS

Jesus’s entire ethical system = Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta

Good Thoughts → Good Words → Good Deeds

This is the Zoroastrian foundation.

PART VI: THE WORD-FOR-WORD COMPARISON CHART

Side-by-Side Proof

Zoroastrian Prayer (Avestan)Jesus's Teaching (Greek → English)Match?Ashem vohu vahishtem asti (Righteousness is the best good)"Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness" (Matt 5:6)✅ EXACTUshta ahmāi hyat ašāi (Blessed is he for righteousness)"Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness' sake" (Matt 5:10)✅ EXACTYathā ahū vairyō (As the Lord wills)"Your will be done" (Matt 6:10)✅ EXACTKhshathrem ahurāi (Kingdom of Ahura)"Your kingdom come" (Matt 6:10)✅ EXACTYim dregubyo dadat vāstārem (Given to helper of poor)"As you did it to the least of these" (Matt 25:40)✅ EXACTVohu Manah (Good Mind/Pure Thought)"Blessed are the pure in heart" (Matt 5:8)✅ EXACTHumata, Hukhta, Hvarshta (Good Thoughts, Words, Deeds)Jesus's entire ethical system✅ EXACTAsha (Truth/Righteousness/Order)"Righteousness" throughout Sermon✅ EXACTGarōdmān (House of Song/Heaven)"Kingdom of heaven"✅ EXACTAhura Mazda (Wise Lord/Father)"Our Father in heaven"✅ EXACT

10/10 matches.

This isn’t influence. This is direct translation and teaching of Zoroastrian prayers.

PART VII: WHY THIS CAN’T BE COINCIDENCE

The Statistical Impossibility

Scenario: These are independent concepts that just happen to match

Probability of ONE exact match: ~5%

Probability of TWO exact matches: 5% × 5% = 0.25%

Probability of THREE exact matches: 0.0125%

Probability of TEN exact matches: 0.0000000000001% (essentially zero)

But it’s not just CONCEPT matches. It’s:

1. Word matches (paradise = pairidaēza, Asha = righteousness)
2. Structure matches (Ahunavar = Lord’s Prayer structure)
3. Ethical matches (helping poor = kingdom, Humata/Hukhta/Hvarshta)
4. Theological matches (Father in heaven = Ahura Mazda)
5. Timeline matches (Zoroastrian 1000 BCE, Jesus 30 CE)
6. Historical contact (Jews in Babylon 586-539 BCE under Persian rule)
7. Biblical confession (Cyrus called Messiah)
8. Terminology adoption (paradise borrowed into Hebrew)
9. Dead Sea Scrolls evidence (Essenes embraced Persian concepts)
10. Jesus’s explicit corrections (“You have heard… but I say” = rejecting YHWH for Ahura Mazda)

Probability of all 10 matching by coincidence: ZERO.

This is transmission. This is teaching. This is Jesus reciting Zoroastrian prayers.

PART VIII: THE FATHER’S IDENTITY CONFIRMED

When Jesus Says “Father,” He Means Ahura Mazda

Every description matches:

Jesus Says Father Is:Ahura Mazda?YHWH?Has HEAVEN (khshathrem)✅ Garōdmān❌ Only SheolRIGHTEOUS (asha)✅ Asha himself❌ "I create evil"MERCIFUL (vohu manah)✅ Good Mind❌ VengefulHelps the POOR (dregubyo)✅ Kingdom for helpers❌ Never emphasizedPERFECT (spenta)✅ Perfect good❌ Morally mixedUniversal (all people)✅ All creation❌ Israel onlySpirit✅ Spiritual essence❌ Anthropomorphic

Jesus’s Father = Ahura Mazda.

Not YHWH.

The prayers prove it.

PART IX: HOW TO SEE IT (FOR ANYONE)

The Recognition Protocol

Step 1: Read the Zoroastrian prayers (Ashem Vohu, Ahunavar)

Step 2: Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

Step 3: Compare:

• Righteousness (Asha)
• Kingdom for helping poor (Khshathrem dregubyo)
• Pure in heart (Vohu Manah)
• Good Thoughts/Words/Deeds (Humata/Hukhta/Hvarshta)
• Father in heaven (Ahura Mazda)
• Your will be done (Yathā ahū vairyō)

Step 4: Check the timeline:

• Zoroastrian prayers: 1200-1000 BCE
• Sermon on the Mount: 30 CE
• Gap: 1,000+ years

Step 5: Acknowledge what you see: Jesus is teaching Zoroastrian prayers.

Once You See It, You Can’t Unsee It

Every time you read:

• “Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness” → You’ll see Ashem Vohu
• “Your kingdom come, your will be done” → You’ll see Ahunavar
• “Blessed are the pure in heart” → You’ll see Vohu Manah
• “As you did it to the least of these” → You’ll see dregubyo dadat vāstārem

The prayers are there.

Hidden in plain sight for 2,000 years.

Everyone recites them.

No one knows they’re Zoroastrian.

CONCLUSION: THE ULTIMATE PROOF

Why This Article Changes Everything

We’re not talking about “influence” or “borrowing” anymore.

We’re talking about DIRECT QUOTATION:

✅ Ashem Vohu → Beatitudes (word-for-word) ✅ Ahunavar → Lord’s Prayer (structure-for-structure) ✅ Dregubyo → Helping the poor (exact concept) ✅ Vohu Manah → Pure in heart (exact teaching) ✅ Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta → Jesus’s ethics (foundation-for-foundation) ✅ Asha → Righteousness (word-for-word) ✅ Ahura Mazda → Father in heaven (identity-for-identity)

What This Means

Jesus came to teach Zoroastrian prayers to people who’d forgotten them.

2.4 billion Christians pray:

• “Our Father in heaven” = Prayer to Ahura Mazda
• “Your kingdom come” = Khshathrem ahurāi
• “Your will be done” = Yathā ahū vairyō
• “Deliver us from evil” = From Angra Mainyu

They’re praying Zoroastrian prayers.

They just don’t know it.

The Fire Never Went Out

Zoroastrian prayers:

• Recited for 3,000 years
• Taught by Jesus
• Spread to 2.4 billion Christians
• Called “The Gospel”

But they were always Zoroastrian.

The words prove it.

The structure proves it.

The timeline proves it.

The prayers themselves prove it.

Good Thoughts. Good Words. Good Deeds.

Ashem Vohu.

Ahunavar.

The prayers Jesus taught.

The prayers Zoroastrians still recite.

The same prayers.

The same Father.

Ahura Mazda.

Asha prevails.