1 Enoch / Chapter 108

1 Enoch 108

15 verses • Ge'ez (Ethiopic)

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

The Epilogue — introduced as 'another book which Enoch wrote for his son Methuselah.' This final chapter summarizes the fates of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous who loved God more than their own lives, who were mocked and humiliated by the wicked, will receive eternal reward. The wicked who denied the name of the Lord will face a place of fire and chaos. The chapter — and the entire book of 1 Enoch — closes with a vision of the righteous shining brighter than the sun.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

Verse 3 describes the righteous as those who 'loved heaven more than their life in the world' — one of the most moving descriptions of martyrdom-readiness in ancient literature. This directly parallels Revelation 12:11 — 'they loved not their lives even unto death.' The final image of the righteous shining 'more than the great luminaries of heaven' (verse 13) bookends the entire corpus: Enoch began with a vision of cosmic judgment (chapter 1) and ends with the righteous transfigured into beings of light.

Translation Friction

Most scholars consider chapter 108 a later addition to the Enochic corpus — an epilogue appended after the main collections were already assembled. Its language and theology closely parallel the Parables of Enoch (chapters 37-71) and may represent a bridge between the Epistle and the Parables tradition.

Connections

Revelation 12:11 — 'they loved not their lives even unto death.' Revelation 20:11-15 — the final judgment. Daniel 12:3 — the righteous shining like stars. Matthew 25:41 — 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire.' 2 Esdras 7:97 — the righteous 'shall shine like the sun.' Philippians 1:21 — 'to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'

1 Enoch 108:1

Ge'ez: kāle' maṣḥaf — 'another book'

Another book which Enoch wrote for his son Methuselah, and for those who will come after him and keep the law in the last days.

REF Another book which Enoch wrote for his son Methuselah and for those who will come after him, and keep the law in the last days.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The superscription identifies the audience: Methuselah and all who 'keep the law in the last days.' The last-days community is the implied reader — those who will need this encouragement most.
1 Enoch 108:2

Ge'ez: 'antemu 'ella gebarkemu — 'ye who have observed'

You who have done good, wait for those days until an end is made of those who do evil — until the power of the transgressors is finished.

REF Ye who have done good shall wait for those days till an end is made of those who work evil; and an end of the might of the transgressors.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The call to patient waiting echoes James 5:7-8 — 'Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.' The promise is not that evil will be managed but that it will be ended.
1 Enoch 108:3

Ge'ez: wa-nēḥū — 'and wait ye'

Wait indeed until sin has passed away. Their names will be blotted out of the book of life and out of the holy books. Their descendants will be destroyed forever, their spirits will be slain, and they will cry out in lamentation in a place that is a chaotic wasteland. They will burn in fire, for there is no solid ground there.

REF And wait ye indeed till sin has passed away, for their names shall be blotted out of the book of life and out of the holy books, and their seed shall be destroyed for ever, and their spirits shall be slain, and they shall cry and make lamentation in a place that is a chaotic wilderness, and in the fire shall they burn; for there is no earth there.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The place of punishment is described as a 'chaotic wilderness' — formless, groundless, burning. This is anti-creation: where God made order from chaos (Genesis 1:2), the punishment of the wicked returns them to primordial disorder. 'No earth there' — no ground, no foundation, no stability.
1 Enoch 108:4

Ge'ez: wa-re'iku — 'and I saw there'

I saw something like an invisible cloud — so deep that I could not see through it. I saw a flame of fire blazing brightly, and things like shining mountains circling and sweeping back and forth.

REF And I saw there something like an invisible cloud; for by reason of its depth I could not look over, and I saw a flame of fire blazing brightly, and things like shining mountains circling and sweeping to and fro.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The 'invisible cloud' — something present but imperceptible — creates an eerie paradox. The shining mountains in motion suggest massive geological upheaval in the place of judgment. The vision resists easy description, as the deepest realities of judgment transcend normal language.
1 Enoch 108:5

Ge'ez: wa-sa'alku — 'and I asked'

I asked one of the holy angels who was with me: 'What is this shining thing? It is not a heaven — it is only fire blazing, with the sound of weeping, crying, lamentation, and severe pain.'

REF And I asked one of the holy angels who was with me and said unto him: 'What is this shining thing? for it is not a heaven but only the flame of the fire which blazes, and the voice of weeping and crying and lamentation and strong pain.'

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Enoch's question — 'what is this shining thing?' — reveals that even the visionary is disoriented by the place of punishment. The combination of brightness and agony (shining fire, weeping) creates a terrifying paradox: the place has light but no comfort.
1 Enoch 108:6

Ge'ez: wa-yebēlani — 'and he said unto me'

He told me: 'This place that you see — here the spirits of sinners and blasphemers are cast, along with those who practice wickedness and those who distort everything the Lord has spoken through the mouth of the prophets about what is to come.'

REF And he said unto me: 'This place which thou seest — here are cast the spirits of sinners and blasphemers, and of those who work wickedness, and of those who pervert everything that the Lord hath spoken through the mouth of the prophets — even the things that shall be.'

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The angel identifies the place as the destination for sinners, blasphemers, and — notably — those who 'pervert everything the Lord has spoken through the prophets.' Distorting prophetic revelation is listed alongside blasphemy as a damnable offense.
1 Enoch 108:7

Ge'ez: wa-'eska yekawwen — 'for some of them'

For some of these things are written and inscribed in heaven, so that the angels may read them and know what will happen to the sinners, and to the spirits of the humble — those who afflicted their own bodies and were rewarded by God, and those who were put to shame by wicked people.

REF For some of them are written and inscribed above in the heaven, in order that the angels may read them and know that which shall befall the sinners, and the spirits of the humble, and of those who have afflicted their bodies, and been recompensed by God; and of those who have been put to shame by wicked men.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The heavenly record serves a double purpose: it documents the sinners' crimes and the righteous' sufferings. Both are preserved for the angels to read — the full story of injustice and faithfulness, written in heaven for the cosmic audience.
1 Enoch 108:8

Ge'ez: wa-'ella aḥabbū — 'who loved God'

They loved God and loved neither gold nor silver nor any of the good things of the world, but gave their bodies over to suffering.

REF Who loved God and loved neither gold nor silver nor any of the good things which are in the world, but gave over their bodies to suffering.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The contrast between loving God and loving worldly goods echoes Matthew 6:24 — 'you cannot serve God and money.' Those who 'gave their bodies to suffering' are willing martyrs — people who chose faithfulness over physical comfort.
1 Enoch 108:9

Ge'ez: wa-'ella — 'who, since they came into being'

From the time they came into existence, they did not long for earthly food but regarded everything as a passing breath. They lived accordingly, and the Lord tested them greatly. Their spirits were found pure, so that they could bless his name.

REF Who, since they came into being, longed not after earthly food, but regarded everything as a passing breath, and lived accordingly, and the Lord tried them much, and their spirits were found pure so that they should bless His name.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Regarding everything as 'a passing breath' (hebel in Hebrew, the key word of Ecclesiastes) transforms the Preacher's despair into ascetic wisdom. What Ecclesiastes saw as futility, these righteous ones embraced as freedom. 'The Lord tried them much' echoes Wisdom of Solomon 3:5-6 — 'God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them.'
1 Enoch 108:10

Ge'ez: wa-kwellā berekāt — 'and all the blessings'

All the blessings destined for them I have recorded in the books. He has assigned their reward, because they were found to love heaven more than their life in the world. Though they were trampled by wicked people, and suffered abuse, insult, and humiliation from them, they still blessed me.

REF And all the blessings destined for them I have recounted in the books. And He hath assigned them their recompense, because they have been found to be such as loved heaven more than their life in the world, and though they were trodden under foot of wicked men, and experienced abuse and reviling from them and were put to shame, yet they blessed Me.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'They loved heaven more than their life in the world' — this single phrase captures the essence of martyrdom theology. Compare Revelation 12:11 — 'they conquered him... and they loved not their lives even unto death.' Despite being 'trampled' (a visceral image of oppression), they continued to bless God. Their faith was tested by the worst and held.
1 Enoch 108:11

Ge'ez: wa-ye'zē — 'and now I will summon'

Now I will summon the spirits of the good who belong to the generation of righteousness. I will transform those who were born in darkness, who in the flesh were not given the honor their faithfulness deserved.

REF And now I will summon the spirits of the good who belong to the generation of righteousness, and I will transform those who were born in darkness, who in the flesh were not recompensed with such honour as their faithfulness deserved.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The divine promise to 'transform' the faithful who never received earthly recognition is the Epistle's ultimate hope. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 — 'we shall all be changed' — and Philippians 3:21 — 'he will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.'
1 Enoch 108:12

Ge'ez: wa-'awṣe' — 'and I will bring forth'

I will bring into shining light those who loved my holy name, and I will seat each one on the throne of their honor.

REF And I will bring forth in shining light those who have loved My holy name, and I will seat each on the throne of his honour.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Individual thrones of honor for each righteous person — not a collective reward but a personal enthronement. Compare Revelation 3:21 — 'The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne.' The movement from darkness to 'shining light' reverses the entire experience of earthly oppression.
1 Enoch 108:13

Ge'ez: wa-yāberrehū — 'and they shall be resplendent'

They will shine for ages without number, for righteousness is the judgment of God. To the faithful he will give faithfulness in the dwelling place of upright paths.

REF And they shall be resplendent for times without number; for righteousness is the judgement of God; for to the faithful He will give faithfulness in the habitation of upright paths.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. 'Shine for ages without number' — the righteous become permanent luminaries in God's cosmos. This echoes Daniel 12:3 and completes the Epistle's central metaphor: those who walked in darkness become sources of light. 'To the faithful he will give faithfulness' — God's response mirrors the virtue: faithfulness begets faithfulness.
1 Enoch 108:14

Ge'ez: wa-yer'eyū — 'and they shall see'

They will see those born in darkness led into darkness, while the righteous shine. The sinners will cry out and see the righteous shining, and they will go where days and seasons have been appointed for them.

REF And they shall see those who were born in darkness led into darkness, while the righteous shall be resplendent. And the sinners shall cry aloud and see them resplendent, and they indeed will go where days and seasons are prescribed for them.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The final image: the wicked see the righteous shining — the ultimate reversal. Those who mocked the righteous as failures now witness their glory. Compare Luke 16:23 — the rich man in Hades 'looked up and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus at his side.' The 'prescribed days and seasons' for the wicked implies measured, deliberate punishment — not arbitrary torment but appointed justice.
1 Enoch 108:15

Ge'ez: teflāṣamu — 'here endeth'

Here ends the vision of glory and the wisdom and the book of the words of Enoch the scribe.

REF Here endeth the vision of glory and the wisdom and the book of the parables of Enoch the scribe.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The colophon closes the entire book of 1 Enoch. Enoch is identified one final time as 'the scribe' — the one who wrote down what he saw in heaven. The last word belongs to the concept of glory: the book began with theophany (chapter 1) and ends with the glorification of the faithful. The circle is complete.
Chapter 107 Report an error 1 Enoch index End of 1 Enoch