Tobit 1

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

1The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe of Nephthali;

The book of the words of Tobit, son of Tobiel, the son of Ananiel, the son of Aduel, the son of Gabael, of the seed of Asael, of the tribe of Nephthali — Naphtali, the faculty freed by struggle. The genealogy is the order of states: each degree of consciousness begetting the next in the unfolding of the soul.

2Who in the time of Enemessar king of the Assyrians was led captive out of Thisbe, which is at the right hand of that city, which is called properly Nephthali in Galilee above Aser.

In the time of Enemessar, ruling state of the Assyrians — Assyria, the dominating reasoning-empire of the outer world — Tobit was led captive out of Thisbe, in Nephthali in Galilee above Aser: consciousness carried away from its own land into a foreign ruling state through its own error.

3I Tobit have walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth and justice, and I did many almsdeeds to my brethren, and my nation, who came with me to Nineve, into the land of the Assyrians.

I Tobit have walked all the days of my life in the ways of truth and rightness, and I did many deeds of mercy-giving to my brethren-states and to my nation, who came with me to Nineve, into the land of the Assyrians — the reasoning-empire.

4And when I was in mine own country, in the land of Israel being but young, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell from the house of Jerusalem, which was chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, that all the tribes should sacrifice there, where the temple of the habitation of the most High was consecrated and built for all ages.

And when I was in my own country, in the land of Israel — the spiritual man who has striven with God and prevailed — being but young, all the tribe of Nephthali my father fell away from the house of Jerusalem — the established center of spiritual consciousness, the city of the great King within — which was chosen out of all the tribes, that all should yield their faculties there, where the temple — the established sanctuary-state, the habitation of the Most High, the Source under His title of height — was consecrated and built for all ages.

5Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the house of my father Nephthali, sacrificed unto the heifer Baal.

Now all the tribes which together revolted, and the house of my father Nephthali, yielded themselves to the heifer Baal — a formed image of a lesser good, worshipped in the Source's place.

6But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it was ordained unto all the people of Israel by an everlasting decree, having the firstfruits and tenths of increase, with that which was first shorn; and them gave I at the altar to the priests the children of Aaron.

But I alone went often to Jerusalem at the feasts, as it was ordained to all the people of Israel by an everlasting decree, carrying the firstfruits and tenths of increase, with that which was first shorn; and them I gave at the altar — the built point of consecration where a faculty is yielded to God — to the priests, the children of Aaron — the speaking priest-faculty, the mediating faculties trained to stand between God and the other faculties.

7The first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron, who ministered at Jerusalem: another tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it every year at Jerusalem:

The first tenth part of all increase — the tithe, the first tenth acknowledged to the King-Priest within — I gave to the sons of Aaron, who ministered at Jerusalem; another tenth part I sold away, and went, and spent it every year at Jerusalem.

8And the third I gave unto them to whom it was meet, as Debora my father’s mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father.

And the third I gave to them to whom it was fitting, as Debora my father's mother had commanded me, because I was left an orphan by my father — mercy-giving learned in the house and kept as a commandment of the heart.

9Furthermore, when I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of mine own kindred, and of her I begat Tobias.

Furthermore, when I was come to the age of a man, I married Anna of my own kindred, and of her I begat Tobias — the house joined within its own order of states.

10And when we were carried away captives to Nineve, all my brethren and those that were of my kindred did eat of the bread of the Gentiles.

And when we were carried away captives to Nineve, all my brethren and those of my kindred did eat of the bread of the Gentiles — the truth-substance of the outer states, taken on the outer states' terms.

11But I kept myself from eating;

But I kept myself from eating — the state refusing to be fed by the foreign ruling state.

12Because I remembered God with all my heart.

Because I remembered the Source with all my heart — remembrance as the faculty's whole affection turned Godward.

13And the most High gave me grace and favour before Enemessar, so that I was his purveyor.

And the Most High gave me grace — the unmerited inflow of divine life and favor — and favour before Enemessar, so that I was his purveyor: even in captivity, the right-ordered state is entrusted with provision.

14And I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media ten talents of silver.

And I went into Media, and left in trust with Gabael, the brother of Gabrias, at Rages a city of Media ten talents of silver — substance laid up in trust, the seed of a restoration not yet seen.

15Now when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead; whose estate was troubled, that I could not go into Media.

Now when Enemessar was dead, Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead; whose estate was troubled, so that I could not go into Media — one ruling state succeeding another, and the way to the trusted substance barred by the trouble of the realm.

16And in the time of Enemessar I gave many alms to my brethren, and gave my bread to the hungry,

And in the time of Enemessar I gave many alms — deeds of mercy-giving — to my brethren, and gave my bread — my truth-substance — to the hungry,

17And my clothes to the naked: and if I saw any of my nation dead, or cast about the walls of Nineve, I buried him.

And my garments to the naked; and if I saw any of my nation dead, or cast about the walls of Nineve, I buried him — the dead state honored and laid to rest rather than left exposed to the sense-city.

18And if the king Sennacherib had slain any, when he was come, and fled from Judea, I buried them privily; for in his wrath he killed many; but the bodies were not found, when they were sought for of the king.

And if the ruling state Sennacherib had slain any, when he was come and fled from Judea — Judah, Praise — I buried them privily; for in his wrath he killed many; but the bodies were not found when they were sought for by the king — mercy done in secret, under the eye of wrath.

19And when one of the Ninevites went and complained of me to the king, that I buried them, and hid myself; understanding that I was sought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear.

And when one of the Ninevites went and complained of me to the king, that I buried them, and I hid myself; understanding that I was sought for to be put to death, I withdrew myself for fear — the faithful faculty driven into hiding by the accusation of the sense-city.

20Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there any thing left me, beside my wife Anna and my son Tobias.

Then all my goods were forcibly taken away, neither was there anything left me beside my wife Anna and my son Tobias — the outer stripped bare, the household of the heart remaining.

21And there passed not five and fifty days, before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararath; and Sarchedonus his son reigned in his stead; who appointed over his father’s accounts, and over all his affairs, Achiacharus my brother Anael’s son.

And there passed not five and fifty days before two of his sons killed him, and they fled into the mountains of Ararath — the high resting-place of the renewed mind; and Sarchedonus his son reigned in his stead, who appointed over his father's accounts, and over all his affairs, Achiacharus my brother Anael's son — the violent ruling state falling by its own house, and a kinder order succeeding.

22And Achiacharus intreating for me, I returned to Nineve. Now Achiacharus was cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and overseer of the accounts: and Sarchedonus appointed him next unto him: and he was my brother’s son.

And Achiacharus intreating for me, I returned to Nineve. Now Achiacharus was cupbearer, and keeper of the signet, and steward, and overseer of the accounts; and Sarchedonus appointed him next unto him; and he was my brother's son — restoration coming through a kindred faculty set near the throne, the seat of ruling authority.

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