Bible Dictionary
Essenes
The Essenes were a strict Jewish sect active chiefly during the period before the destruction of Jerusalem. They were known for communal living, ascetic discipline, ritual purity, study of the Law, and separation from much of ordinary society; Scripture does not name them directly.
Biblical Usage
The Essenes are not directly named in Scripture. Their practices have been compared with certain New Testament teachings, but the supplied material presents proposed references rather than a direct biblical identification.
Scripture References