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Tobit / Chapter 14

Tobit 14

17 verses • Latin Vulgate (Jerome)

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Tobit, now very old, gives his son final instructions: leave Nineveh, for it will be destroyed as the prophet Jonah foretold. He advises Tobias to go to Media after burying both parents, reaffirms the power of almsgiving, and dies at the age of one hundred and two. After burying both parents, Tobias moves to Ecbatana, inherits Raguel's estate, and lives to see the destruction of Nineveh — dying at ninety-nine years old in joy.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The final chapter ties every thread together: Tobit's prophecy about Nineveh (fulfilled historically in 612 BCE) validates the prophetic tradition; the instructions to leave Nineveh demonstrate practical wisdom alongside spiritual counsel; and Tobias's long, prosperous life proves the book's thesis that righteousness is ultimately rewarded. The emphasis on proper burial — Tobias buries both parents and his in-laws — bookends the story perfectly, since Tobit's insistence on burying the dead is what started everything.

Translation Friction

Jerome's chronology (Tobit living to 102, Tobias hearing of Nineveh's fall) does not align perfectly with all historical reconstructions. The Vulgate's ages differ from the Greek versions. The somewhat abrupt narrative compression of decades into a few verses requires the reader to accept summary treatment of a long life.

Connections

The prophecy about Nineveh connects to Jonah and Nahum. Tobias's move to Media recalls the geographical structure of the book. The five-generation lifespan echoes the patriarchal longevity narratives. The theme of burial completes the circle opened in chapter 1. Tobit's death 'in joy' contrasts with his earlier prayer for death in despair (ch. 3).

Tobit 14:1

Et consummati sunt sermones Tobiae. Et postquam illuminatus est Tobias, vixit annis quadraginta duobus et vidit filios nepotum suorum.

So the words of Tobit were completed. After his sight was restored, Tobit lived forty-two years and saw the children of his grandchildren.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

filios nepotum suorum
"the children of his grandchildren"

Great-grandchildren — the fourth generation. This fulfills Gabael's blessing from 9:11.

Translator Notes

  1. Forty-two years of sight after blindness — the restoration is abundant. Seeing grandchildren and great-grandchildren is the ultimate sign of divine blessing in the Hebrew tradition (Ps 128:6).
Tobit 14:2

Completis itaque annis centum duobus, sepultus est honorifice in Nineve.

When he had completed one hundred and two years, he was buried with honor in Nineveh.

Tobit 14:3

Quinquaginta namque et sex annorum lumen oculorum amisit, sexagenarius vero recepit.

For at fifty-six years old he lost the light of his eyes, and at sixty he recovered it.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The arithmetic is careful: blind from 56 to 60, then sighted for 42 more years. The years of blindness were relatively brief compared to the long years of restored sight — suffering was temporary, restoration lasting.
Tobit 14:4

Et residuum vitae eius in gaudio fuit et cum bono profectu timoris Dei perrexit in pace.

The rest of his life was lived in joy, and with good growth in the fear of God he departed in peace.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

in gaudio
"in joy"

The final word on Tobit's life — joy. This vindicates his patience and answers every mocker who asked 'Where is your hope?'

Translator Notes

  1. 'In gaudio... in pace' — joy and peace bracket Tobit's final years. The man who prayed for death in chapter 3 dies in chapter 14 in peace and joy. The reversal is complete.
Tobit 14:5

In hora autem mortis suae vocavit ad se Tobiam filium suum et septem iuvenes filios eius nepotes suos dixitque eis:

At the hour of his death he called to him his son Tobias and Tobias's seven young sons, his grandsons, and said to them:

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Seven grandsons — the number of completeness. Sarah, who was afflicted by the deaths of seven husbands, now has seven sons through the one husband who survived.
Tobit 14:6

Prope erit interitus Nineve; non enim excidit verbum Domini. Et fratres nostri qui dispersi sunt a terra Israhel revertentur ad eam.

'The destruction of Nineveh is near, for the word of the Lord does not fall to the ground. And our brothers who have been scattered from the land of Israel will return to it.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

non excidit verbum Domini
"the word of the Lord does not fall to the ground"

An echo of 1 Samuel 3:19 and Joshua 21:45 — God's word is unfailing. Prophetic promises are certain.

Translator Notes

  1. Tobit's prophecy is twofold: Nineveh's destruction (fulfilled 612 BCE) and Israel's return. The first is historical, the second eschatological — both grounded in the reliability of God's word.
Tobit 14:7

Omnis autem deserta terra eius replebitur, et domus Dei quae in ea incensa est iterum reaedificabitur; ibique revertentur omnes timentes Deum,

All the desolate land will be filled again, and the house of God that was burned in it will be rebuilt. And all who fear God will return there,

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

domus Dei quae incensa est
"the house of God that was burned"

A reference to the destruction of the First Temple (586 BCE) and the hope of its rebuilding — which was fulfilled in the Second Temple (516 BCE).

Tobit 14:8

et relinquent gentes idola sua et venient in Hierusalem et inhabitabunt in ea,

and the nations will abandon their idols and come to Jerusalem and dwell in it,

Tobit 14:9

et gaudebunt in ea omnes reges terrae, adorantes regem Israhel.

and all the kings of the earth will rejoice in it, worshipping the King of Israel.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

regem Israhel
"the King of Israel"

God himself as Israel's true king — a title that resonates through the royal psalms and is applied to Jesus at the cross (John 19:19).

Translator Notes

  1. The eschatological vision expands to universal scope — all kings, all nations. This matches Isaiah's vision (Isa 2:2-4, 60:3) and anticipates the universal worship of Revelation.
Tobit 14:10

Audite ergo, filii mei, patrem vestrum: servite Domino in veritate et inquirite ut faciatis quae placita sunt illi.

Hear, therefore, my sons, your father: serve the Lord in truth and seek to do what is pleasing to him.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

in veritate
"in truth"

Service in truth — not mere external compliance but sincere, wholehearted devotion. The same phrase Jesus uses in John 4:24 ('worship in spirit and truth').

Tobit 14:11

Et filiis vestris mandate ut faciant iustitias et eleemosynas, ut sint memores Dei et benedicant eum in omni tempore in veritate et in tota virtute sua.

Command your children to practice justice and almsgiving, to be mindful of God, and to bless him at all times in truth and with all their strength.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

iustitias et eleemosynas
"justice and almsgiving"

The pairing of justice (iustitia) and mercy (eleemosyna) — the twin obligations of covenant life that have defined Tobit's character from the first verse.

Translator Notes

  1. Tobit's final charge is generational — not just to his grandsons but to their children after them. The faith must be transmitted. Justice, almsgiving, mindfulness of God, and praise — the four pillars of Tobit's moral vision.
Tobit 14:12

Et nunc, filii, audite me et nolite manere hic, sed quacumque die sepelieritis matrem vestram circa me in uno sepulcro, ex eo dirigite gressus vestros ut exeatis de hinc;

And now, my sons, hear me. Do not remain here, but on whatever day you have buried your mother beside me in one tomb, from that day direct your steps to leave this place.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Tobit's instruction is urgent — leave Nineveh. His theological confidence in Nineveh's destruction drives practical wisdom: get out before the city falls.
Tobit 14:13

video enim quia iniquitas eius finem dabit ei.

For I see that its wickedness will bring about its end.'

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

iniquitas eius finem dabit ei
"its wickedness will bring about its end"

The moral logic of history — empires fall because of their own sin. This is the prophetic view of Nahum applied to Nineveh.

Translator Notes

  1. Tobit 'sees' — the once-blind man now has prophetic vision. His physical healing has been accompanied by spiritual sight.
Tobit 14:14

Factum est autem post obitum matris suae, Tobias abscessit ex Nineve cum uxore sua et filiis et filiorum filiis et reversus est ad soceros suos.

After his mother's death, Tobias departed from Nineveh with his wife, his sons, and his sons' children, and returned to his parents-in-law.

Tobit 14:15

Invenitque eos incolumes in senectute bona, et curam eorum gessit, et ipse clausit oculos eorum. Et omnem hereditatem domus Raguelis ipse percepit, viditque quintam generationem, filios filiorum suorum.

He found them healthy in a good old age, and he took care of them and he himself closed their eyes. He received the entire inheritance of Raguel's house, and he saw the fifth generation — the children of his children's children.

Notes & Key Terms 2 terms

Key Terms

clausit oculos eorum
"he himself closed their eyes"

The closing of a parent's eyes at death was considered the supreme filial duty — an act of love reserved for the closest family member (Gen 46:4).

quintam generationem
"the fifth generation"

Exceeding even Gabael's blessing of three or four generations — Tobias sees five. The abundance of divine reward surpasses all expectation.

Translator Notes

  1. Tobias closes his in-laws' eyes — the final act of filial duty, mirroring the burial of the dead that defined his father's life. The fifth generation fulfills the extravagant blessing of long lineage.
Tobit 14:16

Et completis annis nonaginta novem in timore Domini, cum gaudio sepelierunt eum.

When he had completed ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord, they buried him with joy.

Notes & Key Terms 2 terms

Key Terms

in timore Domini
"in the fear of the Lord"

The inclusio is complete — the fear of the Lord opens Tobit's moral instruction (1:4, 4:6) and closes the narrative of his son's life.

cum gaudio
"with joy"

The book's final word is joy — a burial in joy, the fulfillment of every promise made to those who fear God and give alms.

Translator Notes

  1. 'In timore Domini' — the fear of the Lord, the first and last principle of the book, is the final description of Tobias's life. 'Cum gaudio' — with joy. The book that began with exile, blindness, and death ends with long life, sight, and joyful burial.
Tobit 14:17

Omnis autem cognatio eius et omnis generatio eius in bona vita et in sancta conversatione permansit, ita ut accepti essent tam Deo quam hominibus et cunctis habitantibus in terra.

All his kindred and all his descendants continued in a good life and holy conduct, so that they were acceptable both to God and to people and to all who dwelt in the land.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

accepti... tam Deo quam hominibus
"acceptable both to God and to people"

The double approval — divine and human — is the highest commendation. This phrase became a standard in hagiography for describing the saints.

Translator Notes

  1. The book closes with a communal benediction — not just Tobias but his entire family line lives in righteousness. The acceptance by God and by humans echoes Luke 2:52 (Jesus 'advanced in favor with God and with people'). The story that began with one righteous man in exile ends with an entire righteous lineage flourishing.
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