Go to Related Reading
About this book

1 Enoch

About this book
Chapter 13

1 Enoch went and said: 'Azâzêl, you will have no peace. A severe sentence has gone out against you, to put you in chains. 2 You will not be tolerated, nor will your requests be granted, because of the unrighteousness you have taught, and because of all the godlessness, unrighteousness, and sin you have shown to men.'⁠ 3 Then I went and spoke to them all together, and they were all afraid, and fear and trembling seized them. 4 They begged me to write a petition for them so that they might find forgiveness, and to read their petition in the presence of the Lord of heaven.⁠ 5 For from then on they could not speak or lift up their eyes to heaven because of the shame of the sins for which they had been condemned.⁠ 6 Then I wrote out their petition and the prayer for their spirits and their deeds, along with their requests for forgiveness and for a longer lifespan. 7 I went off and sat down by the waters of Dan, in the land of Dan, to the southwest of Hermon, and I read their petition until I fell asleep. 8 Then a dream came to me, and visions fell upon me. I saw visions of punishment, and a voice commanded me to tell it to the sons of heaven and to reprimand them. 9 When I awoke, I came to them, and they were all sitting gathered together, weeping in 'Abelsjâîl, which is between Lebanon and Sênêsêr, with their faces covered. 10 I recounted to them all the visions I had seen in my sleep, and I began to speak words of righteousness and to reprimand the heavenly Watchers.

Texts in conversation

Compare 1 Enoch 13:6 and Luke 18:13

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses · New Testament

Share:

Summary

In 1 Enoch 13, the fallen Watchers are too ashamed to look toward heaven and ask Enoch to pray for them. Luke uses similar imagery when a tax collector cannot lift his eyes as he asks for mercy, both using common ideas in honor and shame culture.

Passages

1 Enoch 13:6

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
4 They begged me to write a petition for them so that they might find forgiveness, and to read their petition in the presence of the Lord of heaven. 5 For from then on they could not speak or lift up their eyes to heaven because of the shame of the sins for which they had been condemned. 6 Then I wrote out their petition and the prayer for their spirits and their deeds, along with their requests for forgiveness and for a longer lifespan.
300 BCE – 100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Enoch

Luke 18:13

New Testament
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ 13 The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’ 14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
75–85 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Luke

References

"... The description of the watchers’ attitude reflects the wording of Ezra’s classic prayer of confession (Ezra 9:6; compare with Luke 18:13). The surpassing enormity of their sin is reflected, however, in their inability to pray. The watchers’ petition is for forgiveness, which is consonant with the nature of the sentence against them in 12:5 ..."
George W. E. Nickelsburg, A Commentary on the Book of 1 Enoch Chapters 1-36, 81-108 (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001), 238.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Your feedback

1 Enoch 13:6 and Luke 18:13

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library