Tobit 6
Commentary from 2 fathers
And when the young man went down to wash himself, a fish leaped out of the river, and would have devoured him.
τὸ δὲ παιδάριον κατέβη περικλύσασθαι, καὶ ἀνεπήδησεν ἰχθὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ καὶ ἐβουλήθη καταπιεῖν τὸ παιδάριον.
Ѡ҆́на же шє́дша пꙋте́мъ, прїидо́ста въ ве́черъ ко ті́грꙋ рѣцѣ̀ и҆ пребы́ста та́мѡ.
Terrified by the fish, Tobias cried out with a loud voice, saying: "Lord, it attacks me." And the Lord, at the imminent moment of death, began to fear and be troubled, not fearing the devil, but the death that entered the world through the envy of the devil (Wis. II), trembling with the natural frailty of the flesh; hence he prayed that if possible, the hour might pass from him (Mark XII). And he said: "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you, remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will" (Luke XXII).
Commentary on Tobit
Then the angel said unto him, Take the fish. And the young man laid hold of the fish, and drew it to land.
ὁ δὲ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιλαβοῦ τοῦ ἰχθύος. καὶ ἐκράτησε τὸν ἰχθὺν τὸ παιδάριον καὶ ἀνέβαλεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν.
Ѻ҆́трочищь же сни́де ѡ҆мы́тисѧ и҆ и҆зскочѝ ры́ба ѿ рѣкѝ и҆ хотѧ́ше пожре́ти ѻ҆́трочища.
The angel said to Tobias, "Take hold of the fish's gill, and draw it to you." The Lord took hold of the devil, and he who sought to capture him in death was himself captured and defeated by dying. He took hold of its gill so that with the right hand of his power he might separate the most wicked head from the deceived body, that is, he might remove the wickedness of the ancient enemy from those whom he had wrongly joined to himself and made almost one body with himself, and insert them into the body of his church as a kind Redeemer. For the fish has a gill at the boundary between its head and body. Just as our Lord is the head of his church, and the church is his body; so the devil is the head of all the wicked, and all the wicked are his body and members. Therefore, the Lord took hold of the gill of the huge fish, and drew it to himself, and cast it on dry land, because by breaking the power of the devil, he confidently led them openly and rescued from the power of darkness those whom he foreknew to be children of light.
Commentary on Tobit
When he had done this, the fish began to thrash about on dry land before his feet. When the Lord, having overcome the wickedness of the malignant enemy, brought it to light and made it manifest to all, the proud devil still endeavored to stir up persecution against His chosen ones, who are His feet; because through them the Lord walks on earth, who reigns above all in heaven.
Commentary on Tobit
To whom the angel said, Open the fish, and take the heart and the liver and the gall, and put them up safely.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος· ἀνάτεμε τὸν ἰχθὺν καὶ λαβὼν τὴν καρδίαν καὶ τὸ ἧπαρ καὶ τὴν χολὴν θὲς ἀσφαλῶς.
А҆́гг҃лъ же речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: возмѝ ры́бꙋ. И҆ ꙗ҆́тъ ры́бꙋ ѻ҆́трочищь и҆ и҆зве́рже ю҆̀ на зе́млю.
Then the angel of the Lord said to him, "Gut this fish, etc." The Lord gutted the fish when He revealed the devil's wickedness more broadly to the saints, and as if eviscerated the hidden schemes of his plots. He kept the heart for Himself, because He wrapped up his cunning in the holy books; about which it is written, "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field" (Gen. III). And Paul also said of this heart: "For we are not ignorant of his designs" (II Cor. II). He also kept the gall, because He wanted it to be written and preserved how furiously he raged against the human race for the sake of caution. He also kept the liver, because He deigned to make known to us, through the doctors of truth, the devil's malicious plans against us. They say that by the heat and power of the liver, the hidden parts of consumed food are digested and reach the stage of digestion. When we diligently inquire by careful thought how the things we intend to do should be accomplished, it is as if we digest the food taken into the stomach by the heat of the liver.
Commentary on Tobit
These things are necessary for useful medicines. The cunning and malice of the devil, the ancient enemy, known to us, help towards healing; for the more we thoroughly investigate them, the more cautiously we avoid them.
Commentary on Tobit
So the young man did as the angel commanded him; and when they had roasted the fish, they did eat it:
καὶ ἐποίησε τὸ παιδάριον ὡς εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος, τὸν δὲ ἰχθὺν ὀπτήσαντες ἔφαγον.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ а҆́гг҃лъ: разрѣ́жи ры́бꙋ, и҆ взѧ́въ се́рдце и҆ пе́чень и҆ же́лчь, положѝ сохра́ннѡ.
Tobias roasted the fish's flesh, etc. Whatever they took from the fish signifies those who are transferred from being members of the devil to being members of Christ, that is, those converted from unbelief to faith. What they left behind signifies, on the other hand, those who, having heard the word of God, prefer to remain among the dead and decaying members of their deceiver rather than return to the fellowship of the Savior. He roasted its flesh in those whom he found carnal, but by the fire of his love, he made them spiritual and strong. Indeed, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the appearance of fire. "The rest," he says, "they salted," which pertains spiritually to the teachers, to whom it is said: "You are the salt of the earth" (Matt. V). They salted them, that is, Tobias and the angel; for the same Mediator between God and men both taught the apostles humanly by speaking and divinely gave them the salt of wisdom in their hearts.
Commentary on Tobit
They took with them what was sufficient for them, etc. Because the Lord gathered enough from Judea into the faith, who were sufficient for the example of living or for the ministry of preaching, until He also laid the foundations of the Church among the Gentiles.
Commentary on Tobit
then they both went on their way, till they drew near to Ecbatane.
καὶ ὥδευον ἀμφότεροι, ἕως οὗ ἤγγισαν ἐν ᾿Εκβατάνοις.
И҆ сотворѝ ѻ҆́трочищь, ꙗ҆́коже речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ а҆́гг҃лъ: ры́бꙋ же и҆спє́кша, снѣдо́ста: и҆ и҆до́ста ѻ҆́ба, доне́лиже прибли́жишасѧ ко є҆квата́нѡмъ.
Then the young man said to the angel, Brother Azarias, to what use is the heart and the liver and the gal of the fish?
καὶ εἶπε τὸ παιδάριον τῷ ἀγγέλῳ· ᾿Αζαρία ἀδελφέ, τί ἐστιν ἡ καρδία καὶ τὸ ἧπαρ καὶ ἡ χολὴ τοῦ ἰχθύος;
И҆ речѐ ѻ҆́трочищь а҆́гг҃лꙋ: а҆зарі́а бра́те, что̀ є҆́сть се́рдце и҆ пе́чень и҆ же́лчь ры́бїѧ;
And he said unto him, Touching the heart and the liver, if a devil or an evil spirit trouble any, we must make a smoke thereof before the man or the woman, and the party shall be no more vexed.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἡ καρδία καὶ τὸ ἧπαρ, ἐάν τινα ὀχλῇ δαιμόνιον ἢ πνεῦμα πονηρόν, ταῦτα δεῖ καπνίσαι ἐνώπιον ἀνθρώπου ἢ γυναικός, καὶ οὐκέτι οὐ μὴ ὀχληθῇ·
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: се́рдце и҆ пе́чень, а҆́ще кого̀ смꙋща́етъ де́мѡнъ и҆лѝ дꙋ́хъ ѕо́лъ, си́мъ подоба́етъ кꙋри́ти пред̾ человѣ́комъ и҆лѝ жено́ю, и҆ ктомꙋ̀ не бꙋ́детъ смꙋща́тисѧ:
As for the gall, it is good to anoint a man that hath whiteness in his eyes, and he shall be healed.
ἡ δὲ χολή, ἐγχρῖσαι ἄνθρωπον, ὃς ἔχει λευκώματα ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς, καὶ ἰαθήσεται.
же́лчь же, пома́зати человѣ́ка, и҆́же и҆́мать бѣ́льма на ѻ҆чесѣ́хъ, и҆ и҆сцѣлѣ́етъ.
And when they were come near to Rages,
ὡς δὲ προσήγγισαν τῇ Ῥάγῃ,
Є҆гда́ же прибли́жистасѧ ко ра́гѣ,
The angel suggests to Tobias that, upon entering the house of Raguel, he should ask for his daughter Sarah as his wife. Raguel signifies the people of the Gentiles, whom the Lord deigned to visit through His preachers, so that He might take a bride for Himself from among them, that is, make the Gentiles His Church. The name Sarah is also fitting for the Church, due to Sarah, the wife of the patriarch Abraham, who gave birth to Isaac, the son of promise, that is, the free people of the Church. The name Raguel, which means "God's pasture" or "God's friend," designates the people who, having overcome the deceit of the devil, bind themselves and theirs to the fellowship of the Lord, who can say: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23). And who deserves to hear: "I no longer call you servants, but friends" (John 15).
Commentary on Tobit
The angel said to the young man, Brother, to day we shall lodge with Raguel, who is thy cousin; he also hath one only daughter, named Sara;
εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος τῷ παιδαρίῳ· ἀδελφέ, σήμερον αὐλισθησόμεθα παρὰ Ῥαγουήλ, καὶ αὐτὸς συγγενής σού ἐστι, καὶ ἔστιν αὐτῷ θυγάτηρ ὀνόματι Σάρρα·
речѐ а҆́гг҃лъ ѻ҆́трочищꙋ: бра́те, дне́сь пребꙋ́демъ ᲂу҆ рагꙋи́ла, и҆ ѻ҆́нъ сро́дникъ тво́й є҆́сть, и҆ є҆́сть є҆мꙋ̀ дще́рь є҆диноро́дна и҆́менемъ са́рра:
"To you belongs all his substance." And the Father to the Son: "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession" (Psalm 2).
Commentary on Tobit
I will speak for her, that she may be given thee for a wife. For to thee doth the right of her appertain, seeing thou only art of her kindred. And the maid is fair and wise:
λαλήσω περὶ αὐτῆς τοῦ δοθῆναί σοι αὐτὴν εἰς γυναῖκα, ὅτι σοι ἐπιβάλλει ἡ κληρονομία αὐτῆς, καὶ σὺ μόνος εἶ ἐκ τοῦ γένους αὐτῆς, καὶ τὸ κοράσιον καλὸν καὶ φρόνιμόν ἐστι.
возглаго́лю ѡ҆ не́й, є҆́же да́тисѧ тебѣ̀ є҆́й въ женꙋ̀, занѐ тебѣ̀ надлежи́тъ наслѣ́дїе є҆ѧ̀, и҆ ты̀ є҆ди́нъ є҆сѝ ѿ ро́да є҆ѧ̀: ѻ҆трокови́ца же красна̀ и҆ ᲂу҆мна̀ є҆́сть:
now therefore hear me, and I will speak to her father; and when we return from Rages we will celebrate the marriage: for I know that Raguel cannot marry her to another according to the law of Moses, but he shall be guilty of death, because the right of inheritance doth rather appertain to thee than to any other.
καὶ νῦν ἄκουσόν μου καὶ λαλήσω τῷ πατρὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ ὅταν ὑποστρέψωμεν ἐκ Ῥαγῶν, ποιήσομεν τὸν γάμον· διότι ἐπίσταμαι Ῥαγουὴλ ὅτι οὐ μὴ δῷ αὐτὴν ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ κατὰ τὸν νόμον Μωυσῆ ἢ ὀφειλήσει θάνατον, ὅτι τὴν κληρονομίαν σοὶ καθήκει λαβεῖν ἢ πάντα ἄνθρωπον.
и҆ нн҃ѣ послꙋ́шай мѧ̀, и҆ возглаго́лю ѻ҆тцꙋ̀ є҆ѧ̀, и҆ є҆гда̀ возврати́мсѧ ѿ ра́гъ, сотвори́мъ бра́къ: поне́же вѣ́мъ рагꙋи́ла, ꙗ҆́кѡ не да́стъ є҆ѧ̀ мꙋ́жꙋ и҆но́мꙋ по зако́нꙋ мѡѷсе́овꙋ, и҆лѝ пови́ненъ бꙋ́детъ сме́рти, занѐ наслѣ́дїе тебѣ̀ подоба́етъ прїѧ́ти, не́жели всѧ́комꙋ человѣ́кꙋ.
Then the young man answered the angel, I have heard, brother Azarias that this maid hath been given to seven men, who all died in the marriage chamber.
τότε εἶπε τὸ παιδάριον τῷ ἀγγέλῳ· ᾿Αζαρία ἀδελφέ, ἀκήκοα ἐγὼ τὸ κοράσιον δεδόσθαι ἑπτὰ ἀνδράσι καὶ πάντας ἐν τῷ νυμφῶνι ἀπολωλότας.
Тогда̀ речѐ ѻ҆́трочищь а҆́гг҃лꙋ: а҆зарі́а бра́те, слы́шахъ а҆́зъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѻ҆трокови́ца дана̀ бѣ̀ седмѝ мꙋжє́мъ, и҆ всѝ въ невѣ́стницѣ погибо́ша:
And now I am the only son of my father, and I am afraid, lest if I go in unto her, I die, as the other before: for a wicked spirit loveth her, which hurteth no body, but those which come unto her; wherefore I also fear lest I die, and bring my father’s and my mother’s life because of me to the grave with sorrow: for they have no other son to bury them.
καὶ νῦν ἐγὼ μόνος εἰμὶ τῷ πατρὶ καὶ φοβοῦμαι μὴ εἰσελθὼν ἀποθάνω καθὼς καὶ οἱ πρότεροι, ὅτι δαιμόνιον φιλεῖ αὐτήν, ὃ οὐκ ἀδικεῖ οὐδένα πλὴν τῶν προσαγόντων αὐτῇ. καὶ νῦν ἐγὼ φοβοῦμαι μὴ ἀποθάνω καὶ κατάξω τὴν ζωὴν τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ τῆς μητρός μου μετ᾿ ὀδύνης ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ εἰς τὸν τάφον αὐτῶν· καὶ υἱὸς ἕτερος οὐχ ὑπάρχει αὐτοῖς, ὃς θάψει αὐτούς.
и҆ нн҃ѣ а҆́зъ є҆ди́нъ є҆́смь ѻ҆тцꙋ̀ и҆ бою́сѧ, да не вше́дъ ᲂу҆мрꙋ̀ ꙗ҆́коже и҆ пре́жднїи, поне́же де́мѡнъ лю́битъ ю҆̀, и҆́же не вреди́тъ никого́же ра́звѣ приходѧ́щихъ къ не́й: и҆ нн҃ѣ а҆́зъ бою́сѧ да не ᲂу҆мрꙋ̀ и҆ низведꙋ̀ живо́тъ ѻ҆тца̀ моегѡ̀ и҆ ма́тере моеѧ̀ съ печа́лїю ѡ҆ мнѣ̀ во гро́бъ и҆́хъ, и҆ сы́нъ дрꙋгі́й нѣ́сть и҆́ма, и҆́же погребе́тъ ѧ҆̀.
Then the angel said unto him, Dost thou not remember the precepts which thy father gave thee, that thou shouldest marry a wife of thine own kindred? wherefore hear me, O my brother; for she shall be given thee to wife; and make thou no reckoning of the evil spirit; for this same night shall she be given thee in marriage.
εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ἄγγελος· οὐ μέμνησαι τῶν λόγων, ὧν ἐνετείλατό σοι ὁ πατήρ σου, ὑπὲρ τοῦ λαβεῖν σε γυναῖκα ἐκ τοῦ γένους σου; καὶ νῦν ἄκουσόν μου, ἀδελφέ, διότι σοὶ ἔσται εἰς γυναῖκα, καὶ τοῦ δαιμονίου μηδένα λόγον ἔχε, ὅτι τὴν νύκτα ταύτην δοθήσεταί σοι αὕτη εἰς γυναῖκα.
Рече́ же є҆мꙋ̀ а҆́гг҃лъ: не по́мниши ли слове́съ, ꙗ҆́же заповѣ́да тебѣ̀ ѻ҆те́цъ тво́й, ѡ҆ є҆́же взѧ́ти тебѣ̀ женꙋ̀ ѿ ро́да твоегѡ̀; и҆ нн҃ѣ послꙋ́шай мѧ̀, бра́те, поне́же тебѣ̀ бꙋ́детъ въ женꙋ̀, а҆ ѡ҆ де́мѡнѣ ни є҆ди́ныѧ мы́сли и҆мѣ́й, занѐ въ но́щь сїю̀ да́стсѧ тебѣ̀ ѻ҆на̀ въ женꙋ̀:
And when thou shalt come into the marriage chamber, thou shalt take the ashes of perfume, and shalt lay upon them some of the heart and liver of the fish, and shalt make a smoke with it:
καὶ ἐὰν εἰσέλθῃς εἰς τὸν νυμφῶνα, λήψῃ τέφραν θυμιαμάτων καὶ ἐπιθήσεις ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας καὶ τοῦ ἥπατος τοῦ ἰχθύος καὶ καπνίσεις,
и҆ а҆́ще вни́деши въ невѣ́стникъ, во́змеши жера́токъ ѳѷмїа́мный, и҆ возложи́ши ѿ се́рдца и҆ ѿ пе́чени ры́бныѧ и҆ покꙋри́ши:
And the devil shall smell it, and flee away, and never come again any more: but when thou shalt come to her, rise up both of you, and pray to God which is merciful, who will have pity on you, and save you: fear not, for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning; and thou shalt preserve her, and she shall go with thee. Moreover I suppose that she shall bear thee children.
καὶ ὀσφρανθήσεται τὸ δαιμόνιον καὶ φεύξεται καὶ οὐκ ἐπανελεύσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τοῦ αἰῶνος. ὅταν δὲ προσπορεύῃ αὐτῇ, ἐγέρθητε ἀμφότεροι καὶ βοήσατε πρὸς τὸν ἐλεήμονα Θεόν, καὶ σώσει ὑμᾶς καὶ ἐλεήσει. μὴ φοβοῦ, ὅτι σοὶ αὐτὴ ἡτοιμασμένη ἦν ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος, καὶ σὺ αὐτὴν σώσεις, καὶ πορεύσεται μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ ὑπολαμβάνω ὅτι σοι ἔσται ἐξ αὐτῆς παιδία.
и҆ ѡ҆бонѧ́етъ де́мѡнъ, и҆ ѿбѣжи́тъ и҆ не возврати́тсѧ во вѣ́къ вѣ́ка: є҆гда́ же прїи́деши къ не́й, воста́ните ѻ҆́ба и҆ возопі́йте къ млⷭ҇тивомꙋ бг҃ꙋ, и҆ сп҃се́тъ ва́съ и҆ поми́лꙋетъ: не бо́йсѧ, занѐ тебѣ̀ сїѧ̀ ᲂу҆гото́вана є҆́сть ѿ вѣ́ка, и҆ ты̀ ю҆̀ спасе́ши, и҆ по́йдетъ съ тобо́ю, и҆ непщꙋ́ю, ꙗ҆́кѡ тебѣ̀ бꙋ́дꙋтъ ѿ неѧ̀ ча̑да. И҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ ᲂу҆слы́ша тѡві́а сїѧ̑, возлюбѝ ю҆̀, и҆ дꙋша̀ є҆гѡ̀ прилѣпи́сѧ ѕѣлѡ̀ є҆́й. И҆ прїидо́ста во є҆квата́ны.
Now when Tobias had heard these things, he loved her, and his heart was effectually joined to her.
καὶ ὡς ἤκουσε Τωβίας ταῦτα, ἐφίλησεν αὐτήν, καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ ἐκολλήθη σφόδρα αὐτῇ.
And as they went on their journey, they came in the evening to the river Tigris, and they lodged there.
ΟΙ δὲ πορευόμενοι τὴν ὁδὸν ἦλθον ἑσπέρας ἐπὶ τὸν Τίγριν ποταμόν, καὶ ηὐλίζοντο ἐκεῖ.
И҆ преста̀ пла́кати.