Skip to Content
intertextual.bible
Go to Related Reading
About this book

Apocalypse of Abraham

About this book
Chapter 11

1 And I stood up and saw the one who had taken my right hand and stood me on my feet: 2 and the appearance of his body was like sapphire, and the look of his face like chrysolite,⁠ and the hair of his head like snow,⁠ 3 and the turban on his head like the appearance of the rainbow,⁠ and his clothing like purple;⁠ and a golden scepter was in his right hand. 4 And he said to me: "Abraham!" And I said: "Here I am, your servant." And he said: "Do not let my appearance frighten you, or let my speech trouble your soul. 5 Come with me and I will go with you, visible until the sacrifice, but invisible forever after the sacrifice. 6 Take courage, and come!"

Texts in conversation

Compare Exodus 28:4 and Apocalypse of Abraham 11:3

Hebrew Bible · Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

Share:

Summary

In Exodus, God sets Aaron apart with a turban and clothing made from purple and other expensive materials. In the Apocalypse of Abraham, Abraham's heavenly guide Jaoel wears a turban and purple garments like a priest.

Passages

Exodus 28:4

Hebrew Bible
2 You must make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for glory and for beauty. 3 You are to speak to all who are specially skilled, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, so that they may make Aaron’s garments to set him apart to minister as my priest. 4 Now these are the garments that they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and for his sons, that they may minister as my priests. 5 The artisans are to use the gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.
750–400 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Exodus

Apocalypse of Abraham 11:3

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses
1 And I stood up and saw the one who had taken my right hand and stood me on my feet: 2 and the appearance of his body was like sapphire, and the look of his face like chrysolite, and the hair of his head like snow, 3 and the turban on his head like the appearance of the rainbow, and his clothing like purple; and a golden scepter was in his right hand. 4 And he said to me: "Abraham!" And I said: "Here I am, your servant." And he said: "Do not let my appearance frighten you, or let my speech trouble your soul. 5 Come with me and I will go with you, visible until the sacrifice, but invisible forever after the sacrifice.
70–150 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Apocalypse of Abraham

References

“... The possession of a turban is an unusual feature and may indicate the priestly function of Jaoel (cf. Ex. 28.4). ...”
Christopher Rowland, The Open Heaven: A Study of Apocalyptic in Judaism and Early Christianity (London: SPCK, 1982), 102.

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

Your feedback

Exodus 28:4 and Apocalypse of Abraham 11:3

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library