{"slug":"dsc-328","id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-328","title":"Nisibis 74","author":"Ephrem the Syrian","genre":"other","date":"mid-4th century","tradition":"syriac","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T00:59:22Z","cost_usd":0.002425},"source":{"registry_id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-328","work_id":"dsc-328","edition":"syriac","language":"","license":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"},"stats":{"passages":3,"english_words":653,"coptic_letters":0,"commentary_units":16,"commentary_kinds":7,"derived_notes":0,"ambiguities":6,"work_notes":5,"external_links":2,"timeline":5},"summary":{"work":"dsc-328","abstract":"Nisibis 74 is a memrā (metrical homily) attributed to Ephrem the Syrian, likely composed in the late 4th century during his time in Nisibis. The work reflects the liturgical and theological concerns of the Syriac-speaking church, focusing on themes of divine agency, human mortality, and the paradox of Adam's greatness and lowliness. The Syriac text survives in a single 6th–7th century manuscript with marginal corrections, and the edition notes several lacunae and uncertain readings. The memrā was later incorporated into the East Syriac liturgical cycle for the Feast of the Martyrs, indicating its enduring authority in the Church of the East. The edition lacks a full critical apparatus, and variant readings from other manuscripts are not collated.","historical_context":"The memrā is attributed to Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306–373 CE), a prominent theologian and poet of the Syriac tradition. It is traditionally dated to his Nisibene period (before 363 CE), when he served as a deacon and teacher in Nisibis (modern Nusaybin, Turkey). However, this dating is not securely established; the manuscript tradition is late, with the sole surviving witness from the 6th–7th century, and some passages may reflect later editorial additions. The work belongs to the genre of memrā, a metrical homily used in liturgical settings, and was composed in Syriac, the liturgical language of the Syriac-speaking church. Its incorporation into the East Syriac liturgical cycle for the Feast of the Martyrs suggests its authority in the Church of the East. The text's transmission is fragmentary, with lacunae and uncertain readings noted in the edition.","significance":"Nisibis 74 is significant as a witness to Ephrem's theological poetry, particularly his use of antithesis and paradox to explore themes of divine agency and human mortality. Its inclusion in the East Syriac liturgy underscores its enduring authority. The work relates to other Syriac memrē and madrāšē attributed to Ephrem, as well as broader traditions of Syriac hymnody and patristic exegesis.","timeline":[{"date":"c. 306–373 CE","event":"Life of Ephrem the Syrian"},{"date":"Before 363 CE","event":"Traditional dating of Ephrem's Nisibene period, when the memrā was likely composed"},{"date":"6th–7th century","event":"Earliest surviving manuscript of Nisibis 74, with marginal corrections"},{"date":"Late 4th century","event":"Alternative dating for the composition, after Ephrem's move to Edessa"},{"date":"Medieval period","event":"Incorporation of the memrā into the East Syriac liturgical cycle for the Feast of the Martyrs"}],"relations":[{"work":"Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith","relation":"Similar theological themes and poetic style","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Paradise","relation":"Shared use of antithesis and paradox","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Syriac memrē tradition","relation":"Genre and liturgical function","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"East Syriac liturgical cycle for the Feast of the Martyrs","relation":"Incorporation into liturgy","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Nisibene hymns of Ephrem","relation":"Attribution to Nisibene period","key":"","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[{"key":"wikipedia:Ephrem the Syrian","label":"Ephrem the Syrian","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephrem_the_Syrian","reason":"Provides background on the attributed author and his historical context"},{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"Source edition","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328","reason":"Primary edition used for the translation"}],"cautions":["The dating to Ephrem's Nisibene period (before 363 CE) is traditional but not securely established; the manuscript tradition is late (6th–7th century).","Some passages may reflect later editorial additions; the edition notes several lacunae and uncertain readings.","The edition does not provide a full critical apparatus; variant readings from other manuscripts are not collated.","Attribution to Ephrem is traditional but not definitively proven; the work may be pseudepigraphal."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000519,"generated":"2026-11-15T00:24:15Z"},"checks":{"work":"dsc-328","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":3,"translated":3,"commentary_passages":3,"commentary_units":16,"english_words":653,"source_letters":1983,"commentary_kinds":7},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The work is a memrā (metrical homily) attributed to Ephrem, likely composed in the late 4th century during his time in Nisibis. It reflects the liturgical and theological concerns of the Syriac-speaking church.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The dating to Ephrem’s Nisibene period (before 363 CE) is traditional but not securely established. The manuscript tradition is late, and some passages may reflect later editorial additions.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac text survives in a single manuscript from the 6th–7th century, with marginal corrections. The edition follows the base manuscript but notes several lacunae and uncertain readings.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This memrā was incorporated into the East Syriac liturgical cycle for the Feast of the Martyrs, indicating its enduring authority in the Church of the East.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The edition does not provide a full critical apparatus; variant readings from other manuscripts are not collated. Readers should consult the source edition for detailed textual notes.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation was located by an automated check of the source corpus and one library catalogue. That is not evidence that none exists: the check matches English title words, so works catalogued under a Latin or original-language title are missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: other in classical Syriac; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 3 narrative."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: syriac — CC BY 4.0"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":3},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:dsc-328":{"label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"ܥܰܠ ܩܳܠܳܐ ܕܐܳܘ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܒܓܢܝܟ\n܀܀܀","english":"On the sound of \"O Lord, in your coming","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܰܠ ܩܳܠܳܐ ܕܐܳܘ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܒܓܢܝܟ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase introduces a poetic meditation on the sound or theme of an invocation, likely a liturgical acclamation. The English draft renders it as 'On the sound of O Lord, in your coming'.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܡܳܪܝ̱","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܡܳܪܝ̱ (Mār(y)) is a title meaning 'my Lord', used in Christian Syriac tradition for Christ or God. It often appears in liturgical acclamations.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܰܠ ܩܳܠܳܐ","severity":"info","text":"The opening 'On the sound' (ܥܰܠ ܩܳܠܳܐ) signals a madrāšâ or memrā genre, where the poet comments on a liturgical phrase. This is typical of Ephrem's Nisibene hymns.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܓܢܝܟ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac word ܒܓܢܝܟ is uncertain; it may be a scribal error or variant for ܒܓܘܝܟ ('in your coming') or ܒܓܥܬܟ ('in your joy'). The English draft reads 'in your coming', but the text is ambiguous.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac word ܒܓܢܝܟ is unclear; it may be a corruption of ܒܓܘܝܟ ('in your coming') or ܒܓܥܬܟ ('in your joy'). The reading taken follows the English draft as 'in your coming'."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"ܐܳܘ ܟܡܳܐ ܪܰܒ ܐܳܕܳܡ\nܘܰܫܒܺܝܚ ܒܰܒܪܺܝܬܶܗ\nܐܳܘ ܟܡܳܐ ܪܰܒ ܫܰܦܠܶܗ\nܒܥܶܕܳܢ ܡܺܝܬܽܘܬܶܗ\nܢܰܘܪܒܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܢܽܘܚܳܡܳܟ\nܥܽܘܢܺܝܬܳܐ: ܢܚܰܕܬܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܢܽܘܚܳܡܳܟ\nܒܪܽܘܟܳܒܶܗ ܨܺܝܪܳܐ\nܚܶܟܡܰܬ ܒܳܪܽܘܝܶܗ\nܒܚܽܘܒܳܠܶܗ ܪܰܫܺܝܡܳܐ\nܒܺܝܫܽܘܬ ܢܳܟܽܘܠܶܗ\nܢܶܒܗܰܬ ܒܚܽܘܕܳܬܶܗ\nܓܒܳܐ ܘܪܳܒ ܒܰܥܒܳܕܶܗ\nܘܫܺܝܛ ܗ̱ܽܘ ܒܥܽܘܢܕܳܢܶܗ\nܒܚ̈ܰܝܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܐܰܝܟ ܡܶܕܶܡ\nܒܡܰܘܬܶܗ ܐܰܝܟ ܠܳܐ ܡܶܕܶܡ\nܬܽܘܒ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܐܰܘܪܒܳܝܗ̱ܝ\nܕܳܐܶܢ ܘܰܡܚܰܝܶܒ\nܡܥܰܩܶܒ ܘܰܡܙܰܟܶܐ\nܕܽܘܡܝܶܗ ܕܰܐܠܳܗܳܐ\nܘܡܰܘܬܶܗ ܕܚܰܝ̈ܘܳܬܳܐ\nܨܰܠܡܳܟ ܢܺܐܪܰܒ ܒܳܟ\nܗܳܐ ܡܶܠܬܶܗ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܗ̱ܝ\nܘܥܰܠ ܟܽܘܠ ܡܶܬܦܰܪܣܶܐ\nܒܬܺܒܶܝܠ ܡܰܠܳܠܰܐ ܗ̱ܘ\nܘܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ ܡܶܫܬܰܬܰܩ\nܚܰܕܶܬ ܩ̈ܺܝܢܳܬܶܗ\nܘܰܥܡܰܕ ܒܝܰܡܳܐ\nܘܡܰܣܶܩ ܣܺܝܡ̈ܳܬܶܗ\nܘܡܳܐ ܕܰܥܡܰܕ ܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ\nܟܳܡ ܥܠܰܘܗ̱ܝ ܡܰܘܬܳܐ\nܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܢܶܬܕܰܠܶܐ\nܙܪܺܝܙܳܐ ܕܰܠܝܰܡܳܐ\nܡܰܫܥܒܶܕ ܘܰܠܝܰܒܫܳܐ\nܒܩܰܒܪܳܐ ܡܶܫܬܰܦܰܠ\nܘܗܳܘܶܐ ܫܶܪܕܽܘܕܳܐ\nܢܓܽܘܠܽܘܢ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܪ̈ܰܚܡܰܝܟ\nܚܰܝܘ̈ܳܬܳܐ ܡܫܰܥܒܶܕ\nܢܺܝܪܶܗ ܚܰܣܺܝܢܳܐ\nܘܢܺܝܪܶܗ ܕܡܰܘܬܳܐ\nܡܫܰܦܶܠ ܚܺܐܪܽܘܬܶܗ\nܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܢܶܬܚܰܪܰܪ\nܛܰܟܶܣ ܒܰܦܓܽܘ̈ܕܶܐ\nܚܺܐܦܳܐ ܕܡܰܪܟܰܒܬܳܐ\nܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܒܠܰܡ ܠܶܗ\nܘܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ ܐܳܣܰܪ ܠܶܗ\nܢܶܫܪܶܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܫܳܪܶܐ ܟܽܠ\nܝܺܬܶܒ ܥܰܠ ܬܪܢܽܘܣ\nܒܬܳܓܳܐ ܘܒܰܟܠܺܝܠܳܐ\nܘܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܡܰܚܶܬ ܠܶܗ\nܐܶܣܟܺܡܶܗ ܘܬܳܒܰܪ ܠܶܗ\nܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܢܶܬܝܰܩܰܪ\nܟܳܬܶܒ ܘܳܐܦ ܩܳܪܶܐ\nܘܕܳܪܶܫ ܘܰܡܬܰܪܓܰܡ\nܘܠܳܐ ܡܶܫܟܰܚ ܕܰܢܦܺܝܣ\nܠܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܒܚ̈ܶܟܡܳܬܶܗ\nܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܢܶܬܦܰܨܶܐ\nܟܰܕ ܠܰܐܪܝܳܐ ܚܳܒܶܫ\nܘܶܐܣܰܪ ܬܰܢܺܝܢܳܐ\nܘܠܳܐ ܒܢܶܩܥܳܐ ܕܰܫܝܽܘܠ\nܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܚܳܒܶܫ ܠܶܗ\nܢܰܦܩܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܩܳܠ ܩܰܪܢܳܐ\nܠܺܐܝܠܳܢܳܐ ܦܣܰܩ\nܘܰܡܚܰܠܶܦ ܘܳܐܦ ܣܳܓܶܐ\nܘܠܶܗ ܦܪܰܫ ܡܰܘܬܳܐ","english":"Oh how great is Adam,  \nand glorious in his creation;  \noh how great is his lowliness  \nat the time of his death.  \n\nYour coming magnifies him,  \na new creation; your coming renews him,  \nby its mystery a picture  \nof the wisdom of his Creator.  \n\nIn his destruction he is signed  \nwith the evil of his entirety;  \nhe is ashamed in his unity,  \nchooses and grows in his work,  \nand is contemptible in his servitude.  \n\nIn his life like something,  \nin his death like nothing.  \nAgain, my Lord, you magnify him,  \njudging and condemning,  \ndetaining and acquitting.  \n\nThe silence of God  \nand the death of living beings:  \nyour image is mixed in you.  \nBehold, his word is great,  \nand over all it is spread.  \n\nIn the world he is a speaker,  \nand in Sheol he is silenced.  \nHe renews his nets  \nand sinks in the sea,  \nand brings up his treasures;  \nand what sinks in Sheol,  \ndeath stands over it.  \n\nIn you, my Lord, he is suspended,  \nthe swift one of the sea,  \nsubduing also the dry land;  \nin the grave he is laid low,  \nand becomes a fugitive.  \n\nTurn, my Lord, your mercies:  \nliving beings are subdued,  \nhis yoke is pious,  \nand his yoke is of death,  \nlowering his freedom.  \n\nIn you, my Lord, he is freed:  \nhe arranges by commands,  \nthe bridle of the chariot;  \ndeath halts him,  \nand in Sheol binds him.  \n\nRelease him, the loosed one of all:  \nhe sits on a throne,  \nwith crown and garland,  \nand death casts him down,  \nhis form and breaks him.  \n\nIn you, my Lord, he is honored:  \nhe writes and reads,  \nand disputes and interprets,  \nand cannot persuade  \ndeath with his wisdoms.  \n\nIn you, my Lord, he is adorned:  \nwhen he binds a lion,  \nand imprisons a wild beast,  \nand not in the pit of Sheol  \ndoes death imprison him.  \n\nHis voice issues from the womb,  \ncuts off trees,  \nand changes and increases,  \nand for him death sets a limit.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܳܘ ܟܡܳܐ ܪܰܒ ܐܳܕܳܡ","severity":"info","text":"The exclamation 'Oh how great is Adam' introduces a paradox: Adam's greatness in creation is immediately undercut by his lowliness in death, a theme Ephrem develops throughout the passage.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܝܽܘܠ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term 'Sheol' (ܫܝܽܘܠ) denotes the underworld or realm of the dead, distinct from the grave; it appears repeatedly as a counterpart to the world of the living.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱","severity":"info","text":"The repeated address 'in you, my Lord' (ܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱) structures the passage as a series of antitheses: human actions are framed within divine agency, a characteristic of Ephrem's theological poetry.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܰܘܬܳܐ","severity":"info","text":"Death (ܡܰܘܬܳܐ) is personified as an active agent that halts, binds, casts down, and sets limits, paralleling the human activities of binding, imprisoning, and ruling, thus creating a sustained contrast between human power and mortality.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱","severity":"info","text":"The refrain 'in you, my Lord' (ܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱) recurs at intervals (lines 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29 in the Syriac), marking strophic divisions and emphasizing the dependence of human states on divine action.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܢܰܘܪܒܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܢܽܘܚܳܡܳܟ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'Your coming magnifies him' (ܢܰܘܪܒܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܢܽܘܚܳܡܳܟ) is ambiguous: 'your coming' may refer to Christ's incarnation or to a future eschatological advent; the context of death and renewal suggests both are possible.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'your coming' (ܢܽܘܚܳܡܳܟ) is ambiguous: it could refer to Christ's incarnation or to a future eschatological coming; the passage supports both readings.","The phrase 'his voice issues from the womb' (ܢܰܦܩܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܩܳܠ ܩܰܪܢܳܐ) is ambiguous: 'womb' (ܩܰܪܢܳܐ) may be literal (birth) or metaphorical (the earth or Sheol)."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":"ܡܶܢ ܟܽܠ ܚܰܒܺܝܒܰܘ̈ܗ̱ܝ\nܒܫܽܘܒܚܳܟ ܢܶܚܙܶܐ ܐܶܢܽܘܢ\nܠܡܰܚ̈ܘܳܬܳܐ ܐܰܣܺܝ\nܒܣܰܡ̈ܳܡܢܶܐ ܕܶܐܫܟܰܚ\nܘܠܰܡܚܽܘܬܶܗ ܕܡܰܘܬܳܐ\nܣܳܡܳܐ ܠܳܐ ܢܦܰܠ\nܢܰܐܣܶܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܣܳܡ ܚ̈ܰܝܶܐ\nܡܶܫܚܶܗ ܘܗܶܪ̈ܽܘܡܰܘܗ̱ܝ\nܘܣܽܘܓܳܐܐ ܕܒܰܣܡ̈ܳܢܰܘܗ̱ܝ\nܠܳܐ ܡܨܶܐ ܡܰܦܟܶܗ ܠܶܗ\nܠܪܺܝܚܶܗ ܡܳܐ ܕܰܥܢܰܕ\nܒܡܶܠܚܳܟ ܢܶܬܡܰܕܰܟ\nܢܰܗܺܝܪ̈ܶܐ ܡܦܰܠܶܓ\nܠܫ̈ܳܥܶܐ ܘܥܶܕ̈ܳܢܶܐ\nܘܫܳܥܰܬ ܥܽܘܢܕܳܢܶܗ\nܐܰܝܟܳܐ ܗ̱ܝ ܠܳܐ ܝܳܕܰܥ\nܫܽܘܒܚܳܐ ܠܝܳܕܰܥ ܟܽܠ\nܣܥܳܐ ܥܰܠ ܕܰܐܪܥܳܐ\nܘܒܳܨܶܐ ܕܰܫܡܰܝܳܐ\nܘܡܳܐ ܕܰܡܛܳܝܗ̱ܝ ܡܰܘܬܳܐ\nܛܥܳܐ ܠܶܗ ܘܶܐܬܕܰܘܰܕ\nܒܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܢܶܬܦܰܨܶܐ\nܣܶܦܳܐ ܪܒܺܝܬܳܐ\nܘܡܰܘܣܶܦ ܥܰܠ ܩܰܪܢܳܐ\nܬܳܒܰܥ ܟܰܢܶܫ ܠܳܗ̇\nܘܒܰܕܰܪ ܡܰܘܪܶܬ ܠܳܗ̇\nܬܰܥܬܪܶܗ ܛܰܝܒܽܘܬܳܟ\nܥܳܒܶܕ ܡܶܕܝܳܪ̈ܶܐ\nܠܩܰܝܛܳܐ ܘܰܠܣܰܬܘܳܐ\nܘܚܰܕ ܩܰܒܪܳܐ ܠܩܰܝܛܳܐ\nܘܰܠܣܰܬܘܳܐ ܣܦܰܩ ܠܶܗ\nܠܰܥܕܶܢ ܢܶܬܒܰܣܰܡ\nܦܰܠܶܓ ܘܕܰܢܣܰܒ\nܫܳܐܶܠ ܝܰܬܺܝܪܳܐ\nܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܡܫܰܚ ܝܰܗ̱ܒ ܠܶܗ\nܐܶܡ̈ܶܐ ܬܠܳܬ ܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ\nܠܽܐܘܪܥܳܟ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܢܶܦܪܰܚ\nܨܰܠܶܠ ܚܰܡܪ̈ܳܢܶܐ\nܘܰܐܣܓܺܝ ܒܽܘܣܳܡ̈ܶܐ\nܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܣܳܟܰܪ ܠܶܗ\nܠܦܽܘܡܶܗ ܡܶܢ ܪܶܥܝܶܗ\nܢܒܰܝܐܺܝܘܗܝ ܦܳܬܽܘܪܳܟ\nܩܦܰܣ ܘܰܐܣܓܺܝ ܝܰܥܢܳܐ\nܐܰܘܨܪ̈ܶܐ ܠܳܐ ܣܳܢܶܗ\nܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܡܰܦܶܩ ܠܶܗ\nܘܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ ܩܦܰܣ ܠܶܗ\nܢܰܦܩܶܗ ܢܽܘܚܳܡܳܟ\nܪܳܕܶܐ ܒܰܫ̈ܒܺܝܠܶܐ\nܘܰܥܛܰܦ ܒܽܐܘܪ̈ܚܳܬܳܐ\nܚܕܳܐ ܗ̱ܝ ܐܽܘܪܚܳܐ ܐܶܙܰܠ\nܕܬܽܘܒ ܒܳܗ̇ ܠܳܐ ܥܛܰܦ\nܢܶܦܢܶܐ ܠܦܰܪܕܰܝܣܳܟ\nܫܩ̈ܽܘܠܶܐ ܡܳܝܬܺܝܢ\nܘܩܳܪܶܝܢ ܛܳܥܽܘ̈ܢܶܐ\nܘܰܚܠܳܦ ܥܰܪ̈ܣܳܬܶܗ\nܥܰܪܣܳܐ ܕܥܰܢܺܝ̈ܕܶܐ\nܢܶܦܪܚܺܝܘܗ̱ܝ ܢܽܘܚܳܡܳܐ\nܬܥܰܫ ܒܰܐܦܕ̈ܳܢܶܐ\nܪ̈ܘܺܝܚܶܐ ܕܢܰܘܦܽܘܢ ܠܶܗ\nܘܦܰܓܪܶܗ ܡܠܶܐ ܩܰܒܪܳܐ\nܘܥܰܦܪܶܗ ܡܠܶܐ ܫܽܘܥܳܠܳܐ\nܡܶܕܪܺܝܫ ܚܰܕܬܳܝܗ̱ܝ","english":"From all his beloved ones  \nin your glory he sees the sign  \nto the healers he is physician  \nwith the medicines he found  \nand for the healing of death  \nno remedy avails  \nbut life heals him  \nwith its oil and its chrism  \nand the abundance of his spices  \ncannot turn away his odor  \nwhen it passes  \nin your salt he is purified  \nand the free ones divide  \nthe hours and the times  \nand the hour of his burial  \nwhere it is he does not know  \nglory knows all  \nhe wanders on the earth  \nand seeks the heavens  \nand when death reaches him  \nit leads him astray and he is troubled  \nin you, my Lord, he is adorned  \nthe great threshold  \nand adds to the frost  \nfollows the winter after it  \nand drives away the summer  \nyour grace enriches him  \nit makes dwellings  \nfor summer and for winter  \nand one grave for summer  \nand for winter suffices him  \nfor the feast he rejoices  \ndivides and takes  \nasks for more  \ndeath anoints and gives him  \nthree hundred measures in weight  \nfor your path, my Lord, he flies  \nhe shakes the wine cups  \nand increases the pleasures  \ndeath hires him  \nfor his mouth from his mind  \nhis chosen ones your table  \nhe pressed and increased the cry  \nthe treasures do not suffice him  \ndeath brings them out  \nand in weight he pressed him  \nand your command brought him out  \nhe guides in the paths  \nand turns in the ways  \none way he went  \nthat he might return in it he did not turn  \nhe enters your paradise  \nthe bearers bring  \nand call the erring ones  \nand instead of his bridal chambers  \nthe bridal chamber of the departed  \nyour command made them fly  \nhe is troubled in the halls  \nthe spirits that surrounded him  \nand his body filled the grave  \nand his dust filled the skull  \nagain anew","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܶܢ ܟܽܠ ܚܰܒܺܝܒܰܘ̈ܗ̱ܝ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'from all his beloved ones' likely refers to Adam's family or companions, but the Syriac is ambiguous; it may also mean 'from all his dear ones' in a general sense.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܰܘܬܳܐ","severity":"info","text":"The repeated contrast between death and healing (e.g., 'life heals him with its oil and its chrism') echoes Pauline language of resurrection and anointing (cf. 1 Cor 15:22, 2 Cor 1:21-22), though no direct citation is made.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'in weight' (ܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ) reflects Syriac metrological practice; 'three hundred measures' may be a symbolic number for completeness or a specific unit, though the exact referent is unclear.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܰܪܣܳܐ ܕܥܰܢܺܝ̈ܕܶܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'bridal chamber of the departed' parallels Ephrem's frequent use of bridal imagery for death and resurrection, as in his Hymns on Paradise (cf. HPar 6.1-3).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܶܕܪܺܝܫ ܚܰܕܬܳܝܗ̱ܝ","severity":"info","text":"The final phrase 'again anew' (ܡܶܕܪܺܝܫ ܚܰܕܬܳܝܗ̱ܝ) signals a structural return to the theme of renewal, closing the passage with an inclusio that echoes the opening emphasis on Adam's new creation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܢܶܦܪܰܚ","severity":"caution","text":"The verb 'he flies' (ܢܶܦܪܰܚ) is ambiguous: it may be literal (flight) or metaphorical (spiritual ascent). The context of 'your path, my Lord' suggests the latter, but the Syriac allows both readings.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-328","label":"source edition: Nisibis 74","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/328"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'his beloved ones' (ܚܰܒܺܝܒܰܘ̈ܗ̱ܝ) is unclear; it may refer to Adam's family or to all humanity.","The phrase 'three hundred measures in weight' (ܬܠܳܬ ܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ) is ambiguous as to the specific unit of measure.","The verb 'he flies' (ܢܶܦܪܰܚ) could be literal or metaphorical."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]}]}