The Moon's Commission

Chapter fifty-three of the Mandaean Book of John. After the Sun (Yurba) is condemned in Chapter 52 and his armour stripped, the Great Life transfers the garment of shining to the Moon (Sin) and charges him with a fourfold mission: illumine the fallen house when the Sun's splendor disappears, witness conception under his sign, protect from disease, and sustain the sown race. The Moon warns that one day per month he vanishes — children conceived in his absence will be tongue-tied, mute, deaf, or leprous. The Great Life responds: those are not our progeny; they belong to darkness. The Moon is sent forth with stability and caution; monthly he passes through Abator's guardhouses, is stripped of colour, made to look as if he never existed, then restored and sent into the world again. Until the seventh day of the month he speaks with the voice of Life; past the seventh he forgets the fear and trembling and casts evil into the world. An eschatological coda warns that Earth will vanish, the mountains will bend, the planets will fail their worshippers, and all will sink to deepest Sheol and fall to the great serpent Ur, Lord of Darkness — but the souls of the faithful and their believing brothers and sisters will be saved and rise to the great place of light.

Classical Mandaic source text from the critical edition of Haberl and McGrath (2020).

When the shining was taken from his place,
he came to the deficient world.
And they gave him entirely to the Moon,
the man who gave the shining.
He called him, equipped him, and thoroughly ordered him.

5
He says to him,
"I gave you the garment of shining,
to enlighten the darkness of the fallen house.
Whenever the sun's splendor disappears,
your shining will rise forth.
Whenever a man lies with his wife
under your sign, it will result in a pregnancy,

10
and your witness will be within
the pure race.
You must enlighten her face,
and free her from diseases and infirmities,
and from those appearances that are not fitting,
and the wickedness and suffering of the fallen house,
since the sown race of the house
was entrusted to your keeping.
You must shine and enlighten,
and uphold its descendants entirely."

15
Then he spoke to the man
who had clad him in the shining light,
"One day per month, I shall disappear,
and my banner will be rolled up,
rolled up is my shining light,
which two watchers are charged to protect.
When I am not there,
and men lie with their wives,
as they conceive on that day,
tongue-tied and mute children

20
and disgusting appearances
will come forth from them.
When they conceive on that day,
deaf children and lepers
without hands and feet
will come forth from them.
The planets will disturb the seed
and make it entirely evil."

25
The Man who had clad him
in shining light spoke,
"Those who come into being on those days
are not fit to be our progeny.
They are neither counted among our number
nor reckoned within our race.
It is thoroughly a race of darkness;
it will return to the clan from which it came."
He summoned me, ordered me, and prepared me,
and left me stability and caution.

30
He says to me,
"Take care of the congregation of souls
that we have left in the world."
He bowed down, walked away from me,
and went up to Abator's house.
He went down to the guardhouses;
down to the guardhouses he went,
to complete the reckoning entirely.
On the day that he is withdrawn from Earth,
and the hours that he is hidden from the world,

35
for the offences he sets against the disciples,
he lets torture, crushing, and lashing upon him.
He shows him panic, fear,
and terror until he dies,
and panic-stricken and darkened,
he will look as if he never existed.
When he comes forth from the guardhouse,
his colour will have been removed.
His colour will be drawn from him,
and he will look as if he never existed.

40
Then he will sit in his chariot
and put on shining rays of light.
They will spread a shining light over him,
and he will walk out into the world.
On the first day, he will appear;
he starts at the summit of the heavens.
He will come from heaven's upper level,
and be supported upon its lower level.
Until the second day,
his gleam's light will be over all the worlds.

45
Until the seventh day of the month,
the Moon will speak with the voice of Life.
With the voice of Life he will speak,
since he recalled the fear and trembling of Life.
When he passes the seventh day,
he will forget the fear and the trembling.
He will forget the fear and the trembling,
and cast evil into the world.
I say, advising you,
those who bear witness to Life,

50
be strong and endure the persecution
within the fallen house!
He told him that Earth would soon vanish,
and the two mountains will bend over.
Bent over will be the two mountains,
and the power of light will be taken from them.
Taken away entirely will be
all the stability that they had.
Now their appearance will be despicable,
and they will look as if they never existed.

55
Before their souls howl,
and scream and cry on the spot,
he will say to them,
"When we were in this world,
your splendor shone over all the worlds.
We bore witness to you,
and worshipped and praised you entirely.
Now your appearance is despicable,
and it has grown dark and gloomy as if it never existed."

60
The planets had no explanation to give
to their worshippers about how it happened.
The planets, their worshippers, and their souls,
worthy and unworthy, and all their creatures,
even the souls of the great family
who acknowledge Life will sink to deepest Sheol.
They will fall to the great serpent,
whose name is Ur, the Lord of Darkness.
From that day,
our souls will be saved and redeemed,
and the souls of our good brothers,
and those sisters who are believers.

65
The souls of the faithful and sincere
will rise to see the great place of light.
The triumphant Life speaks,
and the one who went here triumphs!

In the name of the Great Life,
may the sublime light be magnified!

Colophon

Good Works Translation from Classical Mandaic (Eastern Aramaic). Translated by the New Tianmu Anglican Church from the critical edition of Charles G. Haberl and James F. McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020), accessed via Internet Archive under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.

The English translation was independently derived from the Classical Mandaic source text. Haberl & McGrath's English translation was consulted as a reference to verify readings in ambiguous passages, and this consultation is acknowledged. Key departures from the reference translation: (1) "garment of shining" rather than "shining garment" — preserving the Mandaic construct state (bušā d-tuqān); the garment is defined by the shining, not the other way round. (2) "appearances that are not fitting" rather than "images that are improper" — the Mandaic root suggests visible forms rather than abstract images; "not fitting" preserves the functional assessment. (3) "keeping" rather than "possession" for the Moon's custodial care of the sown race — guardianship, not ownership. (4) "reckoning" rather than "calculation" for ḥušbānā — cosmic accounting demands the weight of "reckoning." (5) "offences" rather than "mistakes" — continuing the judicial register from Chapter 52; the Moon's failures against the disciples are crimes tried, not errors made. (6) "guardhouse" rather than "penitentiary" for maṭārata — maintaining pipeline consistency with Chapter 50, where the same word denotes the stations along the soul's road; the penal function is clear from context. (7) "conceive" rather than "receive" — for the pregnancy passages; "receive" is archaic and euphemistic where the Mandaic is direct. (8) "mute" rather than "dumb" — preserving the meaning while avoiding the ableist connotation of the English archaism. (9) Gender-neutral rendering throughout: "the one who went here triumphs" rather than "the man who went here triumphs" for the closing formula.

Established departures from previous chapters maintained: tuqān = shining, baitā anlpā = fallen house, maṭārata = guardhouse, harashia = sorcerers, gender-neutral throughout. This chapter introduces the Moon (Sīn) as a personified agent in the Mandaean cosmology — the recipient of the garment stripped from Yurba the Sun in Chapter 52. The lunar cycle is mythologized as a narrative of commission, monthly punishment, restoration, and inevitable moral failure: until the seventh day the Moon speaks with the voice of Life; past the seventh he forgets. The "dark day" — when the Moon disappears and children conceived are deformed — represents the most explicit astral-biological theology in the Book of John.

First independently derived English translation published online by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

🌲

Source Text: The Book of John — Chapter 53

Classical Mandaic source text from Haberl & McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John (2020), Chapter 53. Extracted from the critical edition PDF via PyMuPDF. Source presented in raw extraction order; due to a known PyMuPDF artifact, couplet pairs may appear reversed (the w- prefix on continuation lines confirms correct sequence). Pages 159 (after chapter separator), 161, and 163 (before chapter separator), all 0-indexed. Page numbers, verse number markers, column-break markers, and page header lines stripped. Unicode Mandaic block (U+0840–U+085F) preserves the original script.

ࡀࡕࡀࡋࡇ ࡋࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡄࡅࡎࡓࡀࡀࡍ
ࡗ ࡏࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ ࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡕࡓࡇ
ࡂࡀࡁࡓࡀ ࡖࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡇ ࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ
ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡇ ࡋࡎࡉࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡒࡓࡀࡋࡇ ࡅࡆࡀࡄࡓࡇ ࡅࡀࡐࡒࡃࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡖࡌࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡄࡀࡁࡀࡓࡀ ࡖࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡀࡍࡋࡐࡀ
ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡖࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡇ
ࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍࡊ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡉࡍࡃࡀࡍ
ࡗ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡎࡊࡉࡀ ࡆࡉࡅࡇ ࡖࡔࡀࡌࡉࡔ
ࡁࡌࡀࡋࡅࡀࡔࡀࡊ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡉࡍࡆࡃࡓࡀ
ࡗ ࡔࡀࡉࡊࡁ ࡂࡀࡁࡓࡀ ࡋࡅࡀࡕ ࡆࡀࡅࡇ
ࡖࡔࡀࡓࡔࡀ ࡕࡀࡒࡀࡍ
ࡅࡎࡀࡄࡃࡅࡕࡀࡊ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡇ
ࡅࡀࡐࡓࡒࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡉࡊࡁࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡅࡌࡉࡀ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓࡁࡇ ࡁࡀࡐࡓࡅࡑࡇࡐ
ࡅࡌࡍ ࡁࡉࡔࡅࡕࡀ ࡅࡀࡊࡓࡉࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡀࡍࡋࡐࡀ
ࡅࡌࡍ ࡄࡀࡋࡉࡍ ࡃࡌࡀࡅࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡋࡀࡀࡊࡔࡓࡀࡍ
ࡏࡋ ࡏࡃࡀࡊ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡏࡕࡄࡉࡁ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡔࡀࡓࡔࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡆࡓࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ
ࡅࡒࡀࡉࡉࡌ ࡔࡅࡓࡅࡁࡕࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡅࡕࡀࡒࡉࡍ
ࡋࡂࡀࡁࡓࡀ ࡖࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡀࡋࡁࡔࡉࡇ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡅࡃࡓࡀࡁࡔࡀࡉ ࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡓࡊࡉࡊ
ࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡄࡓࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡎࡊࡉࡀࡍ
ࡖࡌࡉࡆࡃࡀࡄࡓࡉࡁࡇ ࡀࡍࡈࡓࡉࡀ ࡕࡓࡉࡍ
ࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡓࡊࡉࡊ
ࡅࡂࡅࡁࡓࡉࡀ ࡋࡅࡀࡕ ࡆࡀࡅࡀࡉࡅࡍ ࡔࡀࡁࡊࡉࡀ
ࡗ ࡋࡀࡉࡕࡀࡍ ࡋࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ
ࡀࡋࡂࡉࡀ ࡅࡃࡅࡂࡉࡀ
ࡗ ࡌࡒࡀࡁࡋࡀ ࡁࡄࡀࡀࡍࡕࡇ ࡉࡅࡌࡀ
ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡀࡍࡒࡐࡉࡀ
ࡅࡃࡌࡀࡅࡀࡕࡀ ࡎࡀࡉࡀࡍࡕࡀ
ࡈࡓࡅࡔࡉࡀ ࡅࡂࡉࡓࡁࡀࡉࡍࡀ
ࡗ ࡌࡒࡀࡁࡋࡀ ࡁࡄࡀࡀࡍࡕࡇ ࡉࡅࡌࡀ
ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡀࡍࡒࡐࡉࡀ
ࡖࡋࡀࡏࡃࡉࡀ ࡅࡋࡀࡋࡉࡂࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡌࡔࡀࡅࡉࡁࡇ ࡅࡊࡋ ࡖࡁࡉࡔ
ࡔࡀࡂࡔࡉࡋࡇ ࡔࡉࡁࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡋࡌࡀࡆࡓࡅࡕࡀ
ࡖࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡀࡋࡁࡔࡉࡇ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡂࡀࡁࡓࡀ
ࡏࡋ ࡔࡅࡓࡁࡀࡕࡀࡍ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡍ ࡋࡀࡌࡉࡕࡀࡔࡊࡀࡓ
ࡄࡀࡋࡉࡍ ࡖࡁࡄࡀࡀࡍࡕࡅࡍ ࡉࡅࡌࡉࡀ
ࡅࡋࡀࡉࡍࡄࡔࡉࡁ ࡁࡔࡀࡓࡔࡀࡍ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡍ
ࡋࡀࡉࡍࡕࡉࡌࡉࡍࡀ ࡁࡌࡉࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍࡍ
ࡉࡍࡆࡀࡋ ࡋࡒࡉࡀࡍ ࡖࡌࡉࡇࡍ ࡄࡅࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ ࡔࡀࡓࡔࡀ ࡄࡅ ࡖࡄࡔࡅࡀࡊ
ࡅࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡅࡆࡀࡄࡓࡅࡕࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ ࡔࡁࡀࡒ
ࡒࡓࡀࡍ ࡅࡀࡐࡒࡃࡀࡍ ࡅࡆࡀࡓࡆࡀࡍ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡖࡔࡁࡉࡒࡋࡀࡍ ࡁࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡏࡆࡃࡀࡄࡀࡓ ࡁࡀࡊࡀࡍ ࡖࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡀ
ࡅࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ
ࡎࡂࡉࡃ ࡅࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡒࡅࡃࡀࡌࡀࡉ
ࡄࡍࡉࡕ ࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡄࡍࡉࡕ ࡋࡌࡀࡈࡀࡓࡀࡕࡀ
ࡀࡆࡀࡋ ࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡋࡌࡀࡈࡀࡓࡀࡕࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡋࡌࡀࡔࡋࡅࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡅࡔࡁࡀࡀࡍ
ࡅࡔࡀࡉࡉࡀ ࡖࡎࡊࡉࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡖࡂࡉࡍࡁ ࡌࡍ ࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ
ࡄࡋࡀࡀࡑ ࡅࡁࡊࡀࡔࡀ ࡅࡂࡍࡀࡃࡀ ࡔࡀࡁࡉࡒ ࡏࡋࡇ
ࡁࡕࡉࡒࡋࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡓࡀࡌࡉࡀ ࡏࡋ ࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡀ
ࡅࡆࡉࡅࡉࡄࡕࡀ ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡉࡉࡕ
ࡅࡌࡀࡄࡅࡉࡋࡇ ࡄࡀࡅࡒࡀ ࡅࡃࡀࡄࡀࡋࡕࡀ
ࡅࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡇ ࡗ ࡖࡋࡀࡄࡅࡀࡕ
ࡅࡌࡉࡔࡕࡀࡓࡄࡀࡆ ࡄࡀࡔࡅࡊ
ࡂࡀࡅࡇࡍ ࡌࡉࡇࡍ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ
ࡗ ࡀࡍࡉࡐࡒ ࡌࡍ ࡌࡀࡈࡀࡓࡀࡕࡀ
ࡅࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡇ ࡗ ࡖࡋࡀࡄࡅࡀࡕ
ࡂࡀࡅࡇࡍ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ ࡌࡉࡇࡍ
ࡅࡋࡀࡁࡉࡔ ࡃࡓࡀࡁࡔࡉࡀ ࡕࡀࡒࡉࡍࡀ
ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡀࡊ ࡉࡀࡕࡉࡁ ࡁࡌࡀࡓࡀࡊࡁࡕࡇ
ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡇ ࡖࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡅࡀࡍࡂࡃࡉࡋࡇ ࡋࡕࡅࡒࡀࡍ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡁࡓࡉࡔࡀ ࡖࡓࡒࡉࡄࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡐࡄࡕࡀ
ࡁࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡒࡀࡃࡌࡀࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡄࡆࡉࡀ
ࡅࡏࡋ ࡓࡒࡉࡄࡀ ࡕࡉࡕࡀࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡎࡕࡌࡉࡊ
ࡀࡍࡉࡐࡒ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡒࡉࡄࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡉࡀ
ࡕࡀࡒࡅࡍ ࡕࡅࡒࡇࡍ ࡁࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡕࡉࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ
ࡎࡉࡍ ࡁࡒࡀࡋࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡌࡋࡉࡋ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡔࡅࡁࡀࡉࡀ ࡁࡉࡀࡄࡓࡀ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡄࡀࡅࡒࡀ ࡅࡆࡉࡅࡉࡄࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡃࡀࡊࡓ
ࡌࡀࡌࡋࡉࡋ ࡁࡒࡀࡋࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡄࡀࡅࡒࡀ ࡅࡆࡉࡅࡉࡄࡕࡀ ࡏࡉࡍࡔࡉࡇ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡋࡉࡐ ࡌࡍ ࡉࡅࡌࡀ ࡔࡅࡁࡀࡉࡀ
ࡅࡓࡀࡌࡉࡀ ࡁࡉࡔࡅࡕࡀ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡇ ࡖࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡏࡉࡍࡔࡉࡇ ࡋࡄࡀࡅࡒࡀ ࡅࡆࡉࡅࡉࡄࡕࡀ
ࡂࡅࡁࡓࡉࡀ ࡖࡁࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡎࡀࡄࡃࡉࡀ
ࡏࡋࡅࡊࡍ ࡀࡌࡉࡓࡀࡍ ࡅࡌࡀࡓࡐࡉࡔࡀࡍ
ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡇ ࡖࡁࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡀࡍࡋࡐࡀ
ࡀࡔࡀࡓ ࡅࡎࡅࡁࡋࡅࡉࡀ ࡋࡓࡉࡃࡀࡐ
ࡅࡕࡓࡉࡍ ࡈࡅࡓࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡂࡀࡁࡀࡁࡉࡀ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡖࡋࡉࡂࡀࡋ ࡁࡀࡈࡋࡀ ࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ
ࡅࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀ ࡖࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ
ࡌࡉࡕࡂࡀࡁࡀࡁࡉࡀ ࡕࡓࡉࡍ ࡈࡅࡓࡉࡀ
ࡖࡄࡅࡀ ࡋࡅࡀࡕࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡎࡍࡉࡁ ࡔࡓࡀࡓࡀ ࡅࡊࡋࡇ
ࡅࡄࡀࡅࡉࡀ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡅࡍ ࡗ ࡖࡋࡀࡄࡅࡀࡕ
ࡄࡀࡔࡕࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡎࡋࡉࡀ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ
ࡅࡒࡀࡄࡃࡀ ࡅࡁࡀࡉࡊࡀ ࡏࡋ ࡃࡅࡕࡊࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ
ࡌࡍ ࡒࡅࡃࡀࡌ ࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡅࡍ ࡂࡅࡄࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡉࡍ
ࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡉࡅࡊࡍ ࡁࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ
ࡗ ࡄࡅࡀࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡁࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡄࡀࡆࡉࡍ
ࡅࡎࡂࡉࡃࡉࡍࡍ ࡅࡔࡀࡁࡀࡍࡅࡊࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡀࡉࡍࡍ ࡎࡄࡉࡃࡉࡍࡍ ࡁࡃࡉࡋࡅࡊࡍ
ࡅࡄࡉࡁࡓࡀࡕ ࡅࡄࡉࡔࡀࡊࡕ ࡗ ࡖࡋࡀࡄࡅࡀࡕ
ࡄࡀࡔࡕࡀ ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡏࡕࡀࡎࡋࡉࡀࡕ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡀࡉࡅࡊࡍ
ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡅࡍ ࡋࡎࡀࡂࡀࡃࡅࡍ ࡗ ࡖࡄࡅࡀࡕ
ࡋࡀࡄࡅࡀࡋࡅࡍ ࡀࡐࡓࡔࡉࡂࡀࡍ ࡋࡔࡉࡁࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡖࡔࡀࡅࡉࡍ ࡅࡋࡀࡔࡀࡅࡍࡍ ࡅࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡒࡉࡓࡉࡀࡕࡅࡍ
ࡔࡉࡁࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ࡅࡎࡀࡂࡀࡃࡅࡍ ࡅࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡅࡍ
ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡀࡅࡃࡅࡁࡅࡍ ࡋࡔࡉࡅࡋ ࡕࡉࡕࡀࡉࡕࡀ ࡔࡀࡋࡐࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡐ ࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡁࡉࡍࡀ ࡔࡅࡓࡁࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡖࡄࡅ ࡏࡅࡓ ࡌࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡄࡔࡅࡀࡊ ࡔࡅࡌࡇ
ࡀࡍࡋࡐࡉࡀ ࡁࡄࡉࡅࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡐࡓࡒࡀ ࡅࡌࡉࡔࡕࡀࡅࡆࡁࡀ ࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡀࡍ
ࡌࡉࡇࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡄࡀࡀࡍࡕࡇ ࡉࡅࡌࡀ
ࡅࡄࡀࡋࡉࡍ ࡀࡄࡅࡀࡕࡀࡍ ࡖࡌࡄࡀࡉࡌࡉࡍࡀ
ࡅࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡀࡄࡀࡍ ࡈࡀࡁࡉࡀ
ࡉࡍࡎࡒࡅࡍ ࡉࡍࡄࡆࡅࡇࡍ ࡋࡀࡕࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ
ࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡅࡍ ࡖࡂࡅࡁࡓࡉࡀ ࡔࡊࡉࡈࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡄࡀࡉࡌࡉࡍࡀ
ࡅࡆࡀࡉࡊࡀ ࡂࡀࡁࡓࡀ ࡖࡀࡎࡂࡉࡀ ࡋࡀࡊ
ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡀࡉࡉࡍ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡆࡀࡉࡊࡍ

Source Colophon

Classical Mandaic source text from Charles G. Haberl and James F. McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020). Accessed via Internet Archive digital lending under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. URL: archive.org/details/mandaeanbookofjohn. Chapter 53 Mandaic text extracted from PDF pages 159 (after chapter separator), 161, and 163 (before chapter separator), all 0-indexed. Chapter 53 English reference on pages 160, 162, and 164 (headers "52:58 – 53:5", "53:6 – 53:41", "53:42 – 54:8"). Page numbers [191]–[197] and verse markers stripped. Column-break markers (‖) removed. Source text presented in raw extraction order; due to a known PyMuPDF artifact, couplet pairs may appear reversed (the w- prefix ࡗ on continuation lines confirms correct sequence). Unicode Mandaic block (U+0840–U+085F) preserves the original script.

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