2 Maccabees 7

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine’s flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.

It came to pass also, that seven brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine's flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips — seven, the completeness of a cycle: a complete house of states tested together, their mother with them.

2But one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest thou ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers.

But one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest thou ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers.

3Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot:

Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot — the persecutor-state answering fidelity with torment; the cruelty is the persecutor-state's own disorder, not the Source's authorship.

4Which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spake first, and to cut off the utmost parts of his body, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on.

Which forthwith being heated, he commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spake first, and to cut off the utmost parts of his body, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on.

5Now when he was thus maimed in all his members, he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan: and as the vapour of the pan was for a good space dispersed, they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully, saying thus,

Now when he was thus maimed in all his members, he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan: and as the vapour of the pan was for a good space dispersed, they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully, saying thus,

6The Lord God looketh upon us, and in truth hath comfort in us, as Moses in his song, which witnessed to their faces, declared, saying, And he shall be comforted in his servants.

The Lord God looketh upon us, and in truth hath comfort in us, as Moses in his song, which witnessed to their faces, declared, saying, And he shall be comforted in his servants — the indwelling LORD beholding the state that will not break.

7So when the first was dead after this number, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Wilt thou eat, before thou be punished throughout every member of thy body?

So when the first was dead after this number, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Wilt thou eat, before thou be punished throughout every member of thy body?

8But he answered in his own language, and said, No. Wherefore he also received the next torment in order, as the former did.

But he answered in his own language, and said, No. Wherefore he also received the next torment in order, as the former did.

9And when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.

And when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life — resurrection: the form, given up for the order, returns to manifest life; the state is not annihilated.

10After him was the third made a mocking stock: and when he was required, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his hands manfully.

After him was the third made a mocking stock: and when he was required, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his hands manfully.

11And said courageously, These I had from heaven; and for his laws I despise them; and from him I hope to receive them again.

And said courageously, These I had from heaven; and for his laws I despise them; and from him I hope to receive them again — the members held as gifts of the inner realm, lent to the form and returnable to it.

12Insomuch that the king, and they that were with him, marvelled at the young man’s courage, for that he nothing regarded the pains.

Insomuch that the king, and they that were with him, marvelled at the young man's courage, for that he nothing regarded the pains.

13Now when this man was dead also, they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner.

Now when this man was dead also, they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner.

14So when he was ready to die he said thus, It is good, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him: as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life.

So when he was ready to die he said thus, It is good, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him: as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life — the faithful state expects its form's return to manifest life; the persecutor-state, clinging to form alone, has no such hope in its order.

15Afterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him.

Afterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him.

16Then looked he unto the king, and said, Thou hast power over men, thou art corruptible, thou doest what thou wilt; yet think not that our nation is forsaken of God;

Then looked he unto the king, and said, Thou hast power over men, thou art corruptible, thou doest what thou wilt; yet think not that our nation is forsaken of God — power over forms is not power over the order.

17But abide a while, and behold his great power, how he will torment thee and thy seed.

But abide a while, and behold his great power, how he will torment thee and thy seed — the persecutor-state warned that its own disorder will be its torment, seed after its kind.

18After him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to die said, Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God: therefore marvellous things are done unto us.

After him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to die said, Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our God: therefore marvellous things are done unto us — the sufferers owning their share in the chastening, as the narrator framed it: correction, not destruction.

19But think not thou, that takest in hand to strive against God, that thou shalt escape unpunished.

But think not thou, that takest in hand to strive against God, that thou shalt escape unpunished.

20But the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of honourable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord.

But the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of honourable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord — the mother-state bearing the loss of every form on the strength of the resurrection hope.

21Yea, she exhorted every one of them in her own language, filled with courageous spirits; and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach, she said unto them,

Yea, she exhorted every one of them in her own language, filled with courageous spirits; and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach, she said unto them,

22I cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you;

I cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you — the form's origin confessed as beyond the form-giver.

23But doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the generation of man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as ye now regard not your own selves for his laws’ sake.

But doubtless the Creator of all things — the Source under His title as Maker of all — who formed the generation of man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as ye now regard not your own selves for his laws' sake — breath and life given again: the dead as unmanifest states, restored to manifestation by the same mercy that first formed them.

24Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and trust him with affairs.

Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and trust him with affairs — the persecutor-state changing torment for bribery, and failing both ways.

25But when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the king called his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life.

But when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the king called his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life.

26And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him that she would counsel her son.

And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him that she would counsel her son.

27But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my son, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee such three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education.

But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my son, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee such three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education — the promised counsel given, and it is the counsel of fidelity.

28I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not; and so was mankind made likewise.

I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not; and so was mankind made likewise — the inner realm and the outer world, made by the Source out of what was not: the ground of the resurrection hope.

29Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren, take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren.

Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren, take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren — receive thee again: the state held in mercy while unmanifest, restored among its brethren.

30Whiles she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, Whom wait ye for? I will not obey the king’s commandment: but I will obey the commandment of the law that was given unto our fathers by Moses.

Whiles she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, Whom wait ye for? I will not obey the king's commandment: but I will obey the commandment of the law that was given unto our fathers by Moses.

31And thou, that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hands of God.

And thou, that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hands of God.

32For we suffer because of our sins.

For we suffer because of our sins — our errors, states acting apart from the divine order.

33And though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastening and correction, yet shall he be at one again with his servants.

And though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastening and correction, yet shall he be at one again with his servants — chastening for a little while, then at-one-ment again.

34But thou, O godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not lifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes, lifting up thy hand against the servants of God:

But thou, O godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not lifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes, lifting up thy hand against the servants of God.

35For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God, who seeth all things.

For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God, who seeth all things — judgment: the divine order confronting the state all at once, from the God who sees all.

36For our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are dead under God’s covenant of everlasting life: but thou, through the judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.

For our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are dead under God's covenant of everlasting life: but thou, through the judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride — dead under the covenant: unmanifest, yet held within the law of relationship whose term is life.

37But I, as my brethren, offer up my body and life for the laws of our fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our nation; and that thou by torments and plagues mayest confess, that he alone is God;

But I, as my brethren, offer up my body and life for the laws of our fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our nation; and that thou by torments and plagues mayest confess, that he alone is God — the last brother yielding body and life together, as a sacrifice of the whole state.

38And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is justly brought upon our nation, may cease.

And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is justly brought upon our nation, may cease.

39Than the king’ being in a rage, handed him worse than all the rest, and took it grievously that he was mocked.

Than the king being in a rage, handed him worse than all the rest, and took it grievously that he was mocked.

40So this man died undefiled, and put his whole trust in the Lord.

So this man died undefiled, and put his whole trust in the Lord.

41Last of all after the sons the mother died.

Last of all after the sons the mother died — the complete house, seven and their mother, given up in form and kept in the order.

42Let this be enough now to have spoken concerning the idolatrous feasts, and the extreme tortures.

Let this be enough now to have spoken concerning the idolatrous feasts, and the extreme tortures — feasts of formed images set in the Source's place, and the tortures the persecutor-state chose.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.