THE BOOKS OF ENOCH
Aramaic Fragments of Qumrân Cave 4
J. T. Milik • with the collaboration of Matthew Black
Clarendon Press • Oxford • 1976 • First Edition
MILIK'S TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵃ (4Q201), 1 Enoch 6:4–8:1
“Then they all [swore] together and bound [one another] by imprecations. And they were all of these two hundred who came down in the days of Jared on [the summit of Mount] Hermon; [and they called the mount Hermon] because they swore and bound [one another] by imprecations upon it.” “Those (two hundred) and their leaders [all took for themselves] wives from all that they chose; and [they began to go in to them, and to defile themselves with them] and (they began) to teach them sorcery and [spell-binding, and the cutting of roots; and they showed them herbs].” “And they became pregnant by them and bare [giants three thousand cubits high who] were born (and multiplied) on the earth…”
— J. T. Milik, The Books of Enoch: Aramaic Fragments of Qumrân Cave 4 (1976), p. 151.
Square brackets are Milik's restorations of material not continuously preserved in 4QEnᵃ.
THE WATCHERS DESCEND
The Qumran Enoch narrative describes two hundred supernatural beings descending to earth in the days of Jared, binding themselves together by an oath on Mount Hermon, taking human women as wives, having sexual relations with them, and transmitting knowledge. The women become pregnant and give birth to giants. Milik's continuous translation also gives the giants a height of three thousand cubits, but significantly, the phrase “giants three thousand cubits high who” appears entirely within his restoration brackets.
We will therefore examine the surviving Aramaic manuscript itself separately to determine what the ancient Qumran fragment actually preserves before treating that measurement as part of its evidence.
DIRECT TRANSLATION 4QEnᵃ (4Q201) 1 iii, lines 14–17 · Surviving Aramaic
Working from the surviving Aramaic on Plate III
“…wives from all whom they chose … and to teach them sorcery … And they became pregnant by them and bore … were born upon the earth…” The crucial physical break occurs after the beginning of “bore/gave birth” and before the continuation about being born upon the earth.
What the Qumran Fragment Actually Says 4QEnᵃ — The Giants and the Missing Measurement
The surviving Aramaic fragment records that the women became pregnant by the Watchers and began to give birth. At precisely this point the manuscript is broken. No surviving measurement of the offspring is preserved in this portion of 4QEnᵃ: neither “three thousand,” “cubits,” nor the reconstructed description of their enormous height is physically present on the fragment. The text resumes after the missing section with the offspring being born upon the earth. Milik's published translation restores the missing passage as “[giants three thousand cubits high who]”, but his square brackets correctly indicate that these words have been supplied in the lacuna rather than read continuously from this surviving Qumran fragment.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202) · Parallel Aramaic Witness · Surviving Aramaic
Working from the surviving Aramaic of the parallel manuscript:
“…they took for themselves wives … and they began to go in to them … and to teach them … [the women] became pregnant … and bore … [lacuna] … upon the earth … they consumed the labor of all the sons of men … and men were unable to sustain them … [they began] to kill men … and to devour … flesh … and they were drinking blood …”
The Second Qumran Copy 4QEnᵇ — The Missing Measurement Confirmed
The parallel Aramaic manuscript independently preserves the same sequence: the Watchers take women, the women become pregnant and bear offspring, and the offspring subsequently consume what humanity produces, attack living creatures, and drink blood. But at the essential point describing the offspring after their birth, the manuscript is damaged. The words “three thousand cubits” are not physically preserved anywhere in this surviving Aramaic fragment. The two surviving Qumran witnesses can be used to establish substantial portions of the surrounding narrative, while the extraordinary 3,000-cubit measurement itself must be restored from the wider textual tradition rather than read directly from the surviving Aramaic parchment.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202), Milik’s Aramaic Transcription
Working independently from the Aramaic text printed on p. 166:
“…and they began to go in to them and to defile themselves with them, and to teach them sorcery and spell-binding … And afterward they became pregnant by them and bore tall/great men … [the text continues into reconstructed/damaged material] … They began to consume the labor of all the sons of men, and men were unable to sustain them …” For our purposes, the critical portion is: וילדה גברין רמין “and [they] bore tall/great men.”
What the Aramaic Establishes 4QEnᵇ — Tall Offspring, Measurement Reconstructed
Milik’s Aramaic transcription of the second Qumran copy independently strengthens an important part of the account: the offspring born from the union are described as גברין רמין — “tall/great men.” However, this should not be confused with direct physical preservation of the “three thousand cubits” measurement. The transcription itself contains editorial reconstruction around the damaged text, and Milik cautions that the identification and restoration of portions of 4QEnᵇ are uncertain.
The Aramaic evidence supports unusually tall/great offspring, while the complete numerical height of “three thousand cubits” should be distinguished from what can be established from the surviving Qumran material.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202), Surviving Aramaic
Working from the surviving Aramaic on Plate II
“…[they consumed] the labor of the sons of men, and men were unable [to sustain them] … [they turned against] mankind … [and against] the creatures of the earth …”
The Offspring Become Destructive 4QEnᵇ — Humanity Can No Longer Sustain Them
The surviving Aramaic continues beyond the birth of the Watchers’ extraordinary offspring into the repercussions of their existence. They consume what humanity produces until mankind can no longer support them, and the narrative shifts toward violence against humans and other living creatures.
The more graphic details found in the reconstructed continuous account — including devouring flesh and drinking blood — should be examined separately against the surviving Aramaic before being presented as physically preserved text.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202) · The Watchers, Sons of Heaven
Working from the Aramaic of the second Qumran copy:
“…the Watchers, sons of heaven, saw them and desired them; and they said, one to another: ‘Let us go and choose for ourselves wives from the daughters of men and beget for ourselves children.’”
Who Were the Watchers? 4QEnᵇ — Sons of Heaven
The second surviving Aramaic copy identifies the beings at the center of the narrative as Watchers associated with heaven. They observe human women, desire them, choose wives from the “daughters of men,” and state their intention to have children with them. This identification is important to the sequence that follows. The beings who descend into the human world, reproduce with human women, and transmit specialized knowledge are not introduced merely as unidentified supernatural figures: the Aramaic Enochic tradition identifies them as the Watchers and associates them directly with heaven.
A NOTE ON THE TWO QUMRAN COPIES
4QEnᵃ (4Q201) and 4QEnᵇ (4Q202) are two separate ancient Aramaic manuscripts preserving overlapping portions of 1 Enoch. Milik refers to them as the “First Copy” and “Second Copy.” These terms are separate manuscript witnesses to the same ancient Enochic tradition.
MILIK’S TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202), 1 Enoch 8:1
From the bottom of p. 167 continuing onto p. 168: “‘Asa’el taught [men to] make swords of iron and breastplates of brass, [and he showed] them (metals) which are dug out, [and how] they should work gold to fashion it apt (for uses), and concerning silver, to fashion it for bracelets, [and for (other) adornments] of [women. And] he [showed to women] concerning antimony, and concerning eye-shadow, [and concerning all precious stones, and concerning dye-stuffs].”
THE WATCHERS TEACH HUMANITY
The preceding narrative has already identified the supernatural beings involved as “the Watchers, sons of heaven.” They descend into the human world, choose human women, produce offspring, and transmit knowledge to humanity. Asa’el is subsequently named as one of the figures responsible for this instruction.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202) · Surviving Aramaic · Plate VII
From the surviving Aramaic, independently: “…to manufacture/make swords of iron and breastplates…”
Asa’el and Metallurgy 4QEnᵇ — The Watchers Transmit Metalworking Knowledge
The surviving Aramaic directly preserves instruction concerning the manufacture of iron swords and breastplates. This occurs within the same narrative that has already identified the beings involved as the Watchers, “sons of heaven,” and describes them taking human women and transmitting knowledge. Unlike the reconstructed giant-height measurement we just examined, the core metallurgy claim has direct support in the surviving Aramaic manuscript.
MILIK'S TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202), 1 Enoch 8:3–4
Milik’s translation attributes distinct bodies of knowledge to individual Watchers. Alongside magic and sorcery, the text describes instruction concerning the “signs” of thunder, the stars, lightning, the earth, the sun, and the moon. It concludes: “And they all began to reveal [secrets to their wives.” The passage presents celestial and terrestrial knowledge as part of the “secrets” transmitted by the Watchers to humanity.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202) · Surviving Aramaic · 1 Enoch 8:3–4
Working independently from the surviving Aramaic, with brackets marking material lost or reconstructed:
“…Šemihazah taught [spell-binding and the cutting of roots …] [… taught …] spells … [… Baraq’el taught …] thunder … Kôkab’el taught the signs of the stars. [… taught] the signs of lightning … [… taught] the signs of the earth. [… Šamšî’el taught] the signs of the sun. [… Šahrî’el taught] the signs of the moon. And they began to reveal [secrets …] “…the earth … the cry … heaven.”
Celestial Knowledge 4QEnᵇ — The Watchers Reveal Knowledge of the Heavens
The surviving Aramaic confirms that the Watchers' teachings extended beyond metallurgy and magic into knowledge associated with the heavens. The manuscript preserves a sequence concerning the stars, lightning, earth, sun, and moon, culminating in the Watchers' revelation of “secrets.” The narrative immediately connects this transmission of knowledge with corruption on earth and a cry reaching heaven.
MILIK'S TRANSLATION — 4QEnᵇ (4Q202), 1 Enoch 10:9–12
God commands Gabriel to destroy the children of the Watchers and send them into a war of destruction. Michael is then commanded to confront Šemihazah and his companions: their sons are to perish before them, and the Watchers themselves are to be bound until the day of judgment.
THE OFFSPRING ARE ORDERED DESTROYED
The narrative has now completed the sequence established in the preceding passages: the Watchers descend, take human women, produce offspring, and transmit forbidden knowledge to humanity. Corruption and violence are followed by direct divine intervention. The offspring of the Watchers are ordered destroyed, and the Watchers themselves are condemned and bound.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Surviving Aramaic 4QEnᶜ (4Q204), 1 vi — Plate XII
“…and visions … …and winds … …they lifted/carried me … …upward … …and brought me … …and I entered … …until I approached/drew near …”
MILIK'S TRANSLATION — 4QEnᶜ (4Q204), 1 Enoch 14:8–108
“[And to me in the vision it thus appeared. Behold, clouds in the vision were calling me, and cloud-mists] to me were shouting, and lightning-flashes and thunders [were hastening me up and . . . me, and winds in the vision made me to fly, and took me] upwards and brought me up and made me enter into [heaven. 9 And I entered it until I drew near to the walls of a building built with hail-stones] and tongues of fire were surrounding them all around, [and they began to fill me with fear and to . . . me. 10 And I entered among …] those tongues of fire, until I drew near to a great house [built with hail-stones; and the walls of this house were like stone slabs, and all of them were (made) of snow, and the] floor [was built] of snow.”
Enoch’s Ascent 4QEnᶜ — The Winds Carry Him Upward
The surviving Aramaic preserves a remarkable sequence: visions, winds, being lifted or carried, upward movement, being brought forward, entering, and approaching. Milik’s more complete reconstruction identifies the destination as heaven and describes Enoch being carried upward by winds before entering and approaching a vast supernatural structure.
The physical fragment retains the upward-transport sequence itself, separate from the more detailed wording in Milik’s translation.
ENOCH’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE COSMOS
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Surviving Aramaic 4QEnᶜ (4Q204), 1 viii — Plate
“…flaming/burning fire…” “…beyond those mountains…” “…the great earth…” “…the heavens…” “…I was shown…” “…a deep abyss…” “…pillars/columns of heavenly fire…” “…columns of fire…” “…their depth and their height…” “…beyond that abyss…” “Then I was shown…”
Enoch is shown 4QEnᶜ — The Boundaries of the Cosmos
Enoch travels beyond the mountains to a region where “the heavens are completed.” There, he sees an endless abyss surrounded by pillars of divine fire, with columns of fire reaching down into its depths.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Surviving Aramaic 4QEnᶜ (4Q204), 1 xii — Plate XIII
“…beyond these mountains…” “…I proceeded…” “…to the east…” “…I was shown…” “…valleys…” “…great waters…” “…water and dew…” “…I was shown other mountains…” “…trees…” “…beyond these mountains…” “…to the east…” “…the limits/extremity of the earth…” “…I was shown…”
Enoch is shown 4QEnᶜ — The Farthest Reaches of the Earth
Enoch continues his journey far east, where he is repeatedly shown vast regions, mountains, valleys, waters, and extraordinary vegetation. His journey extends toward what the surviving Aramaic describes as “the limits of the earth.”
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Surviving Aramaic 4QEnᶜ (4Q204), 1 xiii — Plate XIII
“…portals…” “…in heaven…” “…as I had seen…” “…I was transported/carried…” “…the extremity of the earth…” “…I was shown…” “…portals…” “…I was transported/carried…” “…to the east…” “…I was shown…” “…small portals…” “…the stars of heaven…” “…go forth…” “…toward the west…”
Enoch is transported 4QEnᶜ — To the Portals of the Stars.
Enoch describes being transported between the extremities of the earth and repeatedly shown heavenly portals. Above them are smaller portals from which “the stars of heaven go forth,” traveling along their appointed paths.
THE BOOK OF GIANTS
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Aramaic 4QEnGiantsᵇ (4Q530)
“…the dream…” “…to Enoch, the distinguished scribe, so that he may interpret the dream…” “Then his brother ʾOhyah answered and spoke before the giants: ‘I saw in my dream during this night: behold, the Ruler of Heaven descended to the earth…’”
The key Aramaic at the end is: הא שלטן שמיא לארעא נחת Literally: “Behold, the Ruler of Heaven descended to the earth.”
ʾOhyah’s Dream 4QEnGiantsᵇ — The Ruler of Heaven Comes Down to Earth
In the Book of Giants, ʾOhyah, one of the giant offspring of the Watchers, recounts a dream in which he sees the “Ruler of Heaven” descend to Earth. Disturbed by their dreams and what they foretell, the giants seek out Enoch, the “distinguished scribe”, to interpret them.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Aramaic 4QEnGiantsᵇ (4Q530)
“…he arose into the air…” “…like a whirlwind…” “…like an eagle…” “…he went…” “…the great wilderness…” “…and he called out and said to him…” “…I have come to ask you…” “…I ask for the interpretation…” “…all the Nephilim of the earth…” “…from the days of their…” “…two hundred who came down from heaven…”
Mahawai’s Journey to Enoch 4QEnGiantsᵇ — The Messenger Rises into the Air
Mahawai soars through the air, imagery of a whirlwind and an eagle depicting his journey, as he crosses the vast wilderness to seek Enoch for an interpretation. The remaining text links his mission to the Nephilim of the earth and “two hundred who came down from heaven.”
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Aramaic 4QEnGiantsᵇ (4Q530)
From what actually survives here: “…they defiled themselves…” “…the giants and the Nephilim…” “…they devoured…” “…blood…” “…the giants, because it did not suffice for them…” “…and their sons/children…” “…they sought food to eat…” “…the Nephilim…”
The Giants and the Nephilim 4QEnGiantsᵇ — Their Hunger Cannot Be Satisfied
The surviving Aramaic directly mentions the Giants and the Nephilim and describes their defilement, devouring, and blood. Their consumption does not satisfy them, and the text depicts them continuing to seek food to eat.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Surviving Aramaic 4QEnGiantsᵃ, Fragment 8 — Plate XXXII
From the physically surviving text, keeping the broken character of the manuscript: “…Enoch, the distinguished scribe…” “…Šemihazah…” “…and all his companions…” “…your deeds…” “…their children…” “…upon the earth…” “…the earth…” “…complains…” “…and accuses you…” “…the deeds of your children…” “…the portals of heaven…” “…the corruption…” “…you have corrupted it…” “…until Raphael comes…” “…destruction…” “…upon men…” “…and upon animals…” “…the birds of heaven…” “…those upon the earth…” “…those in the wilderness…” “…those in the seas…” “…your bonds…” “…which bind you…”
Enoch’s Warning 4QEnGiantsᵃ — The Watchers Are Accused of Corrupting the Earth
Enoch’s message condemns the Watchers and their offspring for the corruption they have caused on the earth. The earth itself is described as crying out against them, with its accusations reaching the portals of heaven. Judgment follows: destruction is directed at life on earth, while the Watchers are bound in preparation for their punishment.
