1 Enoch / Chapter 47

1 Enoch 47

4 verses • Ge'ez (Ethiopic)

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

The prayers of the righteous ascend from earth, and the blood of the righteous cries out before the Lord of Spirits. The holy ones in heaven intercede for the martyrs. The Head of Days takes his seat on the throne, the books of the living are opened, and judgment begins.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The image of martyrs' blood crying out before God echoes Abel's blood in Genesis 4:10 and directly parallels the souls under the altar in Revelation 6:9-10 who cry 'How long, O Lord?' The combination of martyrs' prayers, opened books, and the Head of Days on the throne creates a courtroom scene that profoundly shaped early Christian apocalyptic imagination.

Translation Friction

The 'books of the living' (or 'books of life') concept appears in various forms across Second Temple literature. Whether these are records of deeds, registers of the elect, or both is not entirely clear in this passage.

Connections

Genesis 4:10 — Abel's blood cries from the ground. Daniel 7:10 — 'the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.' Revelation 6:9-10 — martyrs under the altar crying for justice. Revelation 20:12 — books opened at the great white throne. Malachi 3:16 — book of remembrance.

1 Enoch 47:1

Ge'ez: wa-ba-ye'eti mawā'el — 'and in those days'

In those days the prayer of the righteous will have ascended, along with the blood of the righteous, from the earth to the presence of the Lord of Spirits.

REF And in those days shall have ascended the prayer of the righteous, and the blood of the righteous from the earth before the Lord of Spirits.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Prayer and blood ascend together — the prayers of the living righteous and the blood of the martyred righteous both rise as testimony before God. The blood 'from the earth' directly echoes Genesis 4:10 where Abel's blood 'cries out from the ground.'
1 Enoch 47:2

Ge'ez: wa-ba-ye'eti mawā'el qeddusān — 'in those days the holy ones'

In those days the holy ones dwelling above in the heavens will unite with one voice to plead, pray, praise, give thanks, and bless the name of the Lord of Spirits on behalf of the blood of the righteous that has been shed — so that the prayer of the righteous will not be in vain before the Lord of Spirits, that judgment may be carried out for them, and that their suffering will not last forever.

REF In those days the holy ones who dwell above in the heavens shall unite with one voice and supplicate and pray and praise, and give thanks and bless the name of the Lord of Spirits on behalf of the blood of the righteous which has been shed, and that the prayer of the righteous may not be in vain before the Lord of Spirits, that judgement may be done unto them, and that they may not have to suffer for ever.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The heavenly holy ones (angels or glorified righteous) join their voices to the earthly cry — heaven and earth united in a single petition for justice. This corporate intercession is the cosmic scale version of the martyrs' cry in Revelation 6:10.
  2. The concern that prayer 'not be in vain' reflects genuine anxiety within the persecuted community. The delay of justice is itself a theological problem — one the Parables address by assuring that the judgment is certain even if delayed.
1 Enoch 47:3

Ge'ez: wa-ba-ye'eti gizē — 'and at that time'

In those days I saw the Head of Days seat himself on the throne of his glory, and the books of the living were opened before him. All his host in heaven above and all his counselors stood before him.

REF In those days I saw the Head of Days when He seated himself upon the throne of His glory, and the books of the living were opened before Him: and all His host which is in heaven above and His counsellors stood before Him.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The scene directly parallels Daniel 7:9-10: thrones are set, the Ancient of Days takes his seat, books are opened. The Enochic version specifies that these are 'books of the living' — registers of those who belong to God, as in Psalm 69:28 and Philippians 4:3.
  2. The 'counselors' (Ge'ez: mākarentu) standing before God evokes the divine council of Job 1:6 and 1 Kings 22:19. The judgment is not arbitrary but deliberated in the heavenly court.
1 Enoch 47:4

Ge'ez: wa-lebbomu — 'and the hearts'

The hearts of the holy ones were filled with joy, because the full number of the righteous had been reached, the prayer of the righteous had been heard, and the blood of the righteous had been required before the Lord of Spirits.

REF And the hearts of the holy were filled with joy; because the number of the righteous had been offered, and the prayer of the righteous had been heard, and the blood of the righteous been required before the Lord of Spirits.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The 'full number of the righteous' implies a predetermined count that must be completed before judgment begins — the same concept as Revelation 6:11 where the martyrs are told to 'rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers should be complete.'
  2. Three conditions are met simultaneously: the number is complete, the prayers are heard, the blood is accounted for. This tripartite fulfillment triggers the judgment that follows in subsequent chapters.
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