"Write the complete history of the creation — how in six days the LORD God made all His works, and blessed the seventh day and sanctified it for all the ages."
— 4Q216 (Jubilees 2:1)
About This Text
The Book of Jubilees is a Second Temple Jewish text presenting biblical history from creation through the giving of the Law on Sinai, structured as divine revelation to Moses. An angel of the presence dictates the heavenly tablets to Moses on Mount Sinai — a retelling of Genesis through Exodus cast in the genre of hidden scripture, organizing all history by jubilee periods (49-year cycles) and sabbatical weeks.
Jubilees was well-known in antiquity. It is quoted in the Damascus Document as authoritative scripture, and the Qumran community apparently used its calendar. Before the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, the complete text survived only in Ethiopic (Mäṣḥafä Kufälé) and partial Latin fragments. The Scrolls transformed our understanding: fifteen Hebrew manuscript fragments were recovered from Caves 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11, spanning large portions of the book and confirming its Hebrew origin.
The Cave 4 manuscripts (4Q216–224) are the primary Hebrew witnesses. 4Q216 is the most substantial, preserving portions of Jubilees 1 (the Sinai prologue) and Jubilees 2 (the creation week). Other Cave 4 manuscripts cover Jubilees 21–27 (Abraham's testament, Levi's appointment, Jacob and Esau) and Jubilees 32–49 (Jacob's journey, Joseph, the plagues of Egypt, the Exodus). 11Q12 from Cave 11 covers portions of Jubilees 1 and the Cain and Abel narrative. The manuscript tradition is internally consistent and matches the Ethiopic version closely, confirming that the Ethiopic is a faithful descendant of the Hebrew original.
The translation here covers two complete sections recovered from 4Q216: the opening of Jubilees 1 (God's commission to Moses on Sinai) and Jubilees 2 (the creation week, the institution of the Sabbath, and the election of Israel).
Jubilees 1 — The Sinai Prologue (4Q216)
These are the words of the division of the ages according to their jubilees and their weeks — [...] and all the first things, and what will come in all the divisions of the times — for instruction and to lead astray [...] in the weeks of their jubilees, forever and ever, until the earth is renewed.
And He said to the angel of the Presence: write for Moses, from the beginning of creation until today — the testimony for all generations, for their weeks and for their jubilees [...] all the words of the heavens and of the earth and of the deep, and all that will be created until today.
And the LORD appeared before the eyes of all Israel, and they knew that I am the God of Israel — Father to all the children of Israel — and King [...] And Zion shall be on Mount Zion forever and ever, and Jerusalem and the sanctuary of the LORD which His hands shall make on Mount Zion in Jerusalem [...] The luminaries shall be renewed for healing and peace upon all the chosen of Israel, for blessing forever and ever.
Jubilees 2 — The Creation Week (4Q216, 4Q217)
The Commission
And the angel of the Presence said to Moses by the word of the LORD, saying: Write all the words of the creation — how in six days the LORD God finished all His work and all that He created, and rested on the seventh day. And He sanctified it for all the ages, and appointed it as a sign for all His works.
The First Day
For on the first day He created the upper heavens and the earth and the waters and all the spirits serving before Him — the angels of the Presence, and the angels of sanctification, and the angels of the spirits of fire, and the angels of the spirits of the winds, and the angels of the spirits of the clouds, and of darkness, and of snow, and of hail, and of frost — and the angels of the voices of thunder and of lightning, and the angels of the spirits of cold and of heat, and of winter and of summer — and all the spirits of His creatures which He made in the heavens and which He made on the earth, and in all the depths, and in the darkness and in the light. He established the light of dawn [as the first of His works], and after this came darkness [...].
The Second Day
And on the second day He made the firmament between the waters, and the waters were separated on that day. Half of them went up above the firmament and half descended below the firmament, below the face of all the earth.
The Third Day
And He gathered all the fruit of the earth [...] — all the vegetation that grows from the earth, and every tree bearing fruit, and all flesh [...].
The Fourth Day
And on the fourth day the LORD made the sun and the moon and the stars, and He placed them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon all the earth — and to rule by day and by night, and to separate between light and darkness.
And He gave the sun as a sign for days and for seasons and for years and for the weeks of years and for jubilees, and for all the circuits of the years — and to separate between light and darkness, and for healing, that all the earth might be healed. These three great luminaries He made on the fourth day.
The Fifth Day
And on the fifth day He created the great sea-monsters in the depths of the water — for these were the first works of His hands from among all flesh — and all the creatures that swarm in the waters, and all the birds, every kind according to its kind. And the sun rose upon them all [...] for healing, for all that rises from the earth [...].
The Sixth Day
And on the sixth day He made all the living creatures of the earth, and all the cattle, and all the creeping things that creep upon the earth. And after all these He made Adam — male and female He made them. And He gave them dominion over all that is on the earth, and in the seas, and over all that flies in the air, and over all the cattle, and over all the creeping things that creep upon the earth, and He gave them dominion over all these — these four kinds.
And all together there were twenty-two kinds, and He finished all His work on the sixth day — all that is in the heavens and on the earth, and in the seas and in the depths, and in the light and in the darkness and in all.
Jubilees 2 — The Sabbath and the Covenant (4Q216)
The Seventh Day
And He gave him a great sign: the Sabbath day, on which He rested from all His work that He created to do. And all the creatures blessed it. He rested from all His works on the seventh day, and He blessed it and sanctified it — a holy day — and He rested on it from all His work.
And they blessed Him: that all who are made in six days should labor six days and rest on the seventh day from all work. And the angel of the Presence told him that the seventh day is more holy and more blessed than all other days.
For all the angels of the Presence and all the angels of holiness — these two great kinds — were commanded to keep the Sabbath with Him in the heavens and on the earth.
Israel Elected
And He said to him: behold, I am separating for Myself a people from among all peoples. And they shall keep Sabbath — even they. And I shall sanctify them for Myself as a people and I shall bless them, and they shall be My people and I shall be their God.
And I have chosen the seed of Jacob from among all that I have seen, and I shall write all that I saw — unto Me for a firstborn son, and I shall sanctify him for Me forever and ever. And I shall make known to him the seventh day, that he may rest in it, and bless the Creator of all who sanctified them from all the nations — that they may rest with Him together. And the work of His commands shall ascend as a fragrant offering before Him all the days.
The Twenty-Two
There are twenty-two heads from Adam to him — twenty-two works were made until the seventh day. This day is blessed and holy; this is blessed. And one with the other — they shall be together for blessing. And they shall be blessed and holy all the days. This is the testimony and the Torah.
The Sabbath Law
Whoever does work on the Sabbath shall not do any work therein, and shall not profane it — for it is holy. Whoever profanes it shall surely die. And Israel shall keep it for his generations: for six days the LORD God made [...] and the children of Israel shall not be cut off [...].
Jubilees 21 — Abraham's Testament on Wood and Blood (4Q219)
The Wood of Sacrifice
And from these trees shall you give beneath the burnt offering upon the altar — pure in their appearance. And do not give any wood that is cleft, for the fire eats such and its smoke rises [...] And the rising of its fragrance pleases the LORD [...] And at all times be clean in your body, and wash in water before you approach to make a burnt offering [...] cedar, and oil, and myrrh, and frankincense, and the wood of these trees — use them upon the altar.
The Blood Prohibition
And you shall not eat blood again. And the life — you shall not eat blood, and you shall not shed [...] And you shall not shed blood over any [person], for the blood is the life. Without judgment the blood is shed, and it defiles the land; and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood of man except by the blood of the one who shed it. And you shall not shed blood, and you shall not take a ransom for blood — blood for blood — and it will be acceptable [...] before the LORD.
Guard Yourself
And that you may keep yourself from all evil, and that it may be well with you, and be good [...] And you shall keep watch over yourself before the Most High God, from every evil way; step in the paths of the upright [...] and your guilt [...] before God Most High.
And do not walk in their ways or in their paths, that your guilt not [...] from before the Most High God. And he will take your transgressions away from the land, and your seed after you — that your name may not perish from under the heavens, and that the earth not remember you [...] Turn away from all their abominations, and from all their sins [...] Return to God, and command him in all [...] and he will bless you in all your works and raise [...] a planting of righteousness for all eternity; and your name and your seed will be remembered for all generations under the heavens.
And I have seen all the deeds of the sons of men — that they are sin and wickedness, and all their works are unclean; there is no truth among them. Vain and empty [...] Do not walk in their ways, step not in their paths; lest your guilt [...] before God Most High. And he will remove your transgressions from the land [...] your seed after you [...] that your name may not be lost from under the heavens and from the earth. Take heed of everything — turn away from all their abominations and all their sins. And the Most High God commanded; do in all [...] and he blessed you in all your works and raised [...] for all eternity and for all generations.
Jubilees 23 — The Death of Abraham and the Shrinking Ages (4Q219)
Abraham Dies
And it was in the [first week of the] seventy-second jubilee — the year in which Abraham died. And Isaac and Ishmael [...] from Beer-sheba to bury [...] the firstfruits [...] And Isaac and Ishmael and all his house wept, and all wept greatly, for he wept greatly — he and all the house of Abraham. And Isaac and Ishmael and their sons and all his house and all the sons of Keturah in their places [...] And they finished the days of mourning for Abraham — three jubilees, seven weeks of years, [one hundred and] seventy-five years.
The Ages Grow Short
And indeed, all the days of one's life — four jubilees are not completed [...] And all the generations that arise from it — the great judgment will come upon them swiftly. Those who do not complete their years will not complete [even half a jubilee]. Their wisdom will depart and their grey hair will be lost through their foolishness, and all their counsel will be destroyed. And in those days —
If a man lives a jubilee and a half, they will say of him: he has grown old [...] And toil and grief and trouble [...] there is no peace [...] stroke upon stroke [...] turmoil and trouble [...] evil report upon evil report, affliction upon affliction — and all this calamity and evil.
And they will defile the holy of holies with their abominations, and the great king from before that one will give them to the sword and to judgment, and to captivity, and to plunder. And the wicked nations will set on them the nations of the wicked, those among whom there is no mercy for them. And there will be no life, no breath [...] no safety — neither for the city nor for the walled refuge, nor for the treasury.
Yet the righteous will see and be joyful, for they know that there is one who does justice, who does kindness to thousands of those who love him.
Jubilees 37–38 — Jacob's Sons Against Esau (4Q221)
The Sons Go Out
Reuben went out [...] and Issachar and Zebulun and [...] northward toward the citadel. And Simeon and Levi went out on the right, westward from the citadel [...] and with them [were] four hundred warriors, and from the nobles and from the strongmen six hundred more.
And Esau's men fled with them — and they had slain their father with them [...] And Jacob's sons pursued them to Mount Seir. And Jacob encircled Esau's brother [...] And they sent to their father: if they would make peace with them — or if they would kill them.
Peace and Servitude
And on that day, because they would make peace, Jacob sent to them [...] And they made peace with them and made peace. And they placed upon them the yoke of servitude — tribute to Jacob and to his sons all their days. And they paid tribute to Jacob until he went down to Egypt.
Jubilees 39–40 — Joseph in Egypt (4Q223–224)
Joseph in Potiphar's House
And the Egyptian saw that the LORD was with him, and that everything was in his hand; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. And Joseph was beautiful of form and good of appearance.
And his master's wife saw Joseph, and she loved him and desired him. And she wanted him to lie with her. And Joseph did not consent — he feared God and would not sin. For Jacob his father had warned him, from the words of Abraham [...] And Joseph remembered these words and would not.
And she desired him, and he refused to listen. And she thought: a blameless lamb [...] And she seized him in the house to force him to lie with her, and she shut the door.
And Joseph raised his feet and fled outside, and she grabbed his garment. And she said: "The Hebrew servant — your servant — came to me [...] to lie with me." And they put Joseph in his garment [...] into the prison house where the king's prisoners are bound.
In Prison
And the LORD gave Joseph grace and kindness in the eyes of the prison chief, and he showed kindness toward him [...] And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers — the chief cupbearer and the chief baker — and he placed them in the custody of the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison house where Joseph was. And the prison chief appointed Joseph to serve them, and he served before them.
And Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his office [...] But the chief baker — Joseph interpreted it for him: he was hanged. And the chief cupbearer forgot Joseph, and did not speak of him to Pharaoh.
The Dreams of Pharaoh
And in those days Pharaoh dreamed a dream — twice in the night. And he called all the wise men of Egypt and all its diviners, and he told them his dreams; and they could not interpret them for him. And the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph, and he told the king. And they brought Joseph out from the prison house, and he declared the dreams to Pharaoh and interpreted them:
"They are one dream. Seven years of great abundance will come throughout all the land of Egypt, and seven years of famine will come after them — famine such as has never been before."
Joseph Rules Egypt
And Pharaoh said to his servants: "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the spirit of God?" And he was amazed by him in everything. And he made him ruler over his kingdom. And he set the signet ring upon his hand, and the gold chain about his neck, and rode him in his second chariot. And he said: "No one shall lift hand or foot in all the land of Egypt except you." And he made him ruler over all his house and exalted him. And only the throne was greater.
Jubilees 41 — Judah and Tamar (4Q223–224)
In the sixth year — in that year Judah went up to shear his sheep in Timnah; and it was told to Tamar. And she put off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, and she sat down in the gate of the road to Timnah.
Jubilees — Joseph's Death (2Q20)
And the days of Joseph's life — one hundred and ten years. And there was no adversary and no evil. And Joseph died [...] And the sons of Israel [...] And Jacob his father [...] all the days of Joseph's life. And Joseph died.
Colophon
Translated from the Hebrew of multiple Dead Sea Scrolls Jubilees manuscripts, using Elisha Qimron's composite edition (CC BY 4.0, Zenodo). Manuscripts drawn upon: 4Q216 (Jubilees 1–2, the primary witness for the creation account), 4Q219 (Jubilees 21 and 23, the primary witness for Abraham's testament and the ages theology), 4Q221 (Jubilees 37–38, Jacob's sons against Esau), 4Q223–224 (Jubilees 39–41, the Joseph narrative and Judah and Tamar), and 2Q20 (the conclusion of Joseph's life). Additional parallel manuscript witnesses consulted for apparatus: 3Q5, 2Q19, 1Q17, 1Q18.
The Ethiopic Mäṣḥafä Kufälé consulted as parallel reference only; the English is independently derived from the Hebrew fragments. Characters obscured by lacunae are marked [...]; uncertain readings are marked ⸢text⸣. Passages too fragmentary for continuous translation are noted but not filled in from the Ethiopic.
Scribal credit: Dead Sea Scrolls Tulku lineage, New Tianmu Anglican Church, March 2026.
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