Tobit 5: Tobias finds a companion for the journey, and they set out

In plain English: Then Tobias answered Tobit his father, "Father, I will do everything you have commanded me.

In plain English: But how will I be able to get it from him, when he does not know me and I do not know him? What sign shall I give him, so that he will know me and trust me and give me the silver? And I do not know the roads to Media, to go there."

Good to know: The long Greek is longer than Brenton's verse. Tobias says Gabael does not know him, asks what sign he can give so that Gabael will trust him, and says he does not know the roads to Media. Brenton's verse has "but how can I receive the money, seeing I know him not?".

In plain English: Then Tobit answered his son Tobias, "He gave me his written bond (Brenton: the handwriting), and I gave him mine. I divided it in two, and we each took one part, and I put it with the silver. And now, look, it is twenty years since I left this silver in trust. So now, my child, look for a trustworthy man who will go with you, and we will pay him wages until you come back. Go and get this silver from him."

Good to know: In the long Greek Tobit tells how the bond was made, divided in two, and kept with the silver, and that it has been twenty years. He asks for a "trustworthy" man and says "we will pay him wages until you come back". Brenton's verse says only that he gave him the handwriting, and has "I will give him wages whiles I yet live".

In plain English: Tobias went out to look for a man who would go with him to Media, one who knew the way. He went out and found Raphael the angel standing in front of him,

Good to know: The narrator names him Raphael, an angel, and says Tobias did not know it. To Tobit he gives his name as Azarias, son of Ananias the great (verse 12), and Tobias calls him "Brother Azarias" (6:6). This study keeps the name the text uses in each verse. In 12:15 he says, "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels" (Brenton's verse: "one of the seven holy angels"). The long Greek adds that he was "standing in front of him".

In plain English: and he did not know that he was an angel of God. He said to him, "Where are you from, young man?" He said to him, "From the sons of Israel, your brothers, and I have come here to work." And Tobias said to him, "Do you know the way to go to Media?"

Good to know: In the long Greek Tobias asks where the young man is from, and he answers, "From the sons of Israel, your brothers, and I have come here to work". Brenton's verse has "Canst thou go with me to Rages? and knowest thou those places well?".

In plain English: He said to him, "Yes. I have been there many times, and I know all the roads well. I have often gone to Media and stayed with Gabael our brother, who lives in Ecbatana in Media. It is a set journey of two days from Ecbatana to Garras, for they lie in the hill country (literally: in the mountain), and Ecbatana is in the middle of the plain."

Good to know: The long Greek is longer than Brenton's verse. It says Gabael lives "in Ecbatana in Media", and that it is a set journey of two days from Ecbatana to Garras. Brenton's verse says only "I know the way well: for I have lodged with our brother Gabael". Elsewhere the text puts Gabael at Rages (4:1); it does not explain how these fit together.

In plain English: He said to him, "Wait for me, young man, until I go in and tell my father, for I need you to go with me, and I will pay you your wages."

In plain English: He said to him, "Look, I will wait. Only do not be long." Tobias went in and told Tobit his father, "Look, I have found a man of our brothers, the sons of Israel." He said to him, "Call the man to me, so that I may learn what his family is and what tribe he is from, and whether he can be trusted to go with you, my child." Tobias went out and called him and said to him, "Young man, my father is calling you."

Good to know: The long Greek adds that Tobias said the man was "of our brothers, the sons of Israel", and that he went out to tell him, "Young man, my father is calling you".

In plain English: He went in to him, and Tobit greeted him first. He said to Tobit, "Much joy to you!" Tobit answered him, "What joy is left for me? I am a man without the use of my eyes, and I do not see the light of heaven, but I lie in darkness like the dead, who no longer see the light. I am alive, yet I am among the dead. I hear people's voices, but I do not see them." He said to him, "Take courage. God is near to healing you (literally: it is near with God to heal you). Take courage." Tobit said to him, "My son Tobias wants to go to Media. Can you go with him and guide him? I will pay you your wages, brother." He said to him, "I can go with him. I know all the roads. I have often gone to Media and crossed all its plains, and I know its mountains and all its roads."

Good to know: The long Greek is much longer than Brenton's verse, which says only "So he called him, and he came in, and they saluted one another". In the long Greek Tobit speaks of his blindness, the angel tells him to take courage because God is near to healing him, and they agree that he will go with Tobias.

In plain English: Tobit said to him, "Brother, what family are you from, and what tribe? Tell me, brother."

In plain English: He said, "What need do you have of a tribe?" Tobit said to him, "I want to know truly whose son you are, brother, and what your name is."

Good to know: The long Greek has "What need do you have of a tribe?". Brenton's verse has "Dost thou seek for a tribe or family, or an hired man to go with thy son?".

In plain English: He said to him, "I am Azarias, son of Ananias the great, one of your brothers (that is, of your own people)."

In plain English: Tobit said to him, "Welcome, and be safe (literally: may you come in good health and be kept safe), brother. Do not be bitter with me (Brenton: angry), brother, because I wanted to know the truth and your family. You turn out to be a brother, and you are of a fine and good line. I knew Ananias and Nathan (Brenton: Jonathas), the two sons of Semelias the great (Brenton: Samaias). They used to go with me to Jerusalem and worship with me there, and they did not go astray. Your brothers are good men. You come from a good root. Welcome, and joy to you!"

Good to know: The long Greek names the two sons Ananias and Nathan, sons of Semelias the great. Brenton's verse has Jonathas and Samaias (the short Greek, as Swete prints it, has Iathan and Semeou), and adds, as the short Greek does, that they offered "the firstborn, and the tenths of the fruits". In the long Greek each of the names Nathan and Semelias is in only this verse.

In plain English: He said to him, "I will pay you a drachma a day as your wage, and what you need, the same as my son. Go with my son,

Good to know: In the long Greek Tobit names the wage himself, "I will pay you a drachma a day". In Brenton's verse he asks, "what wages shall I give thee? wilt thou a drachm a day".

In plain English: and I will add more to your wage." He said to him, "I will go with him, so do not be afraid. We will set out safe and well, and come back to you safe and well, because the road is safe."

Good to know: The long Greek adds the angel's answer: "I will go with him, so do not be afraid ... because the road is safe".

In plain English: Tobit said to him, "A blessing be on you, brother." He called his son and said to him, "My child, get ready what you need for the journey, and go out with your brother. May God in heaven bring you there safely and bring you back to me safe and well, and may his angel travel with you and keep you safe, my child." He went out to set off on his journey, and he kissed his father and his mother, and Tobit said to him, "Go safely."

Good to know: Brenton's verse ends "So they went forth both, and the young man's dog with them". The long Greek has no dog in this verse. It names the dog once, in 6:1 (counted the word kyōn): "the dog went out with him". The long Greek also adds Tobit's blessing on the angel, and that Tobias kissed his father and his mother.

In plain English: His mother wept and said to Tobit, "Why have you sent my child away? Is he not the staff of our hand, and does he not go in and out before us?

In plain English: Do not add money to money (or: do not let money come first; Brenton: be not greedy to add money to money; see the note), but let it be as rubbish (literally: scrapings) compared with our child.

The Greek word: "Rubbish" is peripsēma, what is scraped or wiped off. In Tobit it is only in this verse. 1 Corinthians 4:13 has the same word in its Greek, where the World English Bible has "the dirt wiped off by all".

Good to know: Word for word Anna's words read "may money not come before money, but may it become the scrapings of our child". The Greek is hard to follow word for word. Brenton has "be not greedy to add money to money: but let it be as refuse in respect of our child".

In plain English: What the Lord has given us to live on is enough for us."

In plain English: He said to her, "Do not worry (literally: do not keep a reckoning). Our child will go safe and well and come back to us safe and well, and your eyes will see him on the day he comes back to you safe and well. Do not worry, do not be afraid for them, sister.

Good to know: Tobit calls his wife "sister" (adelphē). Later Tobias calls Sarah his wife "Sister" too (8:4). The long Greek is longer than Brenton's verse, saying again that their child will go and come back safe and well.

In plain English: For a good angel (Brenton: the good angel) will go with him, his journey will go well (literally: his way will prosper), and he will come back safe and well."

Good to know: In both Greek forms the next words say that Anna stopped weeping: the long Greek has "and she fell silent from weeping", the short Greek "and she stopped weeping". Swete numbers them as the first verse of chapter 6. Brenton's English has them as verse 22 of chapter 5, "Then she made an end of weeping", but that verse is not in the verse text shown here.