Jesus in Mandaeism

Jesus (Ešu Mšiha)
Other names
  • Jesus the Messiah (ࡏࡔࡅ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ)
  • Messiah (ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ)
SymbolNbu (Mercury)
ParentsMiriai (mother)
Equivalents
ChristianJesus
IslamicʿĪsā ibn Maryam
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In Mandaeism, Jesus (Classical Mandaic: ࡏࡔࡅ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ, romanized: Ešu Mšiha, lit. 'Jesus the Messiah') or Mšiha (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ, romanized: Mšiha, lit. 'Messiah'; Modern Mandaic: Emšihā[1]) is mentioned in Mandaean texts such as the Ginza Rabba, Mandaean Book of John, and Haran Gawaita.[2]

Spellings

The Mandaic name for "Jesus the Messiah" can be romanized as ʿšu Mšiha, Īšu Mšiha, or Ešu Mšiha due to varying transliterations of the Mandaic letter ࡏ. Mšiha can also be spelled Mshiha.

The Syriac equivalent in the Peshitta (e.g., in John 1:17) is Išuᶜ Mšiḥa (Classical Syriac: ܝܫܘܥ ܡܫܝܚܐ; with vowel signs: Yešūᶜ Məšīḥā ܝܶܫܽܘܥ ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ).[3]

In Mandaean texts

In the Mandaean Book of John, Anush, an uthra from the World of Light who may be identified with Enosh, engages Jesus in dialogues and preaching competitions in Jerusalem.[2]

In Right Ginza 2.1 (Book 2, Part 1), Jesus is associated with Nbu (the planet Mercury) and Orpheus (Mandaic: aurus). In Right Ginza 5.3, Jesus is also portrayed as one of the matarta guards, as he plays the role of a shepherd leading a congregation of souls resembling a flock of sheep.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Häberl, Charles (2022). The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-1-80085-627-1.
  2. ^ a b Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
  3. ^ "Dukhrana Analytical Lexicon of the Syriac New Testament". Dukhrana Biblical Research. 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  4. ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2023). The Key to All the Mysteries of Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780648795414.
  5. ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
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