A JEW.
Who is this beggar blinking in the sun?
Is it not he who used to sit and beg
By the Gate Beautiful?
The Annotated Edition
A JEW. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Read aloud in ~1 minOpen reading mode →
A brief, impactful poem encourages us to take a second glance at a Jewish beggar basking in the sunlight — subtly linking him to the biblical figure healed at the Gate Beautiful in the Book of Acts.
- Themes
- faith, identity, loneliness
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
A brief, impactful poem encourages us to take a second glance at a Jewish beggar basking in the sunlight — subtly linking him to the biblical figure healed at the Gate Beautiful in the Book of Acts. Longfellow uses that one question to bridge the gap between ancient scripture and the poverty present in everyday life. The poem challenges us to consider if we genuinely see the people around us, or if we only pay attention when a miracle occurs.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
Who is this beggar blinking in the sun? / Is it not he who used to sit and beg / By the Gate Beautiful?
Editor's note
The entire poem poses a single three-line question. A speaker sees a Jewish beggar squinting in the sunlight and quickly asks if this is the same man who used to beg at the Gate Beautiful — the entrance to the Temple in Jerusalem mentioned in Acts 3, where the apostle Peter healed a lame man. This question serves a dual purpose: it connects the beggar to a figure from sacred history and subtly calls out the onlooker (and the reader) for needing that biblical reference before truly acknowledging the man. The word "blinking" plays a quiet but important role here — it implies someone disoriented, perhaps adjusting to the harsh light, which mirrors the healed man stepping into a new life, while also capturing the vulnerability of a poor person out in the open on a public street.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
The tone is soft and questioning—it never shouts. A subtle irony lies beneath the calm: Longfellow presents the question as if he’s naming a celebrity, but the subject is a beggar whom most would ignore. There’s also a sense of reverence, using the weight of scripture to emphasize that this ordinary, overlooked man possesses genuine dignity.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- The Gate Beautiful
- In Acts 3, this refers to the gate of the Jerusalem Temple where Peter heals a lame beggar. Here, it symbolizes the sacred act of recognizing someone — the moment when a person who was once overlooked is suddenly acknowledged and valued. Longfellow uses this imagery to challenge us: do we offer that same recognition to the beggars on our own streets?
- The beggar blinking in the sun
- The blinking figure symbolizes those who are often ignored and marginalized — particularly the Jewish poor, who dealt with poverty and social prejudice during Longfellow's time. The sunlight that blinks in can be seen as the harsh glare of public life or as a subtle hint of divine light, depending on your interpretation of the poem.
- The sun
- Sunlight here is ambiguous; it can symbolize revelation and clarity (we can finally see this man clearly) or evoke the uncomfortable, unshielded exposure of poverty. In either case, it compels us to look.
§06Historical context
Historical context
Longfellow included this poem in his collection *Poems of Places* as part of his ongoing exploration of Jewish history and identity, a theme he revisited often—especially in his series *Judas Maccabaeus* and his translations of Hebrew poetry. During the mid-to-late nineteenth century, anti-Jewish sentiment was widespread in Europe and America, and Jewish immigrants formed a noticeable part of the urban poor that Longfellow would have seen in Boston. The poem references Acts 3:1–10, where Peter and John meet a lame beggar at the Temple gate called Beautiful and heal him in Jesus’ name. However, Longfellow's use of this story isn't about conversion—he isn't implying that the beggar needs healing. Instead, he uses this allusion to suggest that the man already embodies a rich sacred history and deserves recognition on that basis.
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
It’s a gate of the Temple in Jerusalem referenced in Acts 3:2. A lame man sat there begging daily, and the apostle Peter healed him. Readers of Longfellow would have been familiar with this story, making the reference evoke a biblical connection for the beggar in the poem.
The brevity is intentional. The poem captures a fleeting glance — that quick, questioning look you give someone on the street. Lengthening it would have diluted its impact. The sudden ending leaves the question open, compelling the reader to ponder it instead of offering a neat resolution.
No. He is comparing, not making a supernatural claim. The question "Is it not he?" is rhetorical — it suggests that this man shares the same human story as that ancient figure and deserves the same level of attention.
It subtly highlights the neglect of Jewish beggars and those living in poverty. By linking this man to scripture, Longfellow challenges the notion that Jewish individuals in hardship are lesser or undeserving of attention. He emphasizes their historical and spiritual significance.
The speaker remains unnamed—it might be a passerby or even you, the reader. This uncertainty is intentional. Longfellow aims for you to feel as if you're the one posing the question, placing the moral responsibility squarely on your shoulders.
It’s a small, specific physical detail that makes the man feel real instead of just a symbol. He’s squinting, out in the open. This also quietly reflects the healed man in Acts stepping into new light—but Longfellow keeps it grounded enough that it stands as straightforward observation as well.
It shows empathy. Longfellow was one of the American poets who consistently engaged with Jewish history and culture, and this poem advocates for recognizing a Jewish beggar with dignity and historical significance instead of overlooking him.
Read next