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Jesus in Mandaeism

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Jesus (Ešu Mšiha)
Other names
  • Jesus the Messiah (ࡏࡔࡅ ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ)
  • Messiah (ࡌࡔࡉࡄࡀ)
SymbolNbu (Mercury)
ParentsMiriai (mother)
Equivalents
ChristianJesus
IslamicʿĪsā ibn Maryam

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

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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 . 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

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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

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References

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  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.