Tobit 7: Tobias comes to Raguel's house, and Raguel gives him Sarah as his wife

In plain English: When he came into Ecbatana, he said to him, "Brother Azarias, take me straight to Raguel our brother." So he took him to Raguel's house, and they found him sitting by the door of the courtyard, and they greeted him first. He said to them, "Many greetings, brothers (literally: rejoice greatly), and welcome. You have come safe and well." And he brought them into his house.

Good to know: The long Greek tells the arrival this way: Tobias asks Azarias to take him straight to Raguel, they find Raguel sitting by the courtyard door, they greet him first, and he welcomes them. Brenton's verse follows the short Greek: "he came to the house of Raguel; and Sara met him: and saluted him, and he them".

In plain English: He said to Edna his wife, "How like my brother Tobit this young man is!"

Good to know: The long Greek has "my brother"; Brenton has "Tobit my cousin". Here the long Greek spells the name the way it spells Tobias (Tōbeia), but the words "my brother" and the next verses, where Raguel and Edna ask about Tobit, point to Tobit, so the line gives Tobit.

In plain English: Edna asked them, "Where are you from, brothers?" They said to her, "We are of the sons of Naphtali, of those taken captive, in Nineveh."

Good to know: In the long Greek it is Edna who asks, and the travellers answer "her". Brenton's verse has "Raguel asked them".

In plain English: She said to them, "Do you know Tobit our brother?" They said to her, "We know him." She said to them, "Is he well?"

Good to know: In the long Greek, Edna asks both questions. Brenton's verse has "he said". The short Greek has only the first question, "Do you know Tobit our brother?"

In plain English: They said to her, "He is well, and he is alive." And Tobias said, "He is my father."

In plain English: Then Raguel jumped up, kissed him, and wept.

In plain English: He spoke and said to him, "A blessing on you, child, son of a fine and good father! Oh, what a cruel misfortune, that a righteous man who gave alms (literally: doing alms) has been made blind!" And he fell on the neck of Tobias his kinsman (literally: his brother) and wept.

Good to know: The long Greek has Raguel's blessing on the young man and his cry over Tobit, "a righteous man who gave alms", and has him fall on Tobias' neck. Brenton's verse has, "Thou art the son of an honest and good man. But when he had heard that Tobit was blind, he was sorrowful, and wept."

In plain English: Edna his wife wept for him, and Sarah their daughter wept too. He killed (or: sacrificed) a ram from the flock and welcomed them warmly. When they had bathed and washed and sat down (literally: lain down) to supper, Tobias said to Raphael, "Brother Azarias, tell Raguel to give me Sarah my sister."

Good to know: In the long Greek they bathe before supper, and Tobias asks Raphael plainly to ask Raguel for Sarah. Brenton's verse has "they entertained them cheerfully ... they set store of meat on the table", and Tobias says, "speak of those things of which thou didst talk in the way, and let this business be dispatched".

In plain English: Raguel heard what he said, and said to the young man, "Eat and drink, and enjoy yourself tonight,

In plain English: because there is no man who has the right to take Sarah my daughter except you, brother. And I too have no right to give her to another man but you, because you are my nearest kin. But I will tell you the truth plainly, child.

Good to know: The long Greek has Raguel say that no other man has the right to Sarah, and that he himself may not give her to anyone else, "because you are my nearest kin". Brenton's verse has only "it is meet that thou shouldest marry my daughter". Raphael said the same in 6:12: Raguel cannot give her to another "according to the law of Moses".

In plain English: I have given her to seven men of our brothers (or: kinsmen), and they all died on the night they went in to her. And now, child, eat and drink, and the Lord will act for you both (literally: will do among you)." But Tobias said, "I will not eat anything here, or drink, until you settle what concerns me."

Good to know: The long Greek has "seven men of our brothers", "they all died", and "the Lord will act for you"; and Tobias says he will not eat "or drink" until Raguel settles what concerns him. Brenton's verse has "seven men, who died that night they came in unto her: nevertheless for the present be merry", and Tobias says, "till we agree and swear one to another".

In plain English: Raguel said to him, "I will do it. She is given to you according to the ruling of the book of Moses, and it has been decided from heaven that she be given to you. Take your sister. From now on you are her brother, and she is your sister. She is given to you from today and forever. And the Lord of heaven will make it go well for you tonight, child, and may he show you mercy and peace."

Good to know: The long Greek has "the ruling of the book of Moses", "it has been decided from heaven", and "from today and forever", and calls Sarah Tobias' "sister". Brenton's verse is shorter: "take her from henceforth according to the manner, for thou art her cousin, and she is thine, and the merciful God give you good success in all things".

The Greek word: "Brother" and "sister" are adelphos and adelphē. In this book they are used for close kin (Raguel calls Tobit "my brother" in verse 2), for people met as strangers ("brothers", verse 3), and between husband and wife: Raguel calls Edna "Sister" in verse 16, and Tobias calls Sarah "Sister" in 8:4.

In plain English: Raguel called his daughter Sarah, and she came to him. He took her by the hand and gave her to him, and said, "Take her according to the law and the ruling written in the book of Moses, which gives you the wife. Have her, and take her away to your father in good health. And may the God of heaven give you peace (literally: make peace go well for you)."

Good to know: The long Greek has "the law and the ruling written in the book of Moses", "in good health", and a closing wish for peace. Brenton's verse has "take her after the law of Moses, and lead her away to thy father. And he blessed them".

In plain English: Then he called her mother and told her to bring a scroll (or: a sheet for writing), and he wrote out a contract, a written record of the marriage (literally: of living together), saying that he gives her to him as wife according to the ruling of the law of Moses.

Good to know: The long Greek says what the contract was: "a written record of living together", saying that he gives her as wife by the law of Moses, and it says nothing about a seal. Brenton's verse has "called Edna his wife, and took paper, and did write an instrument of covenants, and sealed it".

The Greek word: "Contract" is syngraphē, a written agreement. In the long Greek of Tobit it is in this verse only. Brenton gives the same word as "instruments" in "their instruments and contracts" in 1 Maccabees 13:42.

In plain English: From then on they began to eat and drink.

In plain English: Raguel called Edna his wife and said to her, "Sister, get the other room ready, and bring her in there."

In plain English: She went and made up the bed in the room as he had told her, and brought her there. She wept over her, and wiped away the tears, and said to her,

Good to know: In the long Greek Edna makes up the bed, weeps over Sarah, and wipes away the tears. Brenton's verse has "she wept, and she received the tears of her daughter".

In plain English: "Take courage, daughter. May the Lord of heaven give you joy in place of your sorrow. Take courage, daughter." And she went out.

Good to know: The long Greek has "the Lord of heaven" and "joy", and ends "And she went out". Brenton's verse has "the Lord of heaven and earth give thee joy for this thy sorrow"; the short Greek it follows has charis, "favor", where the long Greek has chara, "joy".