The Book of Enoch 46
Book II The Book of Parables (Similitudes) Chapters 37–71 · late 1st century BCE - early 1st century CE
Three parables revealing the heavenly Son of Man / Elect One, seated on the throne of glory to judge the kings and the mighty. The most theologically influential - and most debated - section.
Dating & manuscripts. Notably ABSENT from the Qumran fragments, unlike every other section. This absence anchors the long scholarly debate over the Parables' date and the origin of their 'Son of Man' figure.
Chapters 46 and 48 draw directly on Daniel 7 for the titles 'Head of Days' and 'Son of Man'. The section also contains Noahic interpolations (e.g. 60, 65-69).
1 Enoch is an anthology of five distinct works, composed over roughly three centuries.
Echoes & Connections 2 connections
Vision of the Son of Man: question-and-answer with the angel, followed by description of the Elect One's role. Classic apocalyptic dialogue form.
The Head of Days and the Son of Man.
First vision of the Son of Man on the throne of glory - hugely influential on later messianism. Themes: The Son of Man / Elect One
1nd there I saw One who had a head of days, And His head was white like wool, And with Him was another being whose countenance had the appearance of a man, And his face was full of graciousness, like one of the holy angels.
2 And I asked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things, concerning that Son of Man, who he was, and whence he was, (and) why he went with the Head of Days?
3 And he answered and said unto me: This is the son of Man who hath righteousness, With whom dwelleth righteousness, And who revealeth all the treasures of that which is hidden, Because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen him, And whose lot hath the pre-eminence before the Lord of Spirits in uprightness for ever.
4 And this Son of Man whom thou hast seen Shall raise up the kings and the mighty from their seats, And the strong from their thrones And shall loosen the reins of the strong, And break the teeth of the sinners.
5 And he shall put down the kings from their thrones and kingdoms Because they do not extol and praise Him, Nor humbly acknowledge whence the kingdom was bestowed upon them.
6 And he shall put down the countenance of the strong, And shall fill them with shame. And darkness shall be their dwelling, And worms shall be their bed, And they shall have no hope of rising from their beds, Because they do not extol the name of the Lord of Spirits.
7 And these are they who judge the stars of heaven, And raise their hands against the Most High, And tread upon the earth and dwell upon it. And all their deeds manifest unrighteousness, And their power rests upon their riches, And their faith is in the gods which they have made with their hands, And they deny the name of the Lord of Spirits,
8 And they persecute the houses of His congregations, And the faithful who hang upon the name of the Lord of Spirits.
Did You Know?
First vision of the Son of Man on the throne of glory - hugely influential on later messianism.
Enoch saw One who had a head of days and His head was white like wool with another being whose face was full of graciousness like holy angels.
The Son of Man hath righteousness dwelling with him and reveals all the treasures of that which is hidden because the Lord of Spirits hath chosen him.
This Son of Man shall raise the kings and the mighty from their seats loosen the reins of the strong and break the teeth of the sinners.
Darkness shall be their dwelling and worms their bed with no hope of rising for those who do not extol the name of the Lord of Spirits.
← → arrow keys to navigate chapters · spacebar to play/pause audio
Commentary
In brief
In the Parables, Enoch sees the Head of Days and, beside him, one whose face is like a man's: the pre-existent Son of Man, chosen before creation to sit on the throne of glory and judge the kings and the mighty of the earth.
Scholar's note
Charles observes that in this chapter and those that follow, "Daniel 7 has been laid under contribution, and from it have been drawn directly the expressions 'Head of Days' and 'Son of Man'." The Parables' portrait of that figure became one of the most influential in later apocalyptic thought.
R.H. Charles, The Book of Enoch (Oxford, 1912) · public domain