The Book of John — Chapter 58 · Tianmu Anglican Church

The Treasure Enthroned

Chapter fifty-eight of the Mandaean Book of John (Drašia ḏ-Iahia), the principal mythological and liturgical scripture of the Mandaean tradition. The Book of John preserves the cosmological and soteriological teachings of Mandaeism — one of the last surviving Gnostic religions, practised today by approximately 100,000 adherents, primarily in Iraq and the diaspora.

This chapter is a companion poem to Chapter 57 (Life's Treasure), sharing the same refrain: "simat an simat hiia" — "a treasure am I — Life's treasure!" Where Chapter 57 declared the treasure's identity through ten tolls of the refrain, Chapter 58 narrates her enthronement and cosmic mission. The Jordan sets a throne for her. She becomes a mighty garment that makes all who don her greater than the world, a king's garment that conceals and magnifies. Great Plant receives a covenant and is dressed in the treasure. Life's Sam dispatches her aboard his radiant tartabuna to the adamantine worlds, where she travels in ships of radiance. The excellencies greet her arrival, and Great Plant installs her — whose secret name is kept for Yukabar. The refrain tolls only twice (verses 1 and 26), marking the transition from self-declaration to cosmic journey. No closing doxology separates this chapter from Chapter 59, suggesting the Treasure speech continues across the chapter boundary.

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

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
The Jordan set a throne for me.
The Jordans flow with my fragrance,
and the waters rejoice in my radiance.
The living waters rejoice,
and they exult in the presence of my radiance.

My radiance and that of the Jordan —
they grow strong within them;
within them they grow strong,
and their form shines from head to toe.

A mighty garment am I,
which all who donned rejoiced and were glad;
those who donned me, their fragrance sweetened,
and they grew greater than the world.

A king's garment am I.
I magnify the king
and conceal him from the excellencies.
With my presence he stands guard,
and in me he delights and shines.

From head to toe
he shines with me and is set apart by me.
He says, "Whoever
dons this garment
shall shine, and his form shall grow
mighty as mine."

A crown was I
for the king, and at the head of his settlement
he set a chair for me
from beginning to end.

When he set a chair for me,
all gave obedience to me.
All gave their obedience to me;
they praised my form
from head to toe.

Then he spoke to Great Plant
and fashioned a covenant with him.
From his garments he dressed him,
and he dressed me, Life's treasure, upon him.

He dressed me upon him
so that I concealed his form,
and I say to him:
"Go with the power of Life's treasure.
All your works shall be secure.
Secure shall be all your works,
and you chose one who is like you and guards you,
for the one for whom the garment is destined
is destined to stand apart from you,

but he shall give his obedience to you."

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
Life's Sam, with his radiant tartabuna,
sent me to the adamantine worlds;
to the adamantine worlds he sent me,
to be a garment for the king,
to illumine his form in his settlement,
to spread still greater glory,

that excellencies might shine in his likeness.

We ride forth and we travel;
we pass in ships of radiance.
In ships of radiance we pass,
and we come upon the border region.
Our radiance shone upon the adamantine worlds;
they shone by the power of Life's treasure.
By the power of Life's treasure they shone;
they came out before Life's treasure,

and they said to her:
"Blessed is your coming, Life's treasure,
in whose fragrance excellencies delight,
and within whom the settlements are bright."

Then Great Plant installed her
whose counsel the Mighty has upheld,
and whose secret name is kept for Yukabar.

Colophon

Good Works Translation from Classical Mandaic. Translated by the New Tianmu Anglican Church (NTAC + Claude), 2026.

The English translation was independently derived from the Classical Mandaic source text. Häberl & 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) "fragrance" for riha — a more sacred register than H&M's "scent" for the divine aroma that flows from the Jordan. (2) "radiance" for ziua/rauzia — maintained from Chapter 57; more majestic than H&M's "splendor." (3) "exult" for sahqia — "exult" carries more devotional weight than H&M's "frolic" for waters responding to divine presence. (4) "donned" for libšan — maintained from Chapter 57; archaic English for the solemn act of putting on a sacred garment. (5) "set apart" for mitarpišibia — clearer than H&M's "distinguished" for the transformative effect of wearing the divine garment. (6) "fashioned a covenant" for snib — "covenant" is weightier than H&M's "pact" for a divine compact between the king and Great Plant. (7) "counsel" for H&M's "advice" — the treasure's guidance carries divine weight. (8) "upheld" for H&M's "vindicated" — clearer for the Great confirming the treasure's counsel. (9) "illumine" for anhar — more formal than H&M's "enlighten"; pipeline precedent. (10) "ships of radiance" for sipanta d-ziua — ziua rendered as "radiance" throughout for consistency. (11) Feminine pronouns for simat hiia in third-person references — simat is grammatically feminine in Mandaic.

Established departures from previous chapters maintained: utria = excellencies, šikinta = settlement, naṣb rba = Great Plant, sam hiia = Life's Sam, min riš briš = from head to toe. No closing doxology separates this chapter from Chapter 59 in the Mandaic text, indicating a continuous Treasure speech sequence spanning Chapters 57–59 (at minimum). The doxological formula (hiia zakiin) appears only at the close of Chapter 57.

First independently derived English translation published online by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Chapter 58 of 76.

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

🌲

Source Text: ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡉࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ — ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡁ

Classical Mandaic source text from Häberl & McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John (2020), Chapter 58. Extracted from the critical edition PDF via PyMuPDF. Pages 177 and 179 (0-indexed). Page numbers, verse number markers, and column-break markers stripped. Note: PyMuPDF extracts couplet pairs in reversed order (the w- prefix on continuation lines helps identify the second line of each pair); this source text preserves the raw extraction order. For the critical edition's correct line order, consult the original PDF. Unicode Mandaic block (U+0840–U+085F) preserves the original script.

ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡀ ࡕࡓࡀࡋࡑࡉࡀ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡌࡉࡀ ࡁࡆࡉࡅࡀࡉ ࡓࡀࡅࡆࡉࡀ
ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡉࡍࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡄࡀࡉ ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡍ
ࡅࡁࡀࡍࡉࡐࡀ ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡉ ࡎࡀࡄࡒࡉࡀ
ࡓࡀࡅࡆࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡉ ࡅࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ
ࡅࡀࡍࡄࡓࡀ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡅࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ
ࡖࡅࡊࡋ ࡌࡀࡍ ࡖࡋࡉࡁࡔࡀࡍ ࡄࡃࡀ ࡅࡕࡁࡀࡎࡀࡌ
ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡖࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡅࡕࡓࡀࡅࡓࡀࡁ ࡌࡉࡇࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡖࡋࡉࡁࡔࡀࡍ ࡁࡎࡅࡌ ࡓࡉࡄࡇ
ࡅࡋࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡓࡀࡅࡓࡉࡁࡕࡇ
ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ ࡖࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ
ࡅࡎࡊࡀࡉࡕࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡁࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉ ࡄࡀࡃࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡍࡄࡀࡓ
ࡅࡁࡀࡑࡅࡕࡀࡉ ࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡀࡍࡈࡀࡓ
ࡀࡍࡄࡓࡉࡁࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡀࡓࡐࡉࡔࡉࡁࡉࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡖࡄࡀࡆࡉࡍ ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡉࡍࡋࡁࡀࡔ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓ ࡖࡅࡊࡋ ࡌࡀࡍ
ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡇ ࡀࡅࡊࡀࡕ ࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ
ࡉࡍࡁࡀࡓ ࡅࡉࡍࡕࡓࡀࡅࡓࡀࡁ
ࡋࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡅࡁࡓࡉࡔ ࡔࡉࡊࡕࡍࡇ
ࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡄࡅࡉࡋࡇ
ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡀ ࡕࡓࡀࡋࡑࡉࡀ
ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡃࡅࡍࡕࡀ ࡋࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡉࡀࡄࡁࡉࡀ
ࡗ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡀ ࡕࡓࡀࡋࡑࡉࡀ
ࡋࡀࡃࡌࡅࡕࡀࡉ ࡌࡔࡀࡁࡉࡋࡇ
ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡉࡀࡄࡁࡉࡀ ࡃࡅࡍࡕࡀ ࡋࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡅࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ ࡌࡉࡇࡍ ࡎࡍࡉࡁ
ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡀࡊ ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡋࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡅࡋࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡀࡍ ࡏࡋࡇ
ࡌࡍ ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡉࡇ ࡀࡋࡁࡅࡔࡉࡇ
ࡖࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡊࡀࡉࡕࡇ ࡋࡃࡌࡅࡕࡇ
ࡏࡋࡇ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡀࡍ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡀࡍࡋࡇ
ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀࡊ ࡉࡍࡕࡀࡒࡀࡍࡍ
ࡏࡆࡉࡋ ࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡇ ࡖࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡁࡄࡀࡓࡕ ࡖࡀࡅࡊࡀࡕࡀࡊ ࡅࡈࡍࡉࡓ ࡏࡋࡀࡊ
ࡉࡍࡕࡀࡒࡀࡍࡍ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀࡊ
ࡏࡕࡉࡕࡋࡇ ࡎࡉࡈࡀࡓ ࡉࡍࡒࡅࡌ ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡊ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡏࡕࡉࡕࡋࡇ ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ
ࡅࡃࡅࡍࡕࡀ ࡋࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡉࡍࡃࡀࡍࡋࡀࡊ
ࡎࡀࡌ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡁࡈࡀࡓࡈࡀࡁࡅࡅࡍࡍ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡋࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡔࡀࡃࡓࡀࡍ ࡖࡃࡌࡀࡎࡀ
ࡋࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡃࡌࡀࡎࡀ ࡔࡀࡃࡓࡀࡍ
ࡋࡀࡄࡍࡅࡓࡉࡀ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡇ ࡁࡔࡉࡊࡕࡍࡇ
ࡌࡀࡄࡅࡉࡋࡅࡍ ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡋࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ
ࡖࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡁࡀࡃࡌࡅࡕࡇ ࡀࡍࡄࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡉࡔࡓࡉࡀ ࡏࡒࡀࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡁࡎࡉࡐࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡀࡃࡉࡍࡍ
ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡉࡍࡍ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡌࡉࡓࡑࡉࡀ ࡌࡈࡉࡍ
ࡀࡃࡉࡍࡍ ࡁࡎࡉࡐࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡇ ࡖࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡄࡍࡀࡓ
ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡃࡀࡍ ࡏࡋ ࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡃࡌࡀࡎࡀ
ࡄࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡀࡋࡀࡍࡇࡐ ࡖࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡀࡍࡒࡐࡉࡀ
ࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡇ ࡖࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡓࡉࡋࡇ
ࡖࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡄࡉࡊ ࡁࡀࡎࡌࡉࡀ
ࡁࡓࡉࡊ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡀࡉࡍࡊ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡁࡂࡀࡅࡉࡊ ࡌࡉࡉࡍࡄࡓࡀ
ࡖࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ ࡋࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ
ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡀࡊ ࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡎࡀࡌࡋࡇ
ࡅࡔࡅࡌࡇ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡀ ࡈࡍࡉࡓ ࡏࡋ ࡉࡅࡀࡊࡁࡀࡓ

Source Colophon

Classical Mandaic source text from Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John: Critical Edition, Translation, and Commentary (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2020). Open access, Internet Archive. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Extracted via PyMuPDF from the PDF text layer. The Mandaic text is in Unicode (Mandaic block U+0840–U+085F), preserving the critical edition's orthography.

🌲