Tobit 11

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

1After these things Tobias went his way, praising God that he had given him a prosperous journey, and blessed Raguel and Edna his wife, and went on his way till they drew near unto Nineve.

After these things Tobias went his way, praising God that He had given him a prosperous journey, and blessed Raguel and Edna his wife, and went on his way till they drew near unto Nineve — the homeward road walked in praise, the errand complete and the marriage in company.

2Then Raphael said to Tobias, Thou knowest, brother, how thou didst leave thy father:

Then Raphael said to Tobias: You know, brother, how you left your father — the guide recalling the blind house at the moment of approach.

3Let us haste before thy wife, and prepare the house.

Let us hasten before your wife, and prepare the house — the healing sent ahead of the household: sight restored before the bride crosses the threshold.

4And take in thine hand the gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them.

And take in your hand the gall of the fish. So they went their way, and the dog went after them — the bitter medicine carried in the hand, and the faithful sense-companion still at their heels.

5Now Anna sat looking about toward the way for her son.

Now Anna sat looking about toward the way for her son — the mother's watch kept to the last day, grief and hope in the same seat.

6And when she espied him coming, she said to his father, Behold, thy son cometh, and the man that went with him.

And when she espied him coming, she said to his father: Behold, your son comes, and the man that went with him — the watching affection seeing first, as love does, and announcing sight to the blind.

7Then said Raphael, I know, Tobias, that thy father will open his eyes.

Then said Raphael: I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes — the cure spoken as knowledge before it is performed.

8Therefore anoint thou his eyes with the gall, and being pricked therewith, he shall rub, and the whiteness shall fall away, and he shall see thee.

Therefore anoint him his eyes with the gall, and being pricked therewith, he shall rub, and the whiteness shall fall away, and he shall see you — the bitterness of the conquered deep-power doing the pricking that wakes the sight.

9Then Anna ran forth, and fell upon the neck of her son, and said unto him, Seeing I have seen thee, my son, from henceforth I am content to die. And they wept both.

Then Anna ran forth, and fell upon the neck of her son, and said to him: Seeing I have seen you, my son, from henceforth I am content to die. And they wept both — the light of her eyes restored in the seeing, before the father's eyes are even opened.

10Tobit also went forth toward the door, and stumbled: but his son ran unto him,

Tobit also went forth toward the door, and stumbled; but his son ran unto him — the blind father moving toward the sound of joy, and stumbling on his own threshold.

11And took hold of his father: and he strake of the gall on his fathers’ eyes, saying, Be of good hope, my father.

And took hold of his father; and he struck the gall on his father's eyes, saying: Be of good hope, my father — the son's hand steady, the medicine applied with a word of hope.

12And when his eyes began to smart, he rubbed them;

And when his eyes began to smart, he rubbed them — the smarting first: healing felt as pain before it is felt as sight.

13And the whiteness pilled away from the corners of his eyes: and when he saw his son, he fell upon his neck.

And the whiteness peeled away from the corners of his eyes; and when he saw his son, he fell upon his neck — the film of the low sense-thoughts scaling off, and the first sight of the healed state falling on the son's face.

14And he wept, and said, Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever; and blessed are all thine holy angels:

And he wept, and said: Blessed are You, O God, and blessed is Your name for ever; and blessed are all Your holy angels — Your ministering ideas, set apart wholly to the divine order.

15For thou hast scourged, and hast taken pity on me: for, behold, I see my son Tobias. And his son went in rejoicing, and told his father the great things that had happened to him in Media.

For You have scourged, and have taken pity on me; for, behold, I see my son Tobias. And his son went in rejoicing, and told his father the great things that had happened to him in Media — scourging and pity held in one sentence, as the whole book holds them; and the tale poured out within the hour of sight.

16Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter in law at the gate of Nineve, rejoicing and praising God: and they which saw him go marvelled, because he had received his sight.

Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineve, rejoicing and praising God; and they who saw him go marvelled, because he had received his sight — the healed state walking abroad, and the sense-city marvelling at what it mocked.

17But Tobias gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on him. And when he came near to Sara his daughter in law, he blessed her, saying, Thou art welcome, daughter: God be blessed, which hath brought thee unto us, and blessed be thy father and thy mother. And there was joy among all his brethren which were at Nineve.

But Tobias gave thanks before them, because God had mercy on him. And when he came near to Sara his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying: You are welcome, daughter; God be blessed, who has brought you unto us, and blessed be your father and your mother. And there was joy among all his brethren who were at Nineve — the daughter of the sorrowful house welcomed by name into the healed one, and the joy made common to the whole kindred.

18And Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother’s son, came:

And Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother's son, came — the kindred gathering completes the circle of the house.

19And Tobias’ wedding was kept seven days with great joy.

And Tobias' wedding was kept seven days with great joy — seven, the completeness of a cycle: the feast of the healed house answering the fourteen of the sorrowful one.

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