A 70-Year-Long Secret: How the Last Code of the Dead Sea Scrolls Was Deciphered

The mystery that generations of researchers struggled with has finally moved from a dead point. Scientists managed to read one of the last encrypted texts of the Dead Sea Scrolls — manuscripts created more than two thousand years ago and found in caves on the West Bank.

We are talking about the so-called cryptic manuscripts of type B — two heavily damaged fragments that for decades were considered unreadable. Their decryption became possible thanks to the work of researcher Emmanuel Oliveira from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

Why these texts were considered “unreadable”

The fragments, known as 4Q362 and 4Q363, represented a set of strange symbols, more like abstract signs than meaningful text. The miniature size of the scraps — sometimes only a few millimeters — exacerbated the situation.

For decades, scientists assumed that they were either dealing with an unknown language or a complex cipher without a key. However, the reality turned out to be different and, paradoxically, simpler.

Oliveira proved that each sign consistently corresponds to Hebrew letters. The cipher itself was not complicated, but its “masking” — intentionally distorted letter forms, double contours, uneven handwriting — misled researchers for more than 70 years.

What the encrypted lines concealed

After decryption, it became clear: the texts were created by members of the Qumran community — a Jewish sect known for its strict rituals and apocalyptic worldview.

The fragments mention key biblical concepts and names: Elohim, Israel, Jacob, Judah. Central themes include divine judgment, the coming Messiah, and the restoration of ruined cities.

Researchers found parallels with the prophecies of Jeremiah and Malachi — primarily with motifs of loyalty to the community and the future revival of Israel.

Not a language, but a ritual

The form of writing itself is of particular interest. The skin on which the inscriptions were made has darkened and cracked, and the black ink lay unevenly, creating the illusion of a “foreign” alphabet.

According to Oliveira, the complicated script was chosen deliberately. Such a way of writing could emphasize the sacredness of the text and limit access to it — only the initiated, possibly representatives of the priestly elite, could read it.

In other words, it was not a way to hide the meaning from enemies, but a form of internal ritual code.

Mysteries that remain

Even after decryption, the texts retain elements of mystery. They mention an unknown grave and certain “indicators” — possibly tombstones, the description of which does not match any known biblical source.

At the same time, scientists did not find any “hidden mystical messages.” The value of the discovery lies not in sensations, but in a deeper understanding of how ancient communities recorded their faith, fears, and expectations of the future.

Why this is important today

The decryption of cryptic scrolls is an important step for biblical studies, the history of religion, and understanding the origins of Judaism. It confirms that even microscopic fragments of the past can change our understanding of the spiritual and intellectual life of the ancient world.

A 70-year-long story ended not with a loud revelation, but with precise scientific work — and this is its main value. Such discoveries and their significance for modernity are closely followed by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.