On John the Baptist's Question to Christ from Prison

1.                 Lord, from what is Yours may a discourse be moved toward listeners,

and may speakers richly speak it to You.

2.                 You are the Word Who gives word to speakers,

and in You all mouths are moved toward Your praise.

3.                 If not You, there would be no word for the eloquent,

and no tongue’s voices would be moved toward listeners.

4.                 No understandings would be moved to speak [about] You

except through Yourself, [themselves] not sufficing to speak.

5.                 You gave knowledge to all knowers, and they have forgotten You,

and see how they investigate You as if they know anything!

6.                 You gave the scribe a mind and book and illumination,

and see how he thinks the mind and word come from what is his own!

7.                 You gave the wise man wisdom to glorify You for Your gift,

and see how he is prideful and puffed up, as if he himself searched and became wise!

8.                 Every gift that is worthy of praise is from what is Yours,

yet see how a person is glorified when he has taken it from You and denied You!

9.                 The wise have strayed, for they took refuge in their wisdom,

and see how they investigate You as [if You are] something finite!

10.             Your investigation is exalted – I am not approaching to investigate You.[2]

Make me worthy to glorify You,[3] for You are easy to glorify.

11.             Even an angel could not investigate you if he dared,

but it is not hard for a rocky mountain to glorify You.

12.             The depths and serpents move to glorify You,

and not even the fiery seraphim [move] to search You out.

13.             Wood and stones are eloquent in praising You,[4]

but speakers are bereft of words[5] to explain You.

14.             If a cherub was required to explain You, he would be confounded,

and he would be perplexed and silent and would not speak.

15.             A cherub only knows how to bless, and if he deviated

from blessings, he would be silent and not speak.

16.             And also for the seraph it is easy to cry “holy,” and nothing else,

and when he hides himself he cries out “holy” because Your place is fearful.

17.             And who is this fashioned clay, a lump of earth,

that has thrown himself into grasping the sea in his audacity?

18.             O Lord, I have not descended to grasp the depths of Your birth –

I have stirred up for Your glory. Enrich my harp toward Your praise!

19.             Wake up, my harp! Play your spiritual song

discerningly for the glory of the Groom, your Lord.

20.             Wake, wake up, O soulful lyre!

Sing at the wedding feast of the glorious Daughter of Day![6]

21.             The Bride has invited the People and Peoples to the supper –

rise, trumpet for her with your beautiful songs!

22.             The Groom gave you money to place on His table,

and if you do not place it, you will be struck by justice.

23.             The Lord of the wedding feast has counted you among the Bride’s acquaintances –

sing at the wedding feast, and delight the crowds of your companions!

24.             Blow in me, Lord, as in an empty reed, and I will give

songs of glory full of wonder about Your greatness.

25.             <53> A ship’s path is not known among the waves,

nor are the way or traces of an eagle in the air.

26.             Who could search out the exalted path of the Son of God

Who came and went, and is not subject to being searched out?

27.             He came from on high and dwelt in the depth, and He was [both] on high

and in the depth, and His path is hidden from the wise.

28.             He chose a virgin and made her His mother in her virginity,

and He took from her the likeness of a servant,[7] and entered creation.

29.             The Virgin gave birth and wonder fell upon the wise –

and look at them wearying themselves to define her story, yet it is undefinable!

30.             The virgin mother is a new sight that is undefinable.

A virgin who gives birth is a great, unspeakable wonder!

31.             The seals of virginity along with milk are a great, inexplicable discourse –

a weighty thing[8] that minds are dazzled by and do not investigate.

32.             The Son of the Most High Whose love mingled Him[9] with the lowly –

the Lord of creation Who grew up among the poor –

33.             the Great One Who descended and reached the limit of smallness –

the Doctor Who went out and visited the earth, and healed its pains –

34.             the Word Who willed and came revealed in the flesh

and looked on the world, and it saw Him face to face.[10]

35.             And since the eagle’s path in the air is not known,

the world did not know our Lord when He came to it.

36.             Because of this, there were some who called Him “John”

and some who called Him “Elijah,” and some [called Him] one of the prophets of old.[11]

37.             And due to His wonders and the height of His mightiness,

they spoke so much of Him that the world might perceive He is unspeakable.

38.             He traveled like a ship carrying wealth among the waves,

and whoever searched out His path lost himself in the sea.

39.             They called Him a prophet, and He was not a prophet like they called Him,

but the Lord of prophecy and of revelations.

40.             They called [Him] “Elijah” and creation testifies that He was not Elijah;

the Lord of the prophets was named a prophet in the world.

41.             Since He took on the likeness of a servant though He was Lord,

earthly beings likened Him to servants.

42.             One to a prophet, one to Elijah, and one to Jeremiah,

they compared Him Whose likeness is hidden in His Father.

43.             Each person spoke openly about our Savior,

and because they spoke so much of Him, they showed He is unspeakable.

44.             John also sent to Christ from prison,

“Are You He Who is coming, or are we hoping for another?”

45.             He asked like a questioner without knowledge

though He knew that He is the Christ. But why?

46.             If explanation does not reveal the meaning of a word,

[the word] is set down hidden and no one is able to see its beauty.

47.             For though strangers came up with names for the Son of God,

asking “Who is this, Who is this?” and did not know,

48.             why did this man, who loved Him and knew Him,

send to Him and ask Him whether “it is You”?

49.             For what would someone say, who hears from John that he sent such [a message]

to the Son of God when he was imprisoned?

50.             The word resembles that of a foreigner and stranger

and one who is ignorant of the matter he sent [about].

51.             Yet who could say about John, except by erring,

that he did not know the Son of God, and sought to learn?

52.             But since he knew, why did he send if he knew?

And who would dare say he did not know?

53.             He sent two disciples to Him, saying to Him,

<54> “Are You He Who is coming, or are we hoping for another?”

54.             O Groomsman who betrothed the Bride and gave [her] to Christ!

Why are you asking whether “it is You”?

55.             If the virgin Bride hears you doubting

whether or not He is the Christ, what will she say to you? –

56.             “Yes, John, but if you were not sure Who the Groom is,

why have I been betrothed if now you are inquiring to learn?

57.             If it is not Him, then you have deceived me, and I became His –

for you assured me like someone trustworthy[12] that He is the Groom.

58.             You should have inquired before the wedding-feast,

before the Bride became the Groom’s from the waters.[13]

59.             By the side of the Jordan your voice enticed me and I was betrothed to Him,

and you yourself brought me His ring and I received it so I could be His.

60.             O friend of the Groom, show me why you are doubting

and asking as if you do not know Who the Groom is!

61.             See, you showed me with a finger when He was being baptized

and you entrusted me to Him, and I washed with Him and now I am pure!

62.             And He gave me garments of fire and Spirit – see me clothed –

and I entered a covenant with Him, and now I am His!

63.             You glorified Him among the crowds and even said,

‘I am not even worthy [to untie] the straps on His sandals.’[14]

64.             You also heard the Father’s voice calling, ‘This is My beloved Son,’

and you saw the Spirit in the likeness of a dove upon Him at the baptism.

65.             You became a groomsman, you became a witness, you became a friend,

and after all these things you are asking like a stranger?!

66.             You called to the guests, ‘Behold, the Groom stands among you!’

And you urged Him to baptize you when He was being baptized.

67.             And your mouth confessed, ‘He takes away the sin of the world,’[15]

so why do you now doubt and inquire?

68.             Why have you doubted and about whom are you doubting –

about the Father or the Spirit, witnesses of the Son?

69.             The Father called to you and confessed His Son and showed you Who He was;

the Spirit testified to you in the likeness of a dove and rose over your Lord.

70.             And you were convinced by the Father and believed the Spirit and confessed the Son,

and now you have come down to asking, like someone in need!

71.             You have rejected the Father’s voice and the Spirit’s revelation

if you have doubted and are questioning about the Savior.”

72.             Indeed, John, why and before whom did you rejoice in the womb[16]

if He was not the Son of God?

73.             When you were an infant in your mother’s womb you knew Him well,

and now that you have become a man, have you forgotten Him like you say?

74.             When He was not visible to you, you became His true witness,[17]

and after you have seen Him, are you now questioning like a liar?

75.             In the womb, joy – so in prison, why the question?

How is it that you knew but now do not know?[18]

76.             When He dwelt in the Virgin and was hidden from viewers,

you in the Barren Woman became His witness and preacher.

77.             And now that the whole world has perceived you and your Lord,

have you forgotten His story, now questioning to see Who He is?

78.             O you Voice! Why do you doubt about the Word?

For except through the Word you are not moved toward listeners.

79.             Though a word may be hidden from all, it is revealed to the voice,

and [the voice] carries it and makes it audible to those who do not hear [it].

80.             [The voice] takes a [word] once it comes off the tongue

and escorts it until it enters into hearing.

81.             Except through [the voice, the word] is not revealed to listeners,

and if not for the voice, it would not be known what the word is.

82.             The voice explains [the word’s] hiddenness clearly

and through its voice, a person learns correctly.

83.             <55> And how, now, has the Voice questioned the Word,

for the voice is the explainer and messenger of the word!

84.             Indeed, John, who became a Voice in the wilderness of Judea,[19]

why have you doubted about the Word, the Son of God?

85.             The Lord sent you before His presence to make firm His path,

and you prepared a path – and now you are asking “Who is to come?”!

86.             Your father the priest received the tidings from Gabriel

about you, that you are the proclaimer of the Son of God.[20]

87.             And you went out and proclaimed, and Christ came like you proclaimed Him,

and now that the world has seen and known Him, you are questioning!

88.             By your own teaching the whole world has known Him,

and you told His good news among the crowds when you were baptizing.

89.             And your mouth confessed that you are lowly and He exalted,

and the earth perceived that He is God and you are man.

90.             And you became a witness for the whole marriage-feast that He is the Groom,

and you showed yourself to be His friend and neighbor

91.             who hears His voice and knows His mysteries and rejoices with Him –

and after these things why are you now questioning?

92.             Indeed, O true one, chamberlain of the Son of God,

why did you ask Him if He is or is not [the One]?

93.             After this closeness, intermingling,

and clarity [with] which you know Him, why the question?

94.             The whole world has been troubled by your question,

for no one is as close to Him as you, yet you are questioning!

95.             Children of instruction, love divine learning,

for it illuminates all dark souls.

96.             O hearer, love the Scripture and remain with it,

and it will show you all its beauty when you love it.

97.             If you are not rushing, stay and hear about John

and why he questioned though he knew the Son of God.

98.             There are questions close to wisdom,

and there are questions close to ignorance.[21]

99.             There are people who ask about things though knowing,

for there were even questions from God here and there.

100.         The Lord asked among the trees “where are you, Adam?”[22]

And He asked Moses “what is this you have in your hand?”[23]

101.         And again, the Father asked Cain “where is your brother?”[24]

And the Son asked about Lazarus, “where is he laid?”[25]

102.         And these questions did not come from God so He could learn,

but He asked about things for various reasons.

103.         And if God, the searcher of hearts, asked questions,

then it is not wrong that John, too, was asking.

104.         It was not because he was needy, and not as a man who did not know,

and not because he was doubting if He was the Christ or not,

105.         and not so he could learn – he who had himself taught others –

and not because he thought there was any way for another Christ to come.

106.         And he was not annulling those first words

and not uprooting that great building he had built,

107.         and he did not seek to oppose his proclamation,

nor did he reject the witness of the Father when he was questioning.

108.         But he asked while knowing the Son of God,

while loving Him and affirming that He is [the One] Who is to come.

109.         And while he did not need to learn again, he asked a question –

not to learn, but to teach wisely.

110.         Now let us say why he was questioning

the Son of God as if he did not know Him at all.

111.         John knew Him truly

and it was very necessary for the whole world to know Him.[26]

112.         <56> And John had people following him –

Nazirite people, lovers of all righteousness –

113.         the perfect, who hated to ever see sin in anyone,

and who did not mingle with sinners in their deeds.

114.         And there was no laxity in the entire course of their ways of life,

for they lived in perfection in their deeds.

115.         And as they learned from John, who was a Nazirite,

and holy and righteous and ascetic,

116.         thus they lived in prudence

and did not approach sinners even a little bit.

117.         And with our Savior there was that band of apostles –

simple and innocent people without wickedness –

118.         sincere, pure, full of compassion, and friends of everyone,

mingled in the world and eating bread with sinners,

119.         friends of tax collectors and prostitutes for a reason:

[they were] fishers of men, mingled with all conditions [of people].[27]

120.         The Son of God went out to seek the sheep that strayed,

and His love mingled Him with the lost, to find them.[28]

121.         He also reclined at a feast with tax collectors to justify them,

and prostitutes even embraced His feet, so He might sanctify them.[29]

122.         He was the medicine[30] fit for all sores,

and wherever there was a large bruise, He sprinkled Himself on it.

123.         And the way of life of John’s people did not resemble

that of our Lord, which is simple and mingled with sinners.

124.         John’s people were fasting and living ascetically;

they were dignified and full of wrath toward sinners.

125.         But the disciples [were] eating and tranquil, drinking and pure,

and they became all [things] with all, to spiritually enrich all.[31]

126.         And because of these things, the Son of God was questioned

about His disciples and about the disciples of John’s group:

127.         “Why do John’s people fast so much

but these Your people do not know what fasting is?”[32]

128.         Our Lord said, “at the wedding-feast no one fasts.

Fasting and observances are repellent to the members of the bridal chamber.

129.         The groom is with them – how can they fast or mourn?

They lead the bride; asceticism does not befit them.

130.         They are fishermen, and a catch usually happens with food!

They are salt,[33] and [salt] is entirely fitting for the tasteless.

131.         The Son of God clearly showed that it was not right

for these beloved wedding guests who were following Him to fast.

132.         But for John, much fasting was good,

along with abstinence and wonderous asceticism.[34]

133.         The more he fasted, the more he gained,

for he was a human running to find righteousness.

134.         And when the envy of Herodias imprisoned him,

he perceived he would depart to the great world.[35]

135.         And he was planning to entrust his disciples

to the Son of God to mingle them with His disciples.

136.         And he came up with a reason from a non-question question

for them to go and see the wonder of the Son of God,

137.         so when the sword made them orphans from him,

they would know the Son of God and be held by Him,

138.         and so when they saw the way that was pure and simple,

they would not despise it because it was not like theirs.

139.         And because of this, while he was still alive he sent them

to bodily bind them to the Son of God.

140.         And he became like a questioner seeking to learn,

and he made himself seem ignorant,[36] and he was questioning.

141.         <57> And he sent two of his disciples, saying,

“Are You He Who is to come, or are we hoping for another?”

142.         The best man signaled and the Groom knew what he was seeking

and began to astonish His friend’s messengers with mighty deeds.

143.         And while those who came with our Savior did not speak,

He powerfully performed mighty signs.[37]

144.         And immediately He began opening [the eyes of] the blind and making the deaf hear,

cleansing lepers, expelling demons, and healing diseases.

145.         He looked at the sick and made them firm with wholeness,

and at the crippled, and made them take up a strong run,

146.         and at the paralytics, and raised them up with His help,

and at the diseased, and strengthened them without a bandage.

147.         The crowd was stirred by the mighty deeds the Son of God did,

and began to glorify with one great voice.[38]

148.         And the mighty deeds the Son of God did astonished

those disciples who brought that question.

149.         And they found fault with John, for why did he send

and why did he question? For it was clear that this was the Son of God!

150.         The Son’s love[39] seized them and mingled them

and made them friends and companions and associates.[40]

151.         Faith entered and arose in their minds,

and they no longer needed to ask[41] as they had been directed.

152.         They saw the signs and saw the mighty deeds and were greatly assured,

and they knew the Son to be the Christ without question.

153.         The works He did became witnesses for Him before the disciples,

and there was no room for doubt in their minds.

154.         And they were about to blame John their master,

for why was he questioning when he knew that Christ had come?

155.         And because of that question from John,

his disciples were established in the faith of the Son of God.

156.         And since it was necessary for him to be for Him as He sought,

he also set up His path with that question full of wisdom.[42]

157.         And power and discernment struck his disciples

at the mighty deeds they saw the Son of God do there.

158.         And they considered that question to be excessive,

and they considered not asking, like true believers.[43]

159.         But since the word of the master is fearful to disciples,

excessively they approached and asked as directed.

160.         And they repeated the word that had been sent by John:

“Are You He Who is to come, or are we hoping for another?”

161.         Then our Lord, looking upon their minds,

confirmed them to go and speak the mighty deeds He did.

162.         For He saw that their thoughts were set firm

and they had come and put on His faith and been confirmed in it.

163.         And fire and sword would not cut off their love from Him

for they learned [of] Him clearly from the signs He performed.

164.         He said to them, “Go and tell him what you have seen,

what you have heard, what you have learned, what you have believed.

165.         Become my witnesses before John, and you yourselves speak

and narrate these wonders and mighty deeds I have done.[44]

166.         You yourselves be confirmed, for John knows Me

and I know him, and that he questioned to confirm you.

167.         Go and repeat to your noble master what you have seen among the crowds,

so he may see the wonder of your minds.[45]

168.         The blind see, the deaf hear, the dead rise,

and blessed is whoever believes in Me without doubting.

169.         Go, disciples, and tell your master that I have come.

[Tell him:] ‘Precede Me to the grave. Go, announce Me to Sheol’s dead.[46]

170.         <58> You are a messenger – prepare the path as you were sent;

give Me a meeting-place in the land of the dead, for I am coming!

171.         You preceded Me to the womb, you preceded Me to the river to prepare the path.

The grave remains – precede and prepare [it] for Me before I come!

172.         Go and tell Adam who is imprisoned in the place of ruin:

“Behold, the Looser of Bonds has arrived! Do not mourn.”

173.         Go, John, and scatter hope among the dead,

for not before long, I will visit them in their dwellings.

174.         Go and tell Eve, whom the great serpent bit,

“Behold, the Father has sent the Root by which you will be healed!”

175.         Uncover the face of the aged woman ashamed among the trees,

and take away her grief, for her shame has passed away from women.

176.         [Say:] “Behold, the Virgin bore the Fruit that makes you chaste

and exacts your vengeance from that viper who deceived you.”

177.         Cross over, O Voice! Go and raise your voice in Sheol’s hollows [saying]: [47]

“the Word has arrived Who will empty you out of your dead!”

178.         Go, John, for My face is set toward the place of the dead.

Gaze at Me there. I will not delay, and I will see you.

179.         Approach [again] the path of proclamation on which you run.

I have set you before Me. Go, prepare for Me in the heart of the earth!

180.         Go, John, descend to the abyss of the dead and cry out

good hope for those without hope in [the place of] ruin.

181.         As you proclaimed Me among the infants from the womb,

descend, proclaim Me among the dead in the depth of Sheol!’”

182.         Our Lord spoke with John’s disciples

and let them go, and began to speak to the crowds.

183.         For those who heard the question that had been spoken

were scandalized and troubled by John.

184.         Since he sent, ‘whether You are or are not He?,’

they were scandalized at him, as much as he so discredited the Son.

185.         Since they did not know the secret between our Lord and John,

they thought he was asking Him like a stranger.

186.         And so Christ, to bind and heal their minds,

began to speak noble things about John -

187.         and also to show he greatly loved Him[48]

and was mingled with Him, even while asking ‘if You are He?’

188.         He said to them, ‘what did you go out to the wilderness to see

if not a reed that the wind[49] stirs up to sing?

189.         The man is rich in the Holy Spirit by revelation,

and [the Spirit] speaks in him, and he speaks truly.

190.         He is a flute, and the Father blew in him like a reed,

and he began to sing proclamation with a loud voice.[50]

191.         He is stirred up by the Spirit – he was not made a preacher from what is his own,

for he is like a reed in which breath speaks.

192.         He is not resplendent in glorious robes like a rich man;

he lives in the wilderness, not in the palaces of a kingdom.

193.         He did not draw the world to come out by his clothing,

for he is not rich so he can gather people to him with his wealth.

194.         With the sweet voice of his teaching he invited the crowds

like a flute that produces crowds with its melodies.

195.         The Spirit strengthens him and sings in him a loud song[51]

for his soul is worthy of revelation because of his beauty.

196.         You went out to him lovingly to see a prophet,

and I tell you John is even greater than the prophets.

197.         And from all those born of women, there has not risen one greater than him

in prophecy, perfection, and righteousness.

198.         But in the kingdom of heaven, which has been revealed in Me,

the smallest one, so to speak, is greater than John.”

199.         <59> The New Covenant is great, and John was from the Old,

and the kingdom of heaven is of the New.

200.         John is great in righteousness and virginity

and in prophecy, which knows the mystery of the Son of God.

201.         But there is a station higher than it – apostleship,

for it has exalted the Crucifixion through the whole world.

202.         The small brothers became disciples to the Son of God,

and He raised them toward the kingdom of heaven.

203.         And their work is greater than what that Levite worked,

for he only baptized, like someone trustworthy.[52]

204.         But the disciples break the Body and mix the Blood

and give Life to humanity with their hoverings.[53]

205.         Neither the righteous nor the prophets reached, with their revelations,

this work the Church performs in the world today.

206.         For who is greater – he who prophesied that our Lord will come,

or he who carries and distributes Him to the whole world?

207.         A small apostle – if there is anyone small in apostleship –

is exalted and higher in the gospel than John.

208.         For the kingdom of heaven is the gospel,

and in the gospel, great is anyone who is greater than John![54]

209.         That man baptized in water for repentance,

but the baptism of Simon’s group is of fire and Spirit.

210.         The apostles of the Son did not merely baptize, then,

but they have truly eaten the Son, and they are much greater.

211.         They mixed Him in bread, mingled Him in wine, and gave Him to the world,

and they ate Him! And this thing did not happen with John.

212.         He is greater than the prophets because he saw the Son of God,

but he is less than the apostles since he died[55] and did not break His body.

213.         John is great, for he placed his hand on the head of his Lord,[56]

but [greater] than him is Simon, who mixed Him in bread and gave to creation.

214.         That greatness of John’s people is one of prophecy,

but by the apostles the dark world was made bright.

215.         He was a great prophet, for he prophesied that the Groom was coming,

but the least apostle is greater than him, for he ministers to Him.[57]

216.         Prophets and kings longed for the Only-Begotten,

but they did not attain to seeing Him as they longed.

217.         But the apostles’ ears heard, their eyes saw,

their hands touched,[58] and because of this they are greater than John.

218.         Our Lord made both the first and the last great.

Blessed is He Who became small and made all great in His smallness![59]

܀܀܀܀܀

[1] This homily reflects on the story of John the Baptist, who sent two of his disciples to Christ when he was imprisoned and asked “Are You the One Who is to come, or are we hoping for another?” This story is found in: Matthew 11:2-15; Luke 7:18-35. Section breaks are my own.

[2] “to investigate You” lit. “Your investigation.”

[3] “to glorify You” lit. “Your glory.”

[4] “are eloquent in praising You” lit. “are eloquent toward/about Your praise.”

[5] “words” lit. “word.” This can also be translated as “reason” or “rationality” (ܡܠܬܐ).

[6] I.e., the Church. The “wedding feast” of the Church is the Qurbono (eucharistic liturgy).

[7] Philippians 2:7.

[8] “a weighty thing”: ܡܰܫܩܠܳܐ. I am unsure if I am translating this well.

[9] “Whose love mingled Him” or “Who mingled His love.”

[10] Or, “He saw [the world]” face to face.

[11] Matthew 16:13-14; Mark 8:27-28; Luke 9:18-19.

[12] “like someone trustworthy”: ܐܰܝܟ ܫܰܪܺܝܪܳܐ.

[13] I.e., from the waters of baptism.

[14] Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27.

[15] John 1:29.

[16] Luke 1:41-44.

[17] “His true witness” lit. “a witness for Him like someone truthful” (ܐܰܝܟ ܫܰܪܺܝܪܳܐ).

[18] “How is it that you knew but now do not know” lit. “How is it that you knew and why do you not know?”

[19] Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 3:4-6; John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3.

[20] Luke 1:13-17.

[21] Lit. “There is a question to which wisdom is close, / and there is a question to which ignorance is close.”

[22] Genesis 4:9.

[23] Exodus 4:2.

[24] Genesis 4:9.

[25] John 11:34.

[26] Or, “and he was very urgent that the whole world know Him.” Syr: ܘܛܳܒ ܐܰܠܺܝܨ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܕܟܽܠܶܗ ܥܳܠܡܳܐ ܗܘܳܐ ܝܳܕܰܥ ܠܶܗ

[27] “mingled with all conditions [of people]”: ܡܶܬܚܰܠܛܺܝܢ ܥܰܡ ܟܽܠ ܡܽܘ̈ܫܚܳܢ.

[28] Or, “He mingled His love with the lost to find them.” Syr: ܘܥܰܡ ܐܰܒܺܝ̈ܕܶܐ ܚܰܠܛܶܗ ܚܽܘܒܶܗ ܕܢܶܫܟܰܚ ܐܶܢܽܘܢ

Cf. Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:5-7.

[29] A) Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:29-32. B) Luke 7:36-38. See also Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8.

[30] “medicine” more literally “root/herb” (ܥܶܩܳܪܳܐ), the same title of Christ found in line 174.

[31] 1 Corinthians 9:22.

[32] Matthew 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35.

[33] Matthew 5:13.

[34] “along with abstinence [or: being a Nazirite] and wonderous asceticism”: ܘܰܢܙܺܝܪܽܘܬܳܐ ܘܥܳܢܘܳܝܽܘܬܳܐ ܕܡܰܠܝܳܐ ܬܶܗܪܳܐ

[35] Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:14-29.

[36] “and he made himself seem ignorant” lit. “and he made himself like one not knowing.”

[37] I render this as the sense of: ܐܶܬܥܰܙܰܙ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܥܰܠ ܐܳܬܘ̈ܳܬܳܐ ܕܓܰܢ̱ܒܳܪܽܘܬܳܐ.

[38] “voice” lit. “mouth.”

[39] Either the Son’s love is subject, or the disciples’ newly-acquired love of the Son. I lean toward the former, given the examples earlier in the homily of the Son’s love as a subject “mingling” the Son Himself with humanity. This could also be an intentional wordplay.

[40] “associates”: ܒ̈ܢܰܝ ܪܳܐܙܳܐ

[41] “and they no longer needed to ask” lit. “and they did not need to ask.”

[42] Filling in the pronouns: “And since it was necessary for John to be for Christ as Christ sought, / John also prepared Christ’s way with that question full of wisdoms.”

The precise sense of this couplet is obscure to me, and I am unsure if I am translating it correctly. I suggest the sense is that it was necessary for John to prepare Christ’s way in all things, a theme Jacob emphasizes with Jesus’ words starting at line 169. Syriac text:

ܘܡܶܢ ܕܰܐܠܺܝܨ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܕܢܶܗܘܶܐ ܗ̱ܘܳܐ ܠܶܗ ܐܰܝܟܰܢ ܕܰܒܥܳܐ܆ ܘܰܣܥܰܪ ܐܽܘܪܚܶܗ ܒܗܰܘ ܫܽܘܐܳܠܳܐ ܡܠܶܐ ܚܶܟ̈ܡܳܬܳܐ.

[43] “like true believers”: ܐܰܝܟ ܫܰܪܺܝܪܳܐ.

[44] “I have done” lit. “done through Me.”

[45] “so he may see the wonder of your minds”: I am a bit unsure about the exact translation, since usually ܚܙܐ does not take a ܒ before its object, though ܚܐܪ does. Yet to translate “so he may see with wonder” leaves me unsure what to do with the ܕ before “your minds”: Syr: ܕܢܶܚܙܶܐ ܒܬܶܗܪܳܐ ܕܪ̈ܶܥܝܳܢܰܝܟܽܘܢ

[46] “Go, announce Me to Sheol’s dead” or, more literally, “Go, make Sheol’s dead hear Me.” Syr: ܙܶܠ ܫܰܡܰܥ ܠܺܝ ܡܺܝ̈ܬܳܐ ܕܰܫܝܽܘܠ

[47] Lit. “Cross over and go, O Voice! Raise a voice in Sheol’s hollows.” “Raise a voice” may also be translated as “lay down a word” (ܐܪܡܐ ܩܠܐ). Jacob is playing on the multiple meanings of the word “ܩܠܐ.” “Sheol’s hollows”:ܥܘ̈ܒܐ ܕܫܝܘܠ.

[48] Lit. “and also to show that he loved Him and loved Him.” Jacob uses two Syriac words for love that cannot be easily translated into English. (ܕܪܚܡ ܗܘ ܠܗ ܘܡܚܒ ܗܘ ܠܗ)

[49] “wind”: the same word for “Spirit.”

[50] “with a loud voice” or “with a loud song.” The word “qolo” can mean “voice” or “song” (same as in line 194 and 195).

[51] “The Spirit strengthens him” lit: “He is made firm by the Spirit”: ܠܪܽܘܚܳܐ ܡܰܬܩܶܢ. I have taken ܡܬܩܢ as a passive participle instead of an active one.

“A loud song” is the same phrase as “a loud voice.”

[52] “like someone trustworthy”: ܐܰܝܟ ܫܰܪܺܝܪܳܐ.

[53] “with their hoverings”: ܒܪ̈ܽܘܚܳܦܰܝܗܽܘܢ. A reference to the priest’s action of “hovering” his hands over the eucharistic elements during the liturgy.

[54] I am unsure if I am capturing the exact sense of the first line of couplet 207, and the last line of 208.

ܫܠܺܝܚܳܐ ܙܥܽܘܪܳܐ ܐܶܢ ܐܺܝܬ ܕܰܙܥܽܘܪ ܒܰܫܠܺܝܚܽܘܬܳܐ܆ ܡܥܰܠܰܝ ܗܳܢܳܐ ܘܪܳܡ ܒܰܣܒܰܪܬܳܐ ܡܶܢ ܝܽܘܚܰܢܳܢ.

ܡܰܠܟܽܘܬܳܐ ܓܶܝܪ ܗܳܝ ܕܰܫܡܰܝܳܐ ܣܒܰܪܬܳܐ ܐܺܝܬܶܝܗ̇܆ ܘܒܳܗ̇ ܒܰܣܒܰܪܬܳܐ ܪܰܒ ܐܰܝܢܳܐ ܕܪܰܒ ܡܶܢ ܝܽܘܚܰܢܳܢ.

[55] “he died” lit. “he slept.”

[56] At Jesus’ baptism.

[57] These lines may also be translated: “The least apostle who ministers to Him / is greater than a great prophet who prophesied that the Groom is coming.”

[58] 1 John 1:1.

[59] ܒܪܺܝܟ ܗܽܘ ܕܰܙܥܰܪ ܘܰܐܘܪܶܒ ܟܽܠܢܳܫ ܒܰܙܥܽܘܪܽܘܬܶܗ

Translated by Aimee Hannoush, February 2026.