1 Enoch

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Chapter 49

1 For wisdom is poured out like water, and glory never fades before him forever. 2 For he is mighty in all the secrets of righteousness, and unrighteousness shall disappear like a shadow, and have no continuity; because the Elect One stands before the Lord of Spirits, and his glory lasts forever and ever, and his power through all generations. 3 And in him dwells the spirit of wisdom, the spirit that gives insight, the spirit of understanding and of might,⁠ and the spirit of those who have fallen asleep in righteousness.⁠ 4 And he shall judge the hidden matters, and no one will be able to speak falsely before him; for he is the Elect One before the Lord of Spirits according to His good pleasure.⁠

Texts in conversation

Compare Isaiah 11:2 and 1 Enoch 49:3

Hebrew Bible · Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

Summary

Isaiah describes a future ruler filled with spirit, wisdom, and power to judge fairly. 1 Enoch uses this language in its apocalyptic narrative, describing a future messianic figure similarly given wisdom, insight, and might, able to judge fairly.

Passages

Isaiah 11:2

Hebrew Bible

1 A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock, a bud will sprout from his roots. 2 The Lord’s Spirit will rest on him—a Spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a Spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a Spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord. 3 His smelling is in the fear of the Lord⁷. He will not judge by mere appearances or make decisions on the basis of hearsay. 4 He will treat the poor fairly and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and order the wicked to be executed.

740–450 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Isaiah

1 Enoch 49:3

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

1 For wisdom is poured out like water, and glory never fades before him forever. 2 For he is mighty in all the secrets of righteousness, and unrighteousness shall disappear like a shadow, and have no continuity; because the Elect One stands before the Lord of Spirits, and his glory lasts forever and ever, and his power through all generations. 3 And in him dwells the spirit of wisdom, the spirit that gives insight, the spirit of understanding and of might, and the spirit of those who have fallen asleep in righteousness. 4 And he shall judge the hidden matters, and no one will be able to speak falsely before him; for he is the Elect One before the Lord of Spirits according to His good pleasure.

300 BCE – 100 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in 1 Enoch

References

"... The present text begins with the exaltation of the Chosen One (a Servant title). Before him stand the kings and the mighty, the counterpart of the audience in Isaiah 52–53, whom the tradition transformed into the enemies of the righteous man. The recognition referred to in 1 Enoch 62:1 suggests that the kings and the mighty are to recognize in the Chosen One the chosen ones whom they have been persecuting. Verse 2bc draws on the language of Isaiah 11:2, 4 and hence the messianic strand of the Chosen One tradition (compare 1 Enoch 49:3). Verse 3de provides a further counterpart to 49:4, and v 7 to chapter 48.The kings and the mighty petition for mercy without success and are driven from the presence of the Lord and delivered to the angels of punishment (vv 9-12, anticipated in 53:3-5). The author then shifts the focus to the righteous and chosen and to their coming deliverance and fellowship with their helper and champion, that son of man (62:13-16) ..."

George W. E. Nickelsburg, Jewish Literature between the Bible and the Mishnah: A Historical and Literary Introduction (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005), 253.

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

1 Enoch108 chapters

Compare Isaiah 11:2 and 1 Enoch 49:3

Summary

Passages

Isaiah 11:2

1 Enoch 49:3

References

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