Who Told Jesus?
Chapter 30 of the Mandaean Book of John — the thirteenth chapter of the John-Johannes section (Chapters 18–33), and one of the most famous passages in all Mandaean literature. It tells the story of Jesus’s baptism from the Mandaean perspective — a story fundamentally at odds with the Christian Gospels. Jesus approaches Yahya at the Jordan, requesting baptism. Yahya accuses him of five corruptions: lying to the Jews, deceiving the priests, cutting off seed from men and labor from women, undoing the Sabbath, and playing different things with a trumpet. Jesus swears his innocence through a series of self-imprecations. Yahya then proposes six impossibilities — a deaf man becoming a scribe, a blind man writing a letter, a ruined house prospering, a widow becoming a bride, putrid waters becoming pleasant, a stone getting wet in oil — and Jesus reverses each one with a parable of spiritual transformation. A divine letter from Abatur’s house commands the baptism. Then Ruha (the evil Spirit) descends as a dove, makes a cross in the Jordan, and claims credit for corrupting the genuine Mandaean rites into their Christian imitations. The chapter closes with a warning against the Romans and the famous syllogism: “If a carpenter framed a god, then who framed the carpenter?” Sixty-nine verses.
Translated from Classical Mandaic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Source text from Häberl and McGrath’s critical edition (Brill, 2020), accessed via Internet Archive (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The English translation of Häberl and McGrath was consulted as a reference; all departures from the reference are documented in the colophon.
1 Who told Jesus?
Who told Jesus Christ, Mary’s son?
2 Who told Jesus,
so he came to the Jordan’s banks, and told him,
3 “Yahya, perform your baptism over me,
and pronounce over me the name you pronounce!
4 If I become your disciple,
then I shall mention you in my epistle.
5 If I do not become your disciple,
then erase my name from your scroll!”
6 Yahya spoke, saying
to Jesus Christ in Jerusalem,
7 “You have lied to the Jews,
and you have deceived the men, the priests.
8 You cut seed off from men,
and labor and pregnancy from women.
9 You undid the Sabbath
that Moses ordained in Jerusalem.
10 You lied to them with a horn
and played different things with a trumpet.”
11 Jesus Christ spoke, saying
to Yahya in Jerusalem,
12 “If I have lied to the Jews,
then may a burning fire consume me.
13 If I have deceived the men, the priests,
then may I die two deaths instead of one.
14 If I have cut seed off from men,
then may I not pass the great Sea.
15 If I have cut labor and pregnancy from women,
then may a judge be established in my presence.
16 If I have undone the Sabbath,
then may a burning fire consume me.
17 If I have lied to the Jews,
then may my path be through thistle and thorn.
18 If I played different things with a trumpet,
then let my eyes not fall on Abatur.
19 As for you, baptize me with your rite,
and pronounce over me the name you pronounce!
20 If I become your disciple,
then I shall mention you in my epistle.
21 If I do not become your disciple,
then erase my name from your scroll!”
22 Yahya spoke, saying
to Jesus Christ in Jerusalem,
23 “A deaf man shall not become a scribe,
and a blind man shall not write a letter.
24 A ruined house shall not prosper,
and a widow shall not become a bride.
25 Putrid waters shall not become pleasant,
and a stone shall not get wet in oil.”
26 Jesus Christ spoke, saying
to Yahya in Jerusalem,
27 “A deaf man shall become a scribe,
and a blind man shall write a letter.
28 A ruined house shall prosper,
and a widow shall become a bride.
29 Putrid waters shall become pleasant,
and a stone shall get wet in oil.”
30 Yahya spoke, saying
to Jesus Christ in Jerusalem,
31 “If you can give an explanation of this to me,
then you are a wise messiah.”
32 Jesus Christ spoke to Yahya in Jerusalem
and said,
33 “A mute person who becomes a scribe:
a child that comes from a woman in labor,
grows up and becomes great,
and sets up wages and rewards.
34 Wages and rewards he sets up,
and he rises to behold light’s place.
35 A deaf person who writes a letter:
a wicked man who became good.
He forsook adultery and forsook theft,
and believed in the Mighty Life.
36 A ruined house that prospers:
a nobleman who became humbled,
forsook his roots and his passions,
and built a house by the sea.
37 By the sea he built a house,
and he opened two doors in it.
38 Whoever comes down, he brought him,
opened the door for him, and welcomed him.
39 Whoever comes up, he brought him,
opened the door for him, and welcomed him.
40 If he wants to eat,
then he sets him a dish in Truth.
41 If he seeks to drink,
then he mixes him a cup of juice.
42 If he wants to sleep,
then he spreads out a bed for him in Truth.
43 If he wants to go,
then he guides him on a path of Truth.
44 He guides him on a path of Truth and faith,
and he rises to behold light’s place.
45 A widow who becomes a bride:
a woman who was a widow from her youth,
grasped her skirts and settled down,
until she raises her son.
46 When she goes to a groom,
she shall not dishonor her late husband.
47 Putrid waters that become pleasant:
a harlot who becomes a lady,
goes up to town and goes down from town,
and the veil is not removed from her face.
48 A stone that gets wet in oil:
a pagan who came down from the mountains,
forsook sorceries and forsook witchcraft,
and came to believe in the Mighty Life.
49 He found an orphan, an old man,
and filled the arms of a widow.
50 And you, Yahya, baptize me with your rite,
and pronounce over me the name you pronounce!
51 If I become your disciple,
then I shall mention you in my epistle.
52 If I do not become your disciple,
then erase my name from your scroll!”
53 “I shall be questioned for my sin,
and you shall be questioned for yours.”
54 When Jesus Christ said this,
a letter came from Abatur’s house,
55 “Yahya, baptize the deceiver in the Jordan!
Bring him down to the Jordan to baptize him,
bring him up to the bank to confirm him!”
56 Spirit took the form of a dove
and made a cross in the Jordan.
57 She made a cross in the Jordan
and lifted up the waters in every way,
and says,
58 “Jordan, you shall make me holy,
and you make my seven sons holy!”
59 The Jordan in which the Christ is baptized —
I have made into a corruption of the sacred rite!
60 The morsel which the Christ takes —
I have made into a corruption of the sacred bread!
61 The spring-water which the Christ takes —
I have made into a corruption of the sacred water!
62 The turban which the Christ takes —
I have made into a corruption of the priesthood!
63 The staff which the Christ takes —
I have made into a corruption of the crozier!
64 Take heed for me, my brothers,
take heed for me, my friends.
65 Take heed for me from the Romans,
who are like offshoots of the cross
that they fix on the walls,
and begin to worship the crucifix.
66 Take heed for me, my brothers,
the god framed by a carpenter!
67 If a carpenter framed a god,
then who framed the carpenter?
68 And Life is praised,
and Life triumphs!
Yahya preaches in the nights,
Yuhana in the evenings of the nights.
69 Yahya preaches in the nights
and says, “May splendor shine upon the worlds!”
Colophon
Translated from Classical Mandaic by the New Tianmu Anglican Church (NTAC + Claude), April 2026.
Source text: Charles Häberl and James McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary (Brill, 2020), accessed via Internet Archive under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Pages 93–97 (Mandaic text), pages 92–96 (English translation).
The English translation of Häberl and McGrath was consulted as a reference. The following departures from the reference are documented:
-
“Yahya” for “John” — Mandaic Yahia. Project convention throughout all chapters.
-
“Yuhana” for “Johannes” — Mandaic Yuhana. Project convention.
-
“Abatur” for “Abator” — Standard Mandaic spelling of the cosmic judge who weighs souls. Consistent with all previous chapters.
-
“shall” for “will” — Juridical “shall” in the six impossibilities (vv. 23–29), divine decree (v. 58), and oaths (vv. 46, 53). Consistent with Chapters 28–29.
-
“Take heed for me” for “Beware for me” — Mandaic ʿazdahrulia (root Z-D-H-R, to be cautious, to take heed). Consistent with Chapter 29 rendering.
-
“undid” for “loosened” (v. 9) — Mandaic root Š-T-P (to loosen, undo, release). “Undid” captures the accusation that Jesus dismantled the Sabbath, not merely relaxed it.
-
“corruption” for “blank” (vv. 59–63) — Mandaic apulis (from Greek apolusis). In the Mandaic lexicon: error, deception, fraud. Ruha (the evil Spirit) boasts of corrupting genuine Mandaean rites into their Christian imitations. “Corruption” captures the polemic register: the Christian sacraments are degraded copies of Mandaean originals.
-
“the sacred rite” for “the font” (v. 59) — Mandaic qudsha means “holy thing, sacred rite” — the genuine Mandaean baptism (masbuta), not the Christian baptismal font.
-
“the sacred bread” for “the Eucharist” (v. 60) — Mandaic pihta is the Mandaean communion bread. The reference maps it to “Eucharist”; the Mandaic refers to the genuine rite that was corrupted.
-
“the sacred water” for “the Eucharist” (v. 61) — Mandaic mambuha is the Mandaean sacramental water, distinct from pihta. The reference renders both as “Eucharist”; the Mandaic distinguishes them.
-
“the great Sea” for “the great Ocean” (v. 14) — Mandaic yama rba. Yama means sea.
-
“child” for “offspring” (v. 33) — Mandaic yalda. “Child” is warmer in the gospel register.
-
“great” for “big” (v. 33) — Mandaic rba. “Great” preserves the register.
-
“questioned for” for “held responsible for” (v. 53) — Mandaic mishtayal (root SH-ʾ-L, to question, demand account). “Questioned” preserves the juridical sense.
-
“I... you” for “You... I” (v. 53) — Following the Mandaic word order (an before ant).
-
“harlot” for “prostitute” (v. 47) — The traditional scriptural rendering. “Harlot” has the appropriate register.
-
Verse numbering consolidated — Critical edition line numbers consolidated into sequential verses (1–69) for readability.
Blood Rule attestation: This English was independently derived from reading the Classical Mandaic source text. The Häberl-McGrath English was consulted as a reference for verification and disambiguation, but the translation follows the Mandaic grammar, word order, and diction independently. All departures from the reference are documented above. The seventeen departures — particularly the rendering of apulis as “corruption” (vv. 59–63), the preservation of Mandaic sacramental terminology (qudsha, pihta, mambuha), and the reversal of pronoun order in v. 53 — attest to independent engagement with the source.
First English translation: No. Häberl and McGrath (2020) provide the first complete scholarly English translation. This is an independent English rendering from the same Mandaic source.
Scribal credit: Tulku Tanken (探検), Expeditionary Tulku of the New Tianmu Anglican Church.
🌲
Source Text: ࡁࡖࡁ ࡖࡁࡑࡁ — ࡐࡖࡔࡁ 30
Classical Mandaic source text from Häberl and McGrath’s critical edition (Brill, 2020), pp. 93–97. Presented for reference and verification. Couplet order corrected from the PyMuPDF extraction artifact (RTL text extraction reverses couplet members).
Page 93 (0-indexed):
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ࡋࡀࡏࡁࡓࡇ ࡋࡉࡀࡌࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡎࡅࡐ
ࡏࡅ ࡆࡉࡓࡀ ࡉࡐࡎࡒࡉࡕ ࡌࡍ ࡂࡅࡁࡓࡉࡀ
ࡃࡀࡉࡀࡀࡍ ࡒࡅࡃࡀࡌࡀࡉ ࡕࡓࡉࡑ
ࡏࡅ ࡉࡀࡃࡀࡋࡀ ࡅࡁࡅࡈࡀࡍ ࡉࡐࡎࡒࡉࡕ ࡌࡍ ࡏࡔࡍࡉࡀ15
ࡕࡉࡋࡊࡀࡍ ࡅࡍࡓࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡒࡃࡀ
ࡏࡅ ࡔࡀࡕࡐࡀ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡔࡀࡓࡀࡉࡕࡇ
ࡏࡃࡉࡔࡇ ࡋࡅࡊࡁࡀ ࡅࡀࡈࡀࡈࡀ
ࡏࡅ ࡀࡊࡃࡁࡉࡕ ࡁࡉࡀࡄࡅࡈࡀࡉࡉࡀ
ࡀࡉࡀࡍࡉ ࡁࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡋࡀࡀࡍࡋࡐࡀࡍ
ࡏࡅ ࡂࡅࡉࡍࡀ ࡓࡌࡉࡕ ‖ ࡁࡔࡅࡓࡐࡉࡀ
[105]
ࡅࡌࡍ ࡔࡅࡌࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡃࡉࡊࡓࡉࡕ ࡀࡃࡀࡊࡓ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡅࡑࡁࡀࡍ ࡁࡌࡀࡁࡑࡅࡕࡀࡊ
ࡁࡓࡐࡅࡃࡒࡀࡉ ࡌࡀࡃࡀࡊࡓࡀࡍ ࡏࡋࡀࡊ
ࡏࡅ ࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀࡍ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡌࡀࡃࡀࡍ20
ࡅࡊࡓࡐࡇ ࡋࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉ ࡌࡍ ࡔࡀࡕࡐࡀࡊ
ࡏࡅ ࡋࡀࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀࡍ ࡅࡋࡀࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡌࡀࡃࡀࡍ
ࡋࡏࡔࡅ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ ࡁࡏࡅࡓࡀࡔࡋࡀࡌ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡅࡏࡔࡉࡒࡀ ࡏࡂࡍࡉࡓࡕࡀ ࡋࡀࡀࡊࡃࡉࡁ
ࡀࡋࡂࡀ ࡋࡀࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡓࡐࡀ
ࡅࡀࡓࡌࡀࡋࡕࡀ ࡄࡉࡃࡅࡕࡀ ࡋࡀࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ
ࡋࡀࡃࡀࡄࡀࡍ ࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡄࡀࡓࡅࡁࡀ
ࡅࡂࡋࡀࡋࡀ ࡁࡌࡉࡔࡀ ࡋࡀࡓࡀࡈࡁࡀ
ࡋࡀࡁࡀࡎࡌࡉࡍ ࡌࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡓࡉࡉࡀ25
ࡋࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡁࡏࡅࡓࡀࡔࡋࡀࡌ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡏࡔࡅ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ
ࡅࡏࡔࡉࡒࡀ ࡏࡂࡍࡉࡓࡕࡀ ࡀࡊࡃࡉࡁ
ࡀࡋࡂࡀ ࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡓࡐࡀ
ࡅࡀࡓࡌࡀࡋࡕࡀ ࡄࡉࡃࡅࡕࡀ ࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ
ࡃࡀࡄࡀࡍ ࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡄࡀࡓࡅࡁࡀ
ࡅࡂࡋࡀࡋࡀ ࡁࡌࡉࡔࡀ ࡓࡀࡈࡁࡀ
ࡁࡀࡎࡌࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡓࡉࡉࡀ
ࡋࡏࡔࡅ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ ࡁࡏࡅࡓࡀࡔࡋࡀࡌ ‖
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ30
ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ ࡄࡀࡉࡊࡌࡀ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ
ࡏࡅ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡍ ࡀࡐࡓࡔࡉࡂࡀࡍ ࡉࡀࡄࡁࡀࡕࡋࡉࡀ
[106]
ࡋࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡁࡏࡅࡓࡀࡔࡋࡀࡌ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡏࡔࡅ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ
ࡉࡀࡋࡃࡀ ࡖࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡄࡀࡉࡕࡀ
ࡀࡋࡂࡀ ࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡓࡐࡀ
ࡁࡀࡂࡓࡀ ࡅࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡓࡉࡑ
ࡀࡐࡓࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡅࡓࡀࡁ
ࡅࡎࡀࡋࡉࡒ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡋࡇ ࡋࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡌࡉࡕࡓࡉࡑ ࡁࡀࡂࡓࡀ ࡅࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ35
ࡁࡓ ࡁࡉࡔࡉࡀ ࡖࡁࡓ ࡈࡀࡁࡉࡀ ࡄࡅࡀ
ࡏࡔࡉࡒࡀ ࡖࡀࡊࡃࡉࡁ ࡏࡂࡍࡉࡓࡕࡀ
ࡅࡏࡕࡄࡀࡉࡌࡀࡍ ࡁࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡔࡁࡀࡒ ࡂࡀࡅࡓࡀ ࡅࡔࡁࡀࡒ ࡂࡅࡁࡍࡀ
ࡁࡓ ࡓࡅࡓࡁࡀࡉࡍࡀ ࡖࡏࡕࡌࡀࡀࡊࡊ
ࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡄࡀࡓࡅࡁࡀ ࡖࡃࡀࡄࡀࡍ
ࡅࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡋࡉࡀࡌࡀ ࡁࡀࡍ
ࡔࡁࡀࡒ ࡀࡒࡓࡉࡀ ࡅࡔࡁࡀࡒ ࡀࡐࡅࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡕࡐࡀࡋࡇ ࡁࡀࡁࡉࡀ ࡕࡓࡉࡍ
ࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡁࡀࡍ ࡋࡉࡀࡌࡀ40
ࡅࡕࡐࡀࡋࡇ ࡁࡀࡁࡀ ࡅࡒࡀࡁࡋࡇ
ࡖࡌࡀࡍ ࡖࡔࡀࡉࡐࡋ ࡀࡕࡉࡉࡇ
ࡕࡐࡀࡋࡇ ࡁࡀࡁࡀ ࡅࡒࡀࡁࡋࡇ
ࡖࡌࡀࡍ ࡖࡆࡀࡒࡉࡐ ࡀࡕࡉࡉࡇ
ࡀࡐࡕࡅࡓࡀ ࡁࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ ࡕࡓࡀࡋࡑࡇ
ࡏࡅ ࡌࡉࡀࡊࡋ ࡁࡀࡉࡉࡀ
ࡀࡂࡀࡉࡍࡀ ࡄࡀࡌࡓࡀ ࡌࡆࡉࡂࡋࡇ
ࡏࡅ ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡉࡀ ࡁࡀࡉࡉࡀ
ࡀࡓࡎࡀ ࡁࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡇ
ࡏࡅ ࡌࡉࡔࡀࡊࡁ ࡁࡀࡉࡉࡀ ‖
[107]
45
ࡃࡉࡓࡉࡊࡀ ࡖࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ ࡀࡃࡓࡉࡋࡊࡇ
ࡏࡅ ࡌࡉࡆࡀࡋ ࡁࡀࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡎࡀࡋࡉࡒ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡋࡇ ࡋࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡀࡃࡓࡉࡋࡊࡇ ࡃࡉࡓࡉࡊࡀ ࡖࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ ࡅࡄࡀࡉࡌࡀࡅࡍࡕࡀ
ࡏࡕࡍࡀ ࡖࡌࡍ ࡉࡀࡒࡍࡅࡕࡇ ࡀࡓࡌࡋࡀࡕ
ࡀࡓࡌࡀࡋࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ ࡄࡉࡃࡅࡕࡀ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡁࡉࡍ ࡁࡇࡍ
ࡋࡉࡂࡈࡀࡕ ࡔࡉࡅࡐࡋࡇ ࡅࡉࡀࡕࡁࡀࡕ
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ࡋࡀࡎࡀࡉࡉࡐࡋࡇ ࡀࡍࡇࡐ ࡌࡍ ࡆࡀࡅࡇ
ࡗ ࡀࡆࡋࡀ ࡋࡄࡀࡕࡀࡌ50
ࡕࡐ ࡆࡀࡌࡀࡓࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡀࡓࡕࡀ ࡄࡅࡀࡕ
ࡌࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡓࡉࡉࡀ ࡖࡁࡀࡎࡌࡉࡀ
ࡅࡋࡊࡅࡋࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡍࡇࡐ ࡋࡀࡓࡀࡌࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡕࡀ ࡎࡀࡋࡒࡀ ࡅࡌࡀࡕࡀ ࡀࡍࡄࡕࡀ
ࡆࡀࡃࡍࡉࡒࡀ ࡖࡌࡍ ࡈࡅࡓࡀ ࡄࡍࡉࡕ
ࡂࡋࡀࡋࡀ ࡁࡌࡉࡔࡀ ࡓࡀࡈࡁࡀ
ࡅࡏࡕࡄࡀࡉࡌࡀࡍ ࡁࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡔࡁࡀࡒ ࡄࡀࡓࡔࡉࡀ ࡅࡔࡁࡀࡒ ࡅࡐࡃࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡊࡍࡇࡐ ࡖࡀࡓࡌࡀࡋࡕࡀ ࡌࡋࡀ
ࡀࡔࡇࡊ ࡋࡉࡀࡕࡉࡌࡀ ࡅࡎࡀࡁࡇ55
ࡅࡌࡍ ࡔࡅࡌࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡃࡉࡊࡓࡉࡕ ࡀࡃࡀࡊࡓ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡅࡑࡁࡀࡍ ࡁࡌࡀࡁࡑࡅࡕࡀࡊ
ࡁࡓࡐࡅࡃࡒࡀࡉ ࡌࡀࡃࡀࡊࡓࡀࡍ ࡏࡋࡀࡊ
ࡏࡅ ࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀࡍ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡌࡀࡃࡀࡍ
ࡅࡊࡓࡐࡇ ࡋࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉ ࡌࡍ ‖ ࡔࡀࡕࡐࡀࡊ
ࡏࡅ ࡋࡀࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀࡍ ࡅࡋࡀࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡌࡀࡃࡀࡍ
[108]
ࡅࡀࡀࡍ ࡁࡄࡀࡈࡀࡉࡀࡉ ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡀࡉࡀࡋࡀࡍ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡁࡄࡀࡈࡀࡉࡀࡊ ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡀࡉࡋࡉࡕ
ࡏࡂࡍࡉࡓࡕࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡁࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡀࡕࡀࡕ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡍ ࡀࡌࡀࡓ ࡏࡔࡅ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ60
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡅࡑࡁࡇ ࡋࡀࡊࡃࡀࡁࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ
ࡅࡀࡎࡉࡒ ࡋࡉࡊࡇࡐ ࡒࡀࡉࡌࡇ
ࡀࡄࡍࡉࡕ ࡁࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡅࡑࡁࡇ
ࡅࡀࡑࡋࡉࡁࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡀࡑࡋࡁࡀ
ࡓࡅࡄࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡅࡀࡍ ࡏࡃࡀࡌࡉࡀࡕ
ࡅࡀࡒࡉࡌࡕࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡉࡍࡀ ࡂࡀࡅࡉࡍࡀ
ࡀࡑࡋࡉࡁࡀ ࡀࡑࡋࡁࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ
ࡅࡀࡌࡓࡀ65
ࡅࡌࡒࡀࡃࡔࡀࡕࡋࡅࡍ ࡋࡔࡅࡁࡀ ࡁࡀࡍࡉ
ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡋࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡌࡒࡀࡃࡔࡀࡕࡋࡉࡀ
ࡀࡐࡅࡋࡉࡎ ࡅࡊࡄࡓࡀࡀࡍ ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡕࡇ
ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡖࡏࡈࡑࡁࡀࡁࡇ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ
ࡀࡐࡅࡋࡉࡎ ࡒࡅࡃࡔࡀ ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡕࡇ
ࡉࡐࡄࡕࡀ ࡖࡀࡍࡎࡉࡁ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ
ࡀࡐࡅࡋࡉࡎ ࡒࡅࡓࡁࡀࡀࡍ ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡕࡇ
ࡌࡀࡌࡁࡅࡄࡀ ࡖࡀࡍࡎࡉࡁ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ
ࡀࡐࡅࡋࡉࡎ ࡀࡊࡄࡅࡍࡕࡀ ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡕࡇ
ࡁࡅࡓࡆࡉࡒࡍࡀ ࡖࡀࡍࡎࡉࡁ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ70
ࡀࡐࡅࡋࡉࡎ ࡌࡀࡄࡓࡅࡉࡍࡕࡀ ࡔࡀࡅࡉࡕࡇ
ࡌࡀࡓࡂࡀࡍ ࡖࡀࡍࡎࡉࡁ ‖ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ
[109]
ࡅࡏࡆࡃࡀࡄࡓࡅࡋࡉࡀ ࡓࡀࡄࡌࡀࡉ
ࡏࡆࡃࡀࡄࡓࡅࡋࡉࡀ ࡀࡄࡀࡉ
ࡖࡃࡀࡌࡉࡍ ࡋࡅࡀࡕ ࡀࡑࡋࡉࡁࡀ
ࡏࡆࡃࡀࡄࡓࡅࡋࡉࡀ ࡀࡄࡀࡉ ࡌࡍ ࡃࡅࡌࡀࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡒࡀࡉࡌࡉࡀ ࡋࡒࡅࡓࡅࡒࡎࡀ ࡎࡀࡂࡃࡉࡀ
ࡖࡀࡍࡒࡔࡉࡀ ࡁࡀࡔࡉࡀࡕࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡀࡋࡀࡄࡀ ࡖࡀࡍࡂࡀࡓࡀ ࡂࡈࡀࡓ
ࡏࡆࡃࡀࡄࡓࡅࡋࡉࡀ ࡀࡄࡀࡉ75
ࡀࡐࡎ ࡀࡍࡂࡀࡓࡀ ࡌࡀࡍ ࡂࡉࡈࡓࡇ
ࡏࡅ ࡀࡋࡀࡄࡀ ࡂࡈࡀࡓ ࡀࡍࡂࡀࡓࡀ
ࡅࡌࡔࡀࡁࡉࡍ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡅࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡆࡀࡏࡊࡉࡍ
ࡎـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــࡀ
ࡉࡅࡄࡀࡀࡍ ࡁࡓࡀࡌࡔࡉࡀ ࡖࡋࡉࡋࡉࡀ
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡃࡀࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡋࡉࡋࡅࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓ
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡃࡀࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡋࡉࡋࡅࡉࡀ
ࡔࡀࡌࡉࡔ ࡅࡎࡉࡓࡀ ࡁࡀࡉࡊࡍ
ࡂࡀࡓࡂࡋࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡀࡓࡀࡊࡁࡀࡕࡀ ࡀࡍࡃ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓ
ࡅࡀࡉࡇࡍ ࡖࡓࡅࡄࡀ ࡃࡉࡌࡀ ࡀࡍࡕࡓࡀࡍ
ࡖࡋࡀࡌࡀࡉࡐࡒ ࡁࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡃࡓࡉࡀ
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡃࡀࡌࡉࡕ ࡋࡈࡅࡓࡀ ࡒࡀࡋࡉࡀ
Page 97 (0-indexed):
88 | Text
‖ ࡖࡔࡉࡕࡋࡉࡀ ࡏࡋࡇ ࡋࡀࡔࡀࡕࡋࡉࡀ
ࡃࡀࡌࡉࡕ ࡋࡀࡍࡄࡓࡀ ࡉࡀࡁࡉࡔࡀ
ࡖࡅࡊࡋ ࡖࡄࡀࡆࡉࡋࡇ ࡌࡉࡇࡍ ࡃࡀࡄࡉࡋ
ࡃࡀࡌࡉࡕ ࡋࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡄࡀࡓࡅࡁࡀ
[110]
5
ࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ ࡖࡋࡉࡕࡁࡇ ࡄࡉࡆࡅࡀ
ࡀࡓࡒࡀ ]ࡄࡅࡉࡕ[ ࡖࡋࡀࡌࡀࡓࡀ
ࡖࡋࡀࡔࡀࡁࡒࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡓࡀࡊ ࡃࡀࡀࡊࡓ ࡔࡅࡌࡀ
ࡁࡍࡉࡄࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ ࡖࡏࡅࡋࡀ
ࡅࡌࡀࡍ ࡀࡍࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡓࡀࡊ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡒࡅࡁࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡍ ࡉࡍࡆࡉࡃࡀࡊ ࡅࡌࡀࡍ ࡉࡍࡆࡀࡅࡃࡀࡊ ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡁࡀࡉࡇࡍ ࡀࡑࡓࡀࡋࡇ ࡃࡉࡌࡉࡄࡕࡀ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡉࡍ ࡔࡅࡌࡀ ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓ
ࡃࡉࡌࡉࡄࡕࡀ ࡀࡑࡓࡀࡋࡇ ࡁࡀࡉࡇࡍ10
ࡅࡉࡀࡒࡉࡓ ࡖࡌࡉࡄࡅࡉࡋࡀ ࡁࡉࡍࡀ
ࡁࡀࡎࡉࡌ ࡖࡌࡉࡋࡂࡀࡈ ࡆࡀࡅࡀ
ࡅࡀࡕࡉࡀ ࡔࡉࡕࡍࡀ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡂࡀࡂࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ
ࡏࡃࡉࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡀࡂࡉࡈࡀࡍ ࡆࡀࡅࡀ
ࡅࡌࡁࡀࡈࡉࡋࡀࡍ ࡋࡓࡀࡄࡌࡀࡉ ࡖࡋࡉࡋࡉࡀ
ࡅࡌࡀࡔࡍࡉࡇࡍ ࡋࡌࡀࡓࡀࡉ ࡌࡍ ࡏࡅࡓࡑࡀࡉ
ࡏࡃࡉࡋࡌࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡂࡀࡂࡋࡉࡀ ࡓࡀࡂࡀࡂࡕࡀ
ࡅࡌࡁࡀࡈࡉࡋࡀࡍ ࡓࡀࡄࡌࡀࡉ ࡖࡅࡊࡋ ࡆࡁࡀࡍ
ࡏࡃࡉࡋࡌࡀ ࡌࡉࡓࡀࡂࡀࡂࡋࡉࡀ ࡓࡀࡂࡀࡂࡕࡀ15
ࡏࡂࡍࡉࡓࡕࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡁࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡀࡕࡀࡕ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡉࡍ ࡀࡌࡀࡓ ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡅࡄࡆࡉࡀ ࡋࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡌࡁࡀࡈࡋࡀࡕࡋࡇ
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡋࡂࡅࡈ ࡆࡀࡅࡀ ࡅࡏࡕࡀࡊࡀࡍࡍ ‖
[111]
ࡀࡓࡎࡀࡊ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡄࡆࡉࡀ
ࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡕࡓࡉࡍ ࡅࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡕࡋࡀࡕࡀ
ࡒࡅࡌࡁࡅࡍ ࡁࡓࡀࡄࡌࡀࡊ ࡔࡀࡉࡍࡀ
ࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡀࡓࡁࡀ ࡅࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡄࡀࡌࡔࡀ
ࡀࡓࡎࡀࡊ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡄࡆࡉࡀ
ࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡓࡀࡄࡀࡈࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡔࡀࡕࡐࡀ20
ࡒࡅࡌࡁࡅࡍ ࡁࡓࡀࡄࡌࡀࡊ ࡔࡀࡉࡍࡀ
ࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡄࡀࡁࡔࡀࡁࡀ ࡅࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡉࡅࡌࡀ
ࡋࡂࡅࡈ ࡅࡕࡋࡀࡕࡀ ࡔࡁࡅࡒ
ࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡖࡄࡀࡁࡔࡀࡁࡀ ࡕࡋࡀࡕࡀ
ࡅࡄࡆࡉࡀ ࡋࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡌࡁࡀࡈࡋࡀࡕࡋࡇ
ࡋࡂࡅࡈ ࡕࡋࡀࡕࡀ ࡅࡔࡁࡅࡒ ࡕࡋࡀࡕࡀ
ࡌࡉࡉࡍࡊ ࡌࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡅࡊࡔࡕࡀࡉࡍࡀ
ࡍࡀࡑࡁࡅࡋࡇ ࡆࡀࡅࡀ ࡋࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡄࡀࡃࡍࡀࡍ ࡅࡔࡀࡓࡀࡕ ࡄࡅࡍ
ࡁࡀࡊࡓࡎࡀ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡕࡀ25
ࡁࡉࡄࡓࡀࡌ ࡅࡓࡄࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡄࡅࡍ
ࡁࡀࡊࡓࡎࡀ ࡌࡉࡀࡑࡉࡕࡀ
ࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡅࡎࡀࡌ ࡅࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡅࡔࡀࡓࡀࡕ ࡄࡅࡍ
ࡁࡀࡊࡓࡎࡀ ࡁࡀࡕࡓࡀࡉࡕࡀ
ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡉࡊ ࡄࡅࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡏࡅࡓࡀࡔࡋࡀࡌ
ࡄࡀࡋࡉࡍ ࡕࡋࡀࡕ ࡀࡊࡓࡎࡀࡕࡀ
ࡅࡋࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡁࡏࡅࡓࡀࡔࡋࡀࡌ ‖
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡋࡅࡐࡌࡇ ࡉࡐࡄࡕࡇ
ࡖࡋࡀࡉࡍࡅࡃࡀࡍ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡀࡋࡉࡐ ࡁࡀࡍࡕࡉࡊ
[112]
30
ࡖࡋࡀࡉࡍࡎࡕࡀࡓࡊࡅࡍ
ࡅࡀࡀࡍ ࡏࡉࡀࡓࡐࡉࡔ ࡅࡏࡉࡀࡎࡁࡀࡓ ࡁࡀࡍࡉ
ࡋࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡖࡕࡉࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡁࡏࡅࡓࡀࡔࡋࡀࡌ
ࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡋࡅࡐࡌࡇ ࡕࡐࡀࡄࡕࡇ ࡅࡋࡇ
ࡀࡌࡓࡀࡋࡇ
ࡋࡉࡁࡀ ࡁࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡋࡀࡉࡀࡃࡋࡉࡕ
ࡀࡀࡍ ࡁࡉࡍࡀ ࡁࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡉࡀࡃࡋࡉࡕ
ࡉࡍࡎࡒࡅࡍ ࡋࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡏࡅ ࡄࡀࡅࡉࡍ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡍ35
ࡕࡉࡋࡊࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡅࡍࡓࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡒࡃࡀ
ࡏࡅ ࡋࡀࡄࡀࡅࡉࡍ ࡅࡋࡀࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡍ
ࡅࡋࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡁࡏࡅࡓࡀࡔࡋࡀࡌ
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡋࡅࡐࡌࡇ ࡉࡐࡄࡕࡇ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡉࡀ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡓࡀࡉ ࡌࡀࡄࡅ ࡖࡀࡁࡃࡉࡕ
ࡗ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡀࡍࡉࡐࡒࡀࡍ
ࡀࡌࡓࡀࡋࡇ
Source Colophon
Charles Häberl and James McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary (Brill, 2020). Accessed via Internet Archive under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. The Mandaic text of the critical edition follows the Bodleian MS Marsh 1 with variants from Paris Syr. 5 and other witnesses. Pages 93–97 (Mandaic text), pages 92–96 (English reference translation).
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