The Great Isaiah Scroll, the oldest nearly complete book of the Hebrew Bible ever discovered, is being displayed in its entirety for the first time since 1968 at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Dating to around 125 Before the Common Era, the more than seven-meter-long manuscript was unveiled in a special climate-controlled case that allows visitors to view every section of the ancient parchment.

Discovered in 1947 by Bedouin shepherds in a cave near Qumran, the scroll was later acquired by Israel in 1954 after changing hands internationally. It consists of 17 stitched sheets and closely mirrors the traditional text of the Book of Isaiah, with only minor variations in spelling and wording. After initially being shown in full in the 1960s, it was largely replaced on display by a replica to ensure its preservation.

Museum officials say the new exhibition brings together Jewish and Christian communities connected to the scroll’s history and highlights its enduring spiritual and cultural influence. Carefully limited to small groups of visitors at a time, the exhibit forms part of the museum’s 60th anniversary celebrations and will run through early June.