1 Enoch / Chapter 61

1 Enoch 61

13 verses • Ge'ez (Ethiopic)

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Angels go out with measuring cords to measure the righteous and their faith. The Chosen One takes his seat on the throne of glory, and all things in heaven and on earth praise the Lord of Spirits. The chapter culminates in a great doxology praising God's power and mercy.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The measuring of the righteous by angels echoes Zechariah 2:1-5 and Revelation 11:1 — measuring as a protective act, marking out those who belong to God. The enthronement of the Chosen One becomes the occasion for universal praise that transcends the categories of living and dead, human and angelic. The doxology in verses 10-13 is one of the most powerful hymns in Second Temple literature.

Translation Friction

The identity of those being measured is debated — are they the righteous living, the righteous dead, or both? The measuring instruments (cords, not scales) suggest spatial measurement rather than moral weighing, which may indicate the preparation of heavenly dwelling spaces.

Connections

Zechariah 2:1-5 — measuring Jerusalem. Revelation 11:1 — measuring the temple. Revelation 21:15-17 — measuring the New Jerusalem. The doxology parallels Revelation 5:12-14 and Philippians 2:9-11.

1 Enoch 61:1

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

In those days I saw long measuring cords given to certain angels. They took wings and flew, heading toward the north.

REF And I saw in those days how long cords were given to those angels, and they took to themselves wings and flew, and they went towards the north.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

Angels equipped with measuring cords flying northward — the north may indicate the direction of the heavenly mountain or paradise in Enochic geography (cf. 1 Enoch 25:3, the throne-mountain 'toward the north').

1 Enoch 61:2

Ge'ez: wa-se'alku mal'aka — 'and I asked the angel'

I asked the angel: 'Why have those angels taken the measuring cords and gone off?' He told me: 'They have gone to take measurements.'

REF And I asked the angel, saying unto him: 'Why have those angels taken these cords and gone off?' And he said unto me: 'They have gone to measure.'

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The angel's terse reply ('they have gone to measure') withholds details, building narrative tension. Enoch must ask further to learn what is being measured.

1 Enoch 61:3

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

The angel of peace said to me: 'These are the measurements for the righteous — the ropes and cords of the righteous — so they may hold fast to the name of the Lord of Spirits forever and ever.'

REF And the angel of peace who was with me said to me: 'These are the measures of the righteous, and the ropes of the righteous, and the cords of the righteous that they may stay themselves on the name of the Lord of Spirits for ever and ever.'

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The measurements are 'for the righteous' — either measuring out their inheritance or measuring the righteous themselves. The cords that 'hold them fast' to God's name suggest a relationship between spatial measurement and spiritual security.

1 Enoch 61:4

Ge'ez: wa-ye'axezu xeruyān — 'and the chosen shall begin'

The chosen will begin to dwell with the chosen, and these are the measurements given to faith that will strengthen righteousness.

REF The elect shall begin to dwell with the elect, and those are the measures which shall be given to faith and which shall strengthen righteousness.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The chosen dwelling with the chosen describes the eschatological community — like gathered with like. The 'measurements given to faith' is a striking phrase suggesting that faith itself has dimensions and structure.

1 Enoch 61:5

Ge'ez: wa-'ellu meznāt — 'and these measures'

These measurements will uncover all the secrets of the depths of the earth — including those destroyed in the desert, devoured by beasts, and consumed by the fish of the sea — so that they may return and stand firm on the day of the Chosen One. No one will be destroyed before the Lord of Spirits; no one can be destroyed beyond recovery.

REF And these measures shall reveal all the secrets of the depths of the earth, and those who have been destroyed by the desert, and those who have been devoured by the beasts, and those who have been devoured by the fish of the sea, that they may return and stay themselves on the day of the Elect One; for none shall be destroyed before the Lord of Spirits, and none can be destroyed.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The measurements reach even the dismembered and scattered dead — those whose bodies were lost to the desert, wild animals, or the sea. The resurrection power reaches beyond the grave to reclaim even those with no burial. This directly addresses the ancient anxiety that a destroyed body cannot be resurrected.
The claim 'none can be destroyed' beyond recovery is an astonishing statement of resurrection power — God can reassemble what nature has scattered. This parallels Ezekiel 37's valley of dry bones and answers the skeptics of 2 Maccabees 7.

1 Enoch 61:6

Ge'ez: wa-kwellomu — 'and all of them'

All who dwell above in heaven received a command, a power, and one voice and one light like fire.

REF And all who dwell above in the heaven received a command and power and one voice and one light like unto fire.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The heavenly host is unified: one command, one power, one voice, one light. This unity of the angelic realm contrasts with the fractured, conflicting powers of earth.

1 Enoch 61:7

Ge'ez: wa-le-we'etu qadāmi — 'and that one first'

That one they blessed first, and exalted and praised with wisdom. They ascribed wisdom to him in every word and deed.

REF And that one first they blessed, and extolled and lauded with wisdom, and they ascribed wisdom to Him and to everything in word and in deed.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The 'that one' blessed first is likely the Chosen One/Son of Man, who receives worship before the general doxology. Ascribing wisdom 'in every word and deed' means recognizing that all his actions and utterances are wise — complete vindication of his character.

1 Enoch 61:8

Ge'ez: wa-Egzi'a manfasāt — 'the Lord of Spirits'

He placed the Chosen One on the throne of glory, and he will judge all the works of the holy ones above in heaven. Their deeds will be weighed in the balance.

REF And He placed the Elect One on the throne of glory. And he shall judge all the works of the holy above, and in the balance shall their deeds be weighed.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

Even the 'holy ones above' — the angels — are subject to the Chosen One's judgment. His authority extends over the heavenly realm, not just the earthly. This surpasses Daniel 7's Son of Man, who receives dominion over nations; the Enochic Son of Man judges angels as well.

1 Enoch 61:9

Ge'ez: wa-sobē yenasser — 'and when he lifts'

When he lifts his face to judge their secret ways according to the word of the Lord of Spirits, and their conduct according to the righteous judgment of the Lord of Spirits, then they will all speak with one voice — blessing, glorifying, exalting, and sanctifying the name of the Lord of Spirits.

REF And when he shall lift up his countenance to judge their secret ways according to the word of the name of the Lord of Spirits, and their path according to the way of the righteous judgement of the Lord of Spirits, then shall they all with one voice speak and bless and glorify and extol and sanctify the name of the Lord of Spirits.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The judgment of 'secret ways' means nothing is hidden — even the private conduct of heavenly beings is evaluated. The response to just judgment is not resentment but worship: all voices unite in praise, recognizing the righteousness of the verdict.

1 Enoch 61:10

Ge'ez: wa-yeṣawwe'u kwellu — 'and all shall cry out'

He will summon all the host of heaven, all the holy ones above, the host of God — the Cherubim, Seraphim, and Ophannim — and all the angels of power, all the angels of authority, the Chosen One, and the other powers on the earth and over the water.

REF And He will summon all the host of the heavens, and all the holy ones above, and the host of God, the Cherubim, Seraphim, and Ophannim, and all the angels of power, and all the angels of principalities, and the Elect One, and the other powers on the earth and over the water.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The catalog of angelic orders — Cherubim, Seraphim, Ophannim (wheel-angels from Ezekiel 1), angels of power, angels of authority — is one of the most developed angelologies in pre-Christian Judaism. The Chosen One is listed among but distinguished from the angelic orders, occupying a unique position.
The 'Ophannim' (Ge'ez: 'Ofānnēm, from Hebrew 'ofannim, 'wheels') derive from Ezekiel 1:15-21, where the prophet sees wheels within wheels beside the living creatures. In later Jewish mysticism they become a distinct angelic order.

1 Enoch 61:11

Ge'ez: wa-yebēlu ba-'aḥatti qāl — 'they shall say with one voice'

On that day they will raise one voice and bless, glorify, and exalt in the spirit of faith, the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of patience, the spirit of mercy, the spirit of judgment and peace, and the spirit of goodness. They will all say with one voice: 'Blessed is he, and may the name of the Lord of Spirits be blessed forever and ever.'

REF On that day shall raise one voice, and bless and glorify and exalt in the spirit of faith, and in the spirit of wisdom, and in the spirit of patience, and in the spirit of mercy, and in the spirit of judgement and of peace, and in the spirit of goodness, and shall all say with one voice: 'Blessed is He, and may the name of the Lord of Spirits be blessed for ever and ever.'

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The sevenfold 'spirit of' list — faith, wisdom, patience, mercy, judgment, peace, goodness — parallels the sevenfold Spirit of Isaiah 11:2 and the seven Spirits of Revelation 1:4. The number seven connotes completeness: worship offered in every dimension of spiritual reality.
This doxology is one of the greatest liturgical passages in Second Temple literature. The unity of all creation ('one voice') praising God anticipates the universal worship of Revelation 5:13.

1 Enoch 61:12

Ge'ez: wa-kwellomu — 'and all'

All the sleepless ones in heaven will bless him. All the holy ones in heaven will bless him. All the chosen ones who dwell in the garden of life will bless him. Every spirit of light able to bless, glorify, exalt, and sanctify your blessed name — and all mortal beings, beyond their power, will glorify and bless your name forever and ever.

REF All who sleep not above in heaven shall bless Him: all the holy ones who are in heaven shall bless Him, and all the elect who dwell in the garden of life: and every spirit of light who is able to bless, and glorify, and extol, and hallow Thy blessed name, and all flesh which shall beyond its power glorify and bless Thy name for ever and ever.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The worship extends from angels ('sleepless ones') to saints ('holy ones in heaven') to the elect in paradise to 'every spirit of light' to 'all flesh.' The concentric circles widen until every category of being is included.
The phrase 'beyond its power' — flesh glorifying God beyond what its nature can sustain — suggests that worship in the eschatological age exceeds normal human capacity. Mortal beings are empowered to do what is naturally impossible for them.

1 Enoch 61:13

Ge'ez: 'esma 'abiy — 'for great is'

Great is the mercy of the Lord of Spirits. He is patient, and all his works and all he has created he has revealed to the righteous and chosen in the name of the Lord of Spirits.

REF For great is the mercy of the Lord of Spirits, and He is long-suffering, and all His works and all that He has created He has revealed to the righteous and elect in the name of the Lord of Spirits.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

The doxology concludes by grounding worship in God's character: mercy, patience, and revelation. God is praised not only for power but for his willingness to share knowledge with the elect. Revelation itself is an act of mercy.

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