The Book of John — Chapter 59 · Tianmu Anglican Church

The Treasure's Journey

Chapter fifty-nine 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 is the longest chapter in the Treasure speech sequence. Where Chapter 57 declared the treasure's identity through ten tolls of the refrain, and Chapter 58 narrated her enthronement and cosmic dispatch, Chapter 59 unfolds the full journey. Life's Sam gives the treasure seven endowments — garment, girdle, crown, fragrance, power, helpers, and victory — and sends her forth. She transplants Great Plant, founds settlements with water and air, and rides through the cosmos visiting the celestial beings in succession. At each station the pattern is the same: arrival, address, gift, confirmation, departure. At Big Sam she gives authority over settlements and Jordans. At Splendid Yawar she confirms him as father of excellencies. At Yushamen she finds him plotting and restores him. At Abator she appoints the cosmic judge, then confronts him with three woes for his anger against Ptahil. At Ptahil she hears the demiurge's plea for rescue from the darkness his own creation produced, and Manda d'Heyyi delivers the judgment: the planets arose from your wrath, rage, and lust. The doxology closes: And Life triumphs — the first closing formula since Chapter 57.

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

A treasure am I — Life's treasure!
Life's Sam gave me a pure garment
within which worlds shine.

He gave me a girdle, a girdle of living waters
in which there is no pain or affliction.

He gave me a great crown
in whose radiance worlds shine.

He gave me a fragrance most pleasing,
that waters might delight in my scent.

He gave me a great power
that shines and illumines continually.

He gave me secret helpers
and appointed watchers over me.

He gave me a great victory
through which the Jordans were purified.

When they utter my name over the Jordan,
then they set my might upon it,
and the Jordan rises within me,
and the excellencies possess the truth.

It gives them speech and hearing
and purifies them from the mortal world.

It gives them a shining form,
and my might and valour
are set upon the Jordan.

It transplanted Great Plant,
whom it clothed within me.

My power illumines the worlds
and brings down watercourses.

It brings down streams of living water.
By my power and by that of water and air,
radiant lands took shape.

By my power and by that of water and air,
radiant settlements were founded.

By my power and by that of water and air,
excellencies have fruits, vines, and trees.

They planted for them radiant clouds
which brought speech and hearing.

They gave them a pure sign,
consecrated by their power.

They shall be consecrated by their power
and set upon the pure boundary.

They shall be set upon radiant thrones
and called the heads of the worlds.

Each shall be more magnificent than the last.
He with whom the secret of his forebears
and the words of his forebears abide

is more exalted than all the excellencies,
and his form is exalted, shines, and illumines,
like the radiant sparks in the place of light.

By my power and by that of water and air,
order was given to all the worlds of light.
Order was given to all the worlds of light,
and they had dominion over them.

We set them in order and illumine them,
and raised our works to the summit.

We made a passage for the excellencies,
and they gave treasures to the worlds.

They gave a creation to the king,
for it was created by them.

We ride forth and we travel,
and we come upon Big Sam.
We address Big Sam
and we say to him:
"Your radiance is steadfast, your form is bright,
for it spread your beauty over us."

We gave authority to Big Sam,
entirely over the settlements and the Jordans.

We ride forth and we travel,
and we come upon Splendid Yawar.
When we reached Splendid Yawar,
we addressed Splendid Yawar:
"You are a father of excellencies
and lord of all the settlements.
Life has surely created for you
and given you dominion over the enclosure,

and over all the works of the place of light."

Then Manda d'Heyyi clothed himself with us,
and we placed our power and secret upon him.

We ride forth and we travel,
and we come upon Yushamen's house.
When we arrived at Yushamen's house,
our radiance shone forth upon Yushamen.
Upon Yushamen's house our radiance shone.
Yushamen was engaged in plotting.

When he was engaged in plotting,
he went out through the gate of his shell.

When we saw him,
we address him:
"You are our great father and the first one,
and your radiance shines forth in passing.
Your movements are in the house of Life,
and your deeds are recognised in the place of light.
They call you the arranger of ordinances;
you are the lord of all goodness."

I gave him radiance and clarity,
and I set him up in his settlement forever.

We ride forth and we travel,
and we come upon Abator's house.
When we arrived at Abator's house,
our radiance shone forth upon Abator.
Abator sprang up, rose from his throne,
and made a petition to Life.
To Life he made a petition

on account of the wrongful deeds he had done.

The three excellencies said to him:
"Rejoice, ladies, rejoice,
that truth is in this man,
who is dressed in the garb of radiance.
He is dressed in the garb of radiance,
and light is cast over his shoulders.
Our father weighs with the scales
and signs with the pure sign."

Then I appointed Abator
over the great Jordan of living water,

and over the souls that rise
to the everlasting abode,
and over the goodwill and praise
that rise from the world.
I posted him over the Seven and the Twelve,
for him to command and be obeyed completely.

We said to him:
"Why do you fail, Abator,
when you were transplanted from the hidden places?

Why do you fail, Abator,
when you are from the pure radiance?
Why do you fail, Abator,
and grow angry with Ptahil,
he being roused by you?

Now it is perversity and wickedness
that come from the two of you;
the souls suffer from their faults
and are turned away.

The one who stands firmly shall rise
on the paths of truth;
he shall rise to the place of light.
The one who does not stand firmly —
he shall end up at the end of the world."

I have concealed Abator from the Seven
and protected his treasure, from top to bottom.
I gave him radiance and clarity.
We put some of the air's fragrance upon him.

We confirmed his deeds
and confirmed his speech, from beginning to end.

We ride forth and we travel,
and we come upon Excellent Ptahil.
When we arrived at Excellent Ptahil,
he was filled with love
and says:
"If it pleases my father Manda d'Heyyi,
quickly send a boon to me,

that they lift the clouds of darkness from me.
Each and every day
brings perversion and wickedness to mind,
need and failure,
because my father grew angry with me."

We address him and say:
"The chosen one whom Life sent to them
and set up a throne for him in the place of light —

we shall surely illumine him
and raise him to the everlasting abode."

He said to them:
"If the disciples have made mistakes,
if the Seven set stumbling blocks,
I shall be surrounded within a cloud of darkness!
If the Mighty grows angry with me,
shall I be mentioned before the Mighty?"

Manda d'Heyyi spoke
to Excellent Ptahil, saying:
"You shall be held responsible
for the stumbling blocks and the disciples,
for the planets came into being
from your wrath, rage, and lust.
You have given them power over the disciples
who sin against the Mighty and offend him.

He shall set passion and lust upon them
and put them at the end of the world.
They shall ply with intoxicants
the world's children who are held back.
If they sin against the disciples,
it shall be through your foolishness, Ptahil.
If your disciples sin,
it shall be through your foolishness, Ptahil."

Thus spoke Manda d'Heyyi,
and he responds to Excellent Ptahil
and says to him:

100

"Our father, the chosen without flaw, desired
that Yawar be a helper for you.
Yawar was a helper for you,
and Sunday was a saviour for you.
The Great Life knows your name,
and has surely created the Jordan that sent you."

And Life triumphs!

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) "radiance" for ziua/rauzia — maintained from Chapters 57–58 as the pipeline standard for ziua, replacing H&M's "splendor." (2) "fragrance" for riha — maintained from Chapter 58; sacred register for the divine aroma. (3) "illumine" for anhar — maintained from previous chapters; formal register. (4) "valour" for gabaruata — warrior-register rather than H&M's "heroics," reflecting the Mandaic root G-B-R (hero, warrior). (5) "dominion" for šalahiata — stronger than H&M's "power" or "authority" for delegated cosmic governance. (6) "might" for haila — distinguished from haila rba ("great power"), maintaining the root sense of strength-in-action. (7) "forebears" for abahat — more archaic than H&M's "ancestors" for the transmission of divine secrets across generations. (8) "the Mighty" for rbia — maintained from previous chapters for the Great Life in judicial contexts. (9) "foolishness" for sakluta — maintained from H&M; the Mandaic S-K-L root (folly, ignorance) produces the same theological weight in both renderings. (10) "saviour" for pariqa — the Mandaic P-R-Q root means "to save, deliver"; "savior" preserves the soteriological weight of Sunday (Habšaba) as Ptahil's rescuer. (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, atar hnura = place of light, daura taqan = everlasting abode, sipanta d-ziua = ships of radiance. The closing doxology (hiia zakiin) appears at the end of this chapter — the first since Chapter 57, confirming that Chapters 57–59 form a single continuous Treasure speech sequence.

This is the longest chapter in the Treasure speech sequence and the longest translated in the Book of John pipeline. The cosmic journey structure — visiting Big Sam, Splendid Yawar, Yushamen, Abator, and Excellent Ptahil in succession — mirrors the Mandaean cosmological hierarchy, descending from the highest uthras through the judicial apparatus to the demiurge. At each station the treasure gives radiance, confirming the celestial being's role in the cosmic order. The Ptahil encounter (verses 77–105) contains the chapter's theological climax: the demiurge is responsible for the material world's corruption because the planets arose from his wrath, and if the disciples sin, it is through his foolishness. Yet even Ptahil is not condemned — Yawar is appointed as his helper, and Sunday as his saviour. The Mandaean cosmos punishes and rescues in the same breath.

First independently derived English translation published online by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Chapter 59 of 76.

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

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Source Text: ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡉࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ — ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡂ

Classical Mandaic source text from Häberl & McGrath, The Mandaean Book of John (2020), Chapter 59. Extracted from the critical edition PDF via PyMuPDF. Pages 179, 181, 183, and 185 (0-indexed). Page numbers, verse number markers, and column-break markers stripped. Note: PyMuPDF extracts couplet pairs in reversed order in some sections (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.

ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡀࡀࡍ ࡎࡉࡌࡀࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡖࡁࡂࡀࡅࡇ ࡀࡍࡄࡓࡉࡀ ࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ
ࡎࡀࡌ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡉࡀ ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡃࡀࡉࡊࡀ
ࡖࡉࡊࡁࡉࡀ ࡅࡈࡍࡉࡈࡉࡀ ࡋࡉࡕࡁࡇ
ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡉࡀ ࡄࡉࡌࡉࡀࡀࡍ ࡄࡉࡌࡉࡀࡍ ࡌࡉࡀ
ࡖࡁࡆࡉࡅࡇ ࡀࡍࡄࡓࡉࡀ ࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ
ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡉࡀ ࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡖࡌࡉࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡄࡀࡉ ࡁࡀࡎࡉࡌࡉࡀ
ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡉࡀ ࡓࡉࡄࡀ ࡁࡀࡎࡉࡌࡀ
ࡖࡁࡀࡉࡀࡓ ࡅࡌࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡉࡀ ࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡅࡈࡍࡉࡓࡉࡀ ࡔࡀࡋࡉࡈ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ
ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡉࡀ ࡀࡃࡉࡀࡅࡓࡉࡀ ࡀࡊࡎࡉࡉࡀ
ࡖࡁࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉ ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡉࡍࡀ ࡌࡉࡆࡃࡀࡉࡊࡀ
ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡉࡀ ࡆࡀࡅࡊࡕࡀ ࡓࡀࡁࡕࡉࡀ
ࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉ ࡏࡋࡇ ࡔࡀࡓࡉࡀ
ࡗ ࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉ ࡏࡋ ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡃࡉࡊࡓࡉࡋࡇ
ࡅࡄࡀࡅࡉࡋࡅࡍ ࡔࡓࡀࡓࡀ ࡋࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡁࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉ ࡎࡀࡋࡉࡒ ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ
ࡅࡌࡆࡀࡉࡊࡋࡅࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡅࡃࡉࡀ
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡁࡋࡅࡍ ࡏࡌࡓࡀ ࡅࡔࡉࡌࡀ
ࡅࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉ ࡅࡂࡀࡁࡀࡓࡅࡀࡕࡀࡉ
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡁࡋࡅࡍ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡀ ࡀࡍࡄࡉࡓࡕࡀ
ࡏࡋ ࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡔࡓࡉࡀ
ࡖࡁࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉ ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡒࡀࡍ
ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁࡋࡇ ࡋࡍࡀࡑࡁ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡅࡌࡀࡓࡃࡉࡕࡀ ࡖࡌࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡓࡃࡉࡀ
ࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉ ࡃࡉࡋࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ
ࡌࡀࡓࡃࡉࡀ ࡏࡈࡑࡅࡉࡍࡀ ࡖࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡀࡓࡒࡀࡄࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡌࡉࡎࡉࡀ
ࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉ ࡅࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡌࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡉࡀࡓ
ࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡉࡊࡀࡍࡍ
ࡅࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉ ࡅࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡌࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡉࡀࡓ
ࡉࡐࡓࡉࡀ ࡅࡏࡌࡁࡉࡀ ࡅࡏࡋࡀࡉࡍࡀ ࡋࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉ ࡅࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡌࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡉࡀࡓ
ࡖࡏࡌࡓࡀ ࡅࡔࡉࡌࡀ ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡍ
ࡍࡀࡑࡁࡋࡅࡍ ࡀࡀࡍࡉࡍࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡃࡉࡋࡅࡍ ࡌࡉࡕࡄࡉࡕࡌࡉࡀ
ࡏࡄࡀࡁࡋࡅࡍ ࡓࡅࡔࡅࡌࡀ ࡃࡀࡉࡊࡀ
ࡅࡏࡋ ࡌࡉࡓࡑࡉࡀ ࡃࡀࡉࡊࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡓࡉࡑࡀ
ࡌࡉࡕࡄࡉࡕࡌࡉࡀ ࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉࡅࡍ
ࡅࡓࡉࡔ ࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡒࡉࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡉࡕࡉࡓࡉࡑࡀ ࡏࡋ ࡀࡊࡓࡎࡀࡅࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡄࡀࡃ ࡌࡍ ࡄࡃࡀࡃࡉࡀ
ࡅࡌࡉࡌࡓࡀ ࡖࡀࡁࡀࡄࡀࡕࡇ ࡋࡅࡀࡕࡇ ࡌࡉࡔࡕࡉࡊࡍ
ࡌࡀࡍ ࡖࡓࡀࡆࡀ ࡖࡀࡁࡀࡄࡀࡕࡇ
ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡅࡓࡁࡀ ࡃࡌࡅࡕࡇ ࡅࡁࡀࡉࡀࡓ ࡅࡌࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓ
ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡓࡀࡅࡓࡀࡁ ࡌࡍ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ
ࡀࡅࡊࡀࡕ ࡔࡀࡌࡁࡉࡁࡉࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡁࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡕࡀࡒࡉࡕࡍࡀ ࡋࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ ࡏࡕࡉࡀࡄࡁࡀࡕ
ࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉ ࡅࡁࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡌࡉࡀ ࡅࡀࡉࡀࡓ
ࡅࡀࡉࡍࡍ ࡏࡔࡕࡀࡋࡀࡈࡉࡍࡍ ࡏࡋࡀࡅࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ
ࡏࡕࡉࡀࡄࡁࡀࡕ ࡕࡀࡒࡀࡕࡍࡀ ࡋࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡖࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡅࡍ
ࡅࡀࡎࡉࡒࡉࡍࡍ ࡋࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀࡍ ࡋࡓࡉࡔ
ࡕࡀࡒࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡅࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓࡉࡍࡍ
ࡅࡂࡉࡆࡍࡉࡀ ࡋࡀࡋࡌࡉࡀ ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡁࡋࡅࡍ
ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡌࡀࡓࡃࡉࡕࡀ ࡋࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡌࡉࡀࡍࡉࡅࡍ ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁ
ࡉࡀࡄࡉࡁࡋࡇ ࡉࡍࡅࡑࡁࡕࡀ ࡃࡀࡉࡊࡕࡀ ࡋࡌࡀࡋࡀࡊ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡎࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡌࡈࡉࡍ
ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡉࡍࡍ
ࡓࡌࡉࡀࡍࡋࡇ ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡀࡍࡋࡇ
ࡀࡉࡍࡍ ࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡋࡎࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡌࡍ ࡀࡑࡅࡕࡀࡊ ࡔࡓࡀࡕ ࡏࡋࡀࡍ
ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡊ ࡕࡀࡒࡅࡍ ࡅࡃࡌࡅࡕࡀࡊ ࡌࡉࡉࡍࡄࡓࡀ
ࡋࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡅࡋࡉࡀࡓࡃࡉࡍࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡔࡀࡋࡉࡈࡇࡍ ࡋࡎࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡌࡈࡉࡍ
ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡉࡍࡍ
ࡏࡉࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡋࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡓࡌࡉࡀࡍࡋࡇ
ࡗ ࡌࡈࡉࡍ ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡅࡌࡀࡓࡀࡉࡀࡍ ࡖࡔࡉࡊࡀࡍࡕࡀ ࡅࡊࡋࡄࡉࡍ
ࡀࡁ ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡖࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡅࡔࡀࡋࡉࡈࡀࡍࡊ ࡋࡉࡊࡌࡀࡑ
ࡉࡍࡅࡑࡁࡕࡀ ࡍࡀࡑࡁࡋࡀࡊ
ࡅࡏࡋ ࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡌࡍ ࡄࡀࡉࡋࡀࡍ ࡅࡓࡀࡆࡀࡍ ࡔࡀࡓࡉࡍ ࡏࡋࡇ
ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡀࡊ ࡏࡕࡋࡀࡁࡀࡔ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡁࡃࡉࡋࡀࡍ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ ࡌࡈࡉࡍ
ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡉࡍࡍ
ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡉࡀࡍ ࡋࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ ࡃࡀࡍ
ࡗ ࡌࡈࡉࡍ ࡁࡉࡕ ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ
ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ ࡁࡄࡀࡔࡀࡁࡕࡀ ࡄࡅࡀ
ࡃࡀࡍ ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡉࡀࡍ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡉࡅࡔࡀࡌࡉࡍ
ࡋࡁࡀࡁࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡋࡁࡅࡇࡍ ࡍࡀࡐࡒ
ࡗ ࡄࡅࡀ ࡁࡄࡀࡔࡀࡁࡕࡀ
ࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡓࡀࡌࡉࡀࡍࡋࡇ
ࡀࡉࡍࡍ ࡌࡉࡄࡆࡀ ࡖࡄࡆࡀࡉࡇࡍ
ࡅࡓࡉࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡅࡆࡉࡅࡀࡊ ࡃࡀࡄࡀࡍ ࡁࡄࡉࡋࡀࡐ
ࡀࡁࡅࡍ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ
ࡅࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀࡊ ࡌࡁࡀࡔࡒࡓࡀ ࡁࡀࡕࡓࡀ ࡖࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ
ࡔࡀࡉࡀࡈࡀࡊ ࡄࡅࡀ ࡁࡉࡕ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡌࡀࡓࡀ ࡖࡅࡊࡋࡇ ࡈࡀࡁࡅࡕࡀ
ࡌࡎࡀࡃࡀࡓ ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡉࡀ ࡒࡓࡅࡊ
ࡅࡕࡓࡀࡕࡑࡇ ࡁࡔࡉࡊࡕࡍࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓࡕࡇ ࡅࡕࡀࡒࡉࡕࡍࡇ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡌࡈࡉࡍ
ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡉࡍࡍ
ࡆࡉࡅࡀࡉࡀࡍ ࡋࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡃࡀࡍ
ࡌࡀࡈࡅࡉࡀࡍ ࡋࡁࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ
ࡅࡁࡅࡕࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡁࡀࡉࡉࡀ
ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡍࡀࡐࡑ ࡅࡒࡀࡌ ࡌࡍ ࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡉࡇ
ࡋࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡀ ࡄࡀࡎࡉࡓࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡀࡁࡀࡃ
ࡁࡅࡕࡀ ࡁࡀࡉࡉࡀ ࡌࡍ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡄࡀࡃࡉࡁࡇ ࡅࡄࡀࡃࡉࡁࡇ ࡀࡀࡍࡉࡍࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡉࡀ ࡕࡋࡀࡕࡀ
ࡖࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡋࡁࡉࡔ
ࡖࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ ࡁࡄࡀࡄࡅ ࡂࡀࡁࡓࡀ
ࡅࡄࡍࡅࡓࡀ ࡌࡓࡀࡌࡀࡉ ࡋࡀࡊࡃࡇࡐ
ࡋࡁࡉࡔ ࡋࡁࡅࡔࡀ ࡖࡆࡉࡅࡀ
ࡅࡓࡀࡔࡉࡌࡁࡇ ࡁࡃࡀࡉࡊࡀ ࡓࡅࡔࡅࡌࡀ
ࡀࡁࡅࡍ ࡕࡀࡒࡉࡋࡁࡇ ࡁࡌࡅࡆࡀࡉࡍࡀ
ࡋࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡌࡉࡀ ࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡀࡊ ࡔࡀࡋࡉࡈࡇࡍ ࡋࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ
ࡋࡃࡀࡅࡓࡀ ࡕࡀࡒࡀࡍ
ࡅࡋࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡀ ࡖࡎࡀࡋࡒࡀ
ࡖࡎࡀࡋࡒࡀ ࡌࡉࡇࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡅࡋࡏࡓࡅࡕࡀ ࡅࡕࡅࡔࡁࡉࡄࡕࡀ
ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡉࡓࡁࡅࡍ ࡅࡉࡍࡔࡕࡀࡌࡉࡁࡅࡍ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡔࡀࡋࡉࡈࡇࡍ ࡋࡔࡅࡁࡀ ࡅࡕࡓࡉࡎࡀࡓ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡀࡍࡋࡇ
ࡗ ࡌࡍ ࡉࡊࡎࡉࡀ ࡏࡕࡉࡍࡉࡑࡁࡕ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡄࡀࡎࡓࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ
ࡗ ࡌࡍ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ ࡃࡀࡉࡊࡀ ࡄࡅࡉࡕ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡄࡀࡎࡓࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ
ࡅࡓࡀࡂࡆࡉࡕ ࡋࡕࡐࡀࡄࡉࡋ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡄࡀࡎࡓࡉࡕ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ
ࡅࡕࡐࡀࡄࡉࡋ ࡏࡋࡀࡊ ࡄࡀࡌ
ࡖࡄࡅࡀࡕ ࡌࡉࡀࡍࡉࡅࡊࡍ
ࡄࡀࡔࡕࡀ ࡄࡀࡓࡂࡕࡀ ࡅࡁࡉࡔࡅࡕࡀ
ࡄࡀࡎࡓࡉࡀ ࡅࡌࡉࡕࡀࡊࡌࡓࡉࡀ
ࡉࡍࡔࡌࡀࡕࡀ ࡁࡄࡅࡎࡓࡀࡅࡍࡍ
ࡁࡃࡉࡓࡉࡊࡀ ࡖࡅࡊࡔࡈࡀ
ࡖࡀࡔࡀࡓ ࡅࡒࡀࡌ ࡎࡀࡋࡉࡒ
ࡉࡍࡎࡀࡒ ࡋࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡎࡀࡉࡉࡐ ࡁࡎࡀࡅࡇࡐ ࡖࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡖࡋࡀࡌࡀࡔࡀࡓ ࡅࡋࡀࡒࡀࡉࡉࡌ
ࡅࡈࡍࡀࡓࡕࡇ ࡋࡂࡉࡆࡍࡉࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡎࡊࡀࡉࡕࡇ ࡋࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ ࡌࡍ ࡔࡉࡁࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡌࡍ ࡁࡅࡎࡌࡀ ࡖࡀࡉࡀࡓ ࡔࡓࡉࡍ ࡏࡋࡇ
ࡀࡄࡍࡀࡓࡕࡇ ࡅࡕࡀࡒࡉࡕࡍࡇ
ࡅࡕࡀࡒࡉࡇࡍ ࡋࡌࡉࡌࡓࡇ ࡌࡍ ࡓࡉࡔ ࡁࡓࡉࡔ
ࡕࡀࡒࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡋࡏࡁࡉࡃࡀࡕࡇ
ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡋࡕࡐࡀࡄࡉࡋ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ ࡌࡈࡉࡍ
ࡓࡀࡃࡉࡉࡍࡍ ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡂࡉࡉࡍࡍ
ࡄࡅ ࡁࡓࡀࡄࡌࡉࡀ ࡏࡕࡉࡌࡋࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡈࡅࡉࡀࡍ ࡋࡕࡐࡀࡄࡉࡋ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓ
ࡖࡋࡉࡂࡀࡋ ࡈࡀࡁࡀ ࡔࡀࡃࡀࡓ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ
ࡏࡅ ࡄࡉࡉࡍࡀࡋࡇ ࡋࡀࡁ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡊࡋ ࡉࡅࡌ ࡅࡊࡋ ࡉࡅࡌࡀ
ࡖࡉࡍࡔࡒࡋࡅࡋࡉࡀ ࡀࡓࡉࡐࡋࡉࡀ ࡖࡄࡀࡁࡀࡓࡀ
ࡄࡅࡎࡓࡀࡀࡍ ࡅࡁࡅࡓࡑࡀࡀࡍ
ࡄࡀࡓࡂࡕࡀ ࡅࡁࡉࡔࡅࡕࡀ ࡌࡀࡉࡉࡋ ࡏࡋ ࡏࡅࡓࡑࡇ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡀࡁ ࡓࡂࡀࡆ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ
ࡅࡀࡉࡍࡍ ࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡓࡀࡌࡉࡀࡍࡋࡇ ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡀࡍࡋࡇ
ࡅࡅࡊࡓࡎࡉࡀ ࡕࡓࡀࡋࡑࡇ ࡁࡀࡕࡀࡓ ࡄࡍࡅࡓ
ࡁࡄࡉࡓࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡔࡉࡄࡋࡅࡉࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡅࡀࡉࡅࡍ
ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡒࡀࡋࡇ ࡋࡃࡀࡅࡓࡀ ࡕࡀࡒࡀࡍ
ࡕࡀࡓࡉࡑࡀࡍࡋࡇ ࡏࡓࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡌࡀࡉࡓࡀࡋࡇ
ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡅࡍ
ࡗ ࡕࡉࡒࡋࡀࡕࡀ ࡓࡀࡌࡉࡋࡅࡍ ࡔࡉࡁࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡗ ࡄࡀࡎࡓࡉࡀ ࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡀ ࡏࡁࡉࡃࡉࡋࡅࡍ
ࡅࡀࡀࡍ ࡁࡓࡉࡐࡋࡉࡀ ࡖࡄࡔࡅࡀࡊ ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡊࡓࡀࡊࡀࡍ
ࡒࡅࡃࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡌࡀࡃࡀࡊࡓ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ
ࡗ ࡓࡀࡂࡆࡉࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡉ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡋࡕࡐࡀࡄࡉࡋ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ ࡖࡉࡍࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ ࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡏࡋ ࡕࡉࡒࡉࡋࡀࡕࡀ ࡅࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡀ
ࡀࡀࡍࡕ ࡕࡉࡔࡕࡀࡉࡀࡋ
ࡅࡄࡉࡌࡕࡀࡊ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡄࡅࡍ ࡔࡉࡁࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ
ࡀࡌࡉࡈࡍࡅࡋ ࡖࡌࡍ ࡆࡉࡃࡀ ࡅࡓࡅࡂࡆࡀ
ࡖࡄࡀࡈࡉࡁࡅࡍ ࡅࡌࡀࡎࡉࡊࡋࡉࡁࡅࡍ ࡁࡂࡅ ࡓࡅࡓࡁࡉࡀ
ࡔࡀࡋࡉࡈࡕࡉࡅࡍࡍ ࡋࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡀ
ࡅࡓࡀࡌࡉࡋࡅࡍ ࡁࡎࡀࡅࡀࡐ ࡖࡀࡋࡌࡀ
ࡅࡓࡀࡌࡉࡍ ࡏࡋࡀࡅࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡔࡉࡄࡀ ࡅࡔࡉࡂࡓࡀ
ࡋࡉࡁࡇࡍ ࡖࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡌࡉࡕࡀࡊࡕࡓࡉࡀ
ࡌࡀࡓࡅࡉࡋࡅࡍ ࡁࡓࡅࡉࡕࡀ
ࡁࡎࡀࡋࡊࡅࡕࡀ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡕࡐࡀࡄࡉࡋ ࡕࡉࡄࡅࡉࡀ
ࡏࡅ ࡄࡀࡈࡉࡁࡅࡍ ࡁࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡉࡀ
ࡁࡎࡋࡊࡅࡕࡀࡊ ࡃࡉࡋࡀࡊ ࡕࡐࡀࡄࡉࡋ ࡕࡉࡄࡅࡉࡀ
ࡏࡅ ࡄࡀࡈࡉࡍ ࡕࡀࡓࡌࡉࡃࡀࡊ
ࡅࡏࡉࡍࡀࡀࡍ ࡋࡕࡐࡀࡄࡉࡋ ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ ࡓࡀࡌࡉࡀ
ࡄࡀࡉࡆࡀࡊ ࡌࡀࡋࡉࡋ ࡌࡀࡃࡍࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ
ࡅࡀࡌࡀࡓࡋࡇ
ࡖࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡄࡅࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡀࡍࡁࡑࡀ
ࡀࡁࡅࡍ ࡁࡄࡉࡓࡀ ࡖࡋࡀࡌࡅࡌࡀ
ࡅࡄࡀࡁࡔࡀࡁࡀ ࡄࡅࡀࡋࡀࡊ ࡉࡐࡓࡒࡀ
ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ ࡀࡍࡁࡑࡀ ࡄࡅࡀࡋࡀࡊ
ࡌࡊࡀࡑ ࡉࡊࡌࡀࡑ ࡖࡉࡀࡓࡃࡀࡍ ࡔࡀࡃࡀࡓࡋࡀࡊ
ࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ ࡋࡔࡅࡌࡀࡊ ࡏࡃࡅࡉࡀ
ࡅࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡆࡀࡉࡊࡍ

Source Colophon

Classical Mandaic 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 under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Available on Internet Archive: archive.org/details/mandaeanbookofjohn.

The Mandaean Book of John (Drašia ḏ-Iahia) is the principal mythological and liturgical scripture of the Mandaean tradition. The critical edition represents the first complete scholarly edition of the text, based on multiple manuscripts with full critical apparatus. Chapter 59 is the third and final chapter of the Treasure speech sequence (Chapters 57–59), containing the treasure's cosmic journey through the celestial hierarchy.

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