{"slug":"dsc-561","id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-561","title":"Nativity 13","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":"2026-11-15T00:59:26Z","cost_usd":0.002402},"source":{"registry_id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-561","work_id":"dsc-561","edition":"syriac","language":"","license":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"},"stats":{"passages":3,"english_words":697,"coptic_letters":0,"commentary_units":17,"commentary_kinds":8,"derived_notes":1,"ambiguities":5,"work_notes":4,"external_links":0,"timeline":4},"summary":{"work":"dsc-561","abstract":"Nativity 13 is a madrāšâ (teaching hymn) by Ephrem the Syrian (ca. 306–373 CE) for the Feast of the Nativity. The hymn employs typological exegesis, comparing Old Testament figures such as Isaac, Samson, and Samuel to Christ. It opens with the phrase 'Son of His Voice,' likely referring to Christ as the Word, and includes references to Jeremiah and the daughters of the Hebrews. The text reflects Ephrem's anti-Arian emphasis on Christ's dual nature, contrasting the 'great mystery' of Christ's divinity in heaven with his manifest body in Mary's womb. The Syriac text survives in multiple manuscripts, the earliest from the 5th–6th centuries, and entered the East Syriac liturgical tradition.","historical_context":"Ephrem the Syrian (ca. 306–373 CE) composed this madrāšâ in Nisibis or Edessa, likely in the mid-4th century, though no external evidence fixes it more precisely within his career. The hymn belongs to the Syriac Christian tradition, which developed in the eastern Roman Empire and Sasanian Persia. Ephrem's works were transmitted in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic, and this hymn entered the East Syriac liturgical tradition for the Feast of the Nativity. The earliest surviving manuscripts date from the 5th–6th centuries, indicating a relatively early transmission. The edition used (ed:dsc-561) collates several witnesses but provides no apparatus for variant readings or manuscript sigla, limiting textual criticism. The hymn is also cited in later Syriac exegetical works, though no specific medieval commentary is identified in the source edition.","significance":"Nativity 13 exemplifies Ephrem's typological exegesis and his anti-Arian Christology, emphasizing Christ's dual nature. It is a key witness to the development of Syriac liturgical poetry and the celebration of the Nativity in the East Syriac tradition. The hymn's survival in multiple early manuscripts attests to its enduring importance in Syriac Christianity.","timeline":[{"date":"ca. 306–373 CE","event":"Life of Ephrem the Syrian"},{"date":"mid-4th century","event":"Composition of Nativity 13 (traditional dating)"},{"date":"5th–6th centuries","event":"Earliest surviving manuscripts of the Syriac text"},{"date":"4th–5th centuries","event":"Incorporation into East Syriac liturgical tradition for the Feast of the Nativity"}],"relations":[{"work":"Ephrem the Syrian, Nativity cycle","relation":"Part of a larger collection of Nativity hymns by Ephrem","key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"},{"work":"Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith","relation":"Shares anti-Arian themes and typological exegesis","key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"},{"work":"Bible, Book of Jeremiah","relation":"Invokes Jeremiah as a figure of lament","key":"wikipedia:Book of Jeremiah","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Bible, Book of Lamentations","relation":"Echoes Lamentations, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah","key":"wikipedia:Book of Lamentations","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"East Syriac liturgical tradition","relation":"Used in the Feast of the Nativity","key":"wikipedia:East Syriac Rite","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[],"cautions":["The dating of the hymn to the mid-4th century is traditional and lacks external evidence.","The edition (ed:dsc-561) provides no apparatus for variant readings or manuscript sigla, limiting textual criticism.","The phrase 'simple captives' (ܩ̈ܦܠܶܐ ܣܒܺܝ̈ܣܶܐ) is ambiguous and may have multiple interpretations."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.0005,"generated":"2026-11-15T00:27:56Z"},"checks":{"work":"dsc-561","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":3,"translated":3,"commentary_passages":3,"commentary_units":17,"english_words":697,"source_letters":2161,"commentary_kinds":8},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"Ephrem the Syrian (ca. 306–373 CE) composed this madrāšâ (teaching hymn) for the Nativity. The dating is traditional; no external evidence fixes it more precisely within his career.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac text survives in multiple manuscripts, the earliest from the 5th–6th centuries. The edition used here (ed:dsc-561) collates several witnesses but does not specify which are primary.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This hymn entered the East Syriac liturgical tradition for the Feast of the Nativity. It is also cited in later Syriac exegetical works, though no specific medieval commentary is identified in the source edition.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The edition provides no apparatus for variant readings or manuscript sigla. Readers cannot assess textual decisions or reconstruct the stemma from the information given.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"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":"caution","severity":"caution","text":"1 passage(s) are fragmentary in the source; the English bridges each break and says so in the note."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: syriac — CC BY 4.0"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":3},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:dsc-561":{"label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"ܒܰܪ ܩܳܠܶܗ\nܒܢ̈ܳܬ ܥܶܒܪ̈ܳܝܶܐ ܕܰܒܐܽܘܠܝ̈ܳܬܶܗ\nܩܪ̈ܰܝ ܕܐܶܪܰܡܝܳܐ ܚܠܳܦ ܐܽܘܠܝ̈ܳܬܳܐ\nܕܰܟܬܳܒܰܝ̈ܗܶܝܢ ܬܢܰܝ̈ ܢܽܘܨܪ̈ܳܬܳܐ\nܡܶܢ ܣܶܦܪ̈ܰܝܗܶܝܢ ܚܰܝܠܳܐ ܟܰܣܝܳܐ\nܒܓܰܘ ܡܶܠܰܝ̈ܗܶܝܢ ܡܶܬܢܰܒܶܐ ܗܘܳܐ\nܥܽܘܢܺܝܬܳܐ : ܡܶܢ ܟܽܠ ܕܰܒܪܰܝܬ ܠܳܟ ܬܶܫܒܽܘܚܬܳܐ\nܒܗܳܢ ܥܰܕܥܺܕܳܟ\nܥܢܰܝ̈ ܓܶܝܪ ܘܐܶܡܰܪ ܬܶܚܕܶܐ ܝܰܘܡܳܢ\nܚܰܘܳܐ ܒܰܫܝܽܘܠ ܕܗܳܐ ܒܰܪ ܒܰܪܬܳܗܿ\nܐܰܝܟ ܣܰܡ ܚ̈ܰܝܶܐ ܢܚܶܬ ܕܰܢܢܰܚܶܡ\nܐܶܡܳܐ ܕܐܶܡܶܗ ܥܽܘܠܳܐ ܒܪܺܝܟܳܐ\nܪܳܐܶܨ ܪܺܫܶܗ ܕܚܶܘܝܳܐ ܕܰܡܚܳܗܿ\nܛܽܘܦܣܳܟ ܐܰܕܺܝܩ ܡܶܢ ܛܰܠܝܽܘܬܶܗ\nܕܐܺܝܣܚܳܩ ܦܰܐܝܳܐ ܒܳܟ ܢܰܨܰܪܬܶܗ\nܣܰܪܳܐ ܕܰܚܙܳܬ ܕܐܪ̈ܳܙܰܝܟ ܫܰܪ̈ܝܳܢ\nܥܰܠ ܫܰܒܪܽܘܬܶܗ ܐܳܘ ܒܰܪ ܢܶܕܪ̈ܰܝ\nܕܰܟܣܶܐ ܒܓܰܘܶܗ ܡܳܪܶܐ ܢܶܕܪ̈ܶܐ\nܢܙܺܝܪܳܐ ܫܶܡܫܽܘܢ ܨܳܪ ܗܘܳܐ ܛܽܘܦܣܳܗܿ\nܕܰܚܠܺܝܨܽܘܬܳܟ ܦܳܫܰܚ ܠܐܰܪܝܳܐ\nܕܽܘܡܝܳܐ ܕܡܰܘܬܳܐ ܐܰܢܬ ܨܳܪܶܐ ܠܶܗ\nܘܡܰܦܶܩ ܡܶܢܳܗܿ ܕܡܰܪܺܝܪܽܘܬܶܗ\nܚ̈ܰܝܶܐ ܚ̈ܠܰܝܳܐ ܕܰܒܢܰܝ̈ܢܳܫܳܐ\nܚܰܢܳܐ ܬܽܘܒ ܒܳܟ ܚܰܒܶܒܬܶܗ ܗܘܳܬ\nܐܳܦ ܠܰܫܡܽܘܐܶܝܠ ܟܺܐܢܽܘܬܳܟ ܓܶܝܪ\nܟܰܣܝܳܐ ܗܘܳܬ ܒܶܗ ܕܦܳܫܰܚ ܠܐܰܓܳܓ\nܐܰܝܟ ܕܰܠܒܺܝܫܳܐ ܒܟܳܐ ܥܰܠ ܫܳܐܽܘܠ\nܕܐܳܦ ܛܰܝܒܽܘܬܳܟ ܒܶܗ ܨܺܝܪܳܐ ܗܘܳܬ\nܡܳܐ ܡܰܟܺܝܟ ܐܰܢܬ ܡܳܐ ܥܰܙܺܝܙ ܐܰܢܬ\nܐܳܘ ܝܰܠܽܘܕܳܐ ܕܺܝܢܳܟ ܥܰܙܺܝܙ\nܚܽܘܒܳܟ ܒܰܣܺܝܡ ܡܰܢܽܘ ܡܶܫܟܰܚ\nܕܰܥܠܰܝܟ ܢܩܽܘܡ ܐܰܒܽܘܟ ܒܰܫܡܰܝܳܐ\nܘܐܶܡܳܟ ܒܐܰܪܥܳܐ ܡܰܢ ܢܶܫܬܰܥܶܝܟ\nܐܶܢ ܐܢܳܫ ܢܶܒܥܶܐ ܟܝܳܢܳܟ ܟܰܣܝܳܐ\nܗܳܐ ܒܰܫܡܰܝܰܐ ܗ̱ܘ ܒܥܽܘܒܳܐ ܪܰܒܳܐ\nܕܐܰܠܳܗܽܘܬܳܐ ܘܐܶܢ ܐܢܳܫ ܢܶܒܥܶܐ\nܦܰܓܪܳܟ ܓܰܠܝܳܐ ܗܳܐ ܪܡܶܐ ܘܰܡܕܺܝܩ\nܡܶܢ ܓܰܘ ܥܽܘܒܳܐ ܙܥܽܘܪܳܐ ܕܡܰܪܝܰܡ\nܦܗܳܐ ܠܶܗ ܗܰܘܢܳܐ ܒܰܝܢܳܬ ܫܰܪ̈ܒܰܝܟ\nܐܳܘ ܥܰܬܺܝܪܳܐ ܩ̈ܦܠܶܐ ܣܒܺܝ̈ܣܶܐ\nܒܐܰܠܳܗܽܘܬܳܟ ܚ̈ܶܙܘܶܐ ܫܺܝ̈ܛܶܐ","english":"The Son of His Voice\n\nThe daughters of the Hebrews at his laments\nsummoned Jeremiah in place of the lamentations\nof their writings; the types of the consolations\nfrom their books—a hidden power\nwithin their words was being arrayed.\nThe sign: from all that I fashioned for you, praise\nat this your time.\n\nFor they cried out and said, \"Rejoice, O day!\nShow in a child that here is the son of her daughter,\nlike the salt of life that descended to season.\"\nThe mother of his mother, the blessed old woman,\ncrushes the head of the serpent that struck her.\n\nYour type was confirmed from his childhood,\nthat of Isaac, the beautiful one, in you his image.\nSarah, who saw that your mysteries were loosed\nover his childhood—or the son of the threshing-floor,\nwho concealed within himself the Lord of the threshing-floors.\nThe fierce Samson pressed her type;\nthe strength of your might rejoiced the lion.\nThe one who subdued the jaws of death—you fashioned him,\nand from her you brought forth the sweet life\nof her bitterness.\n\nAgain, your beloved became a type in you;\neven for Samuel, your hiddenness was concealed in him,\nthat he might rejoice over Agag,\nas one clothed in you over Saul,\nthat your goodness might be fashioned in him.\n\nHow lowly you are! How mighty you are!\nO Son, your Father is mighty!\nYour love is sweet; who can find\nthat over you your Father stands in heaven,\nand your mother on earth, who suckles you?\n\nIf I wish to seek your hidden nature,\nbehold, in heaven it is in the great mystery\nof divinity; and if I wish to seek\nyour manifest body, behold, it is cast and confined\nwithin the small womb of Mary.\nBehold, your nature is between the two extremes of your lineages.\n\nO rich one, simple captives,\nin your divinity, scattered visions.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܰܪ ܩܳܠܶܗ","severity":"info","text":"The opening phrase 'Son of His Voice' functions as a title, likely referring to Christ as the Word, and introduces a series of typological comparisons.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܐܶܪܰܡܝܳܐ","severity":"info","text":"Jeremiah is invoked as a figure of lament, echoing the biblical book of Lamentations traditionally attributed to him, and linked to the daughters of the Hebrews.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܛܽܘܦܣܳܟ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'type' (ܛܽܘܦܣܳܟ) is central to Ephrem's typological exegesis, where Old Testament figures prefigure Christ; here Isaac, Samson, and Samuel are types.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܐܺܝܣܚܳܩ","severity":"info","text":"Isaac is presented as a type of Christ, with Sarah's perception of mysteries over Isaac paralleling Mary's role in the nativity.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܽܘܒܳܐ ܪܰܒܳܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'great mystery' of Christ's divinity in heaven contrasts with his manifest body in Mary's womb, reflecting Ephrem's anti-Arian emphasis on Christ's dual nature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩ̈ܦܠܶܐ ܣܒܺܝ̈ܣܶܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'simple captives' (ܩ̈ܦܠܶܐ ܣܒܺܝ̈ܣܶܐ) is ambiguous; it may refer to those captivated by Christ's divinity or to the limitations of human vision in perceiving it.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the son of her daughter' in the cry of the daughters is unclear; it may refer to Christ as descendant of Mary or to a typological figure.","The phrase 'simple captives' (ܩ̈ܦܠܶܐ ܣܒܺܝ̈ܣܶܐ) is ambiguous, possibly indicating those bound by earthly visions or the humble state of human understanding."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"ܒܐܢܳܫܽܘܬܳܟ ܡܰܢܽܘ ܢܡܽܘܫܳܟ\nܝܰܡܳܐ ܪܰܒܳܐ ܕܐܰܙܥܰܪ ܢܰܦܫܶܗ\nܐܳܬܶܝܢ ܕܢܶܚܙܶܝܟ ܐܰܝܟ ܐܰܠܳܗܳܐ\nܗܳܐ ܒܰܪܢܳܫܳܐ ܐܰܢܬ ܐܳܬܶܝܢ ܕܢܶܚܙܶܝܟ\nܐܰܝܟ ܕܰܠܐܢܳܫܳܐ ܨܡܰܚ ܠܶܗ ܢܺܝܫܳܐ\nܕܐܰܠܳܗܽܘܬܳܟ ܡܰܢܽܘ ܢܩܽܘܡ\nܥܰܠ ܫܽܘ̈ܚܠܳܦܰܝܟ ܐܳܘ ܫܰܪܺܝܪܳܐ\n[ܐܳܬܶܝܢ ܕܢܶܚܙܶܐ] ܥܽܘܡܪܳܐ ܕܰܡܛܳܟ\nܡܶܢ ܒܶܝܬ ܕܰܘܺܝܕ ܐܽܘܪܺܝܳܐ ܗܽܘ ܝܶܪܬܶܬ\nܡܶܢ ܥܰܪ̈ܣܳܬܶܗ ܡܥܰܪܬܳܐ ܡܛܳܬܳܟ\nܡܶܢ ܐܳܦܰܕ̈ܢܰܘܗܝ ܚܠܳܦ ܡܰܪܟܰܒܬܶܗ\nܥܺܝܠܳܐ ܫܺܝܛܳܐ ܛܳܟ ܡܳܛܶܐ ܠܳܟ\nܡܰܢܽܘ ܢܗܰܝܡܶܢ ܕܐܰܢܬ ܝܺܪܶܬܬܺܝܗܝ\nܠܟܽܘܪܣܰܝ ܕܰܘܺܝܕ ܐܶܙܰܠܢ ܕܢܶܒܣܶܐ\nܘܢܳܗܡܳܐ ܡܶܢܳܟ ܩܥܳܬ ܠܳܗܿ ܫܡܰܝܳܐ\nܘܐܰܪܥܳܐ ܡܶܢ ܬܚܶܬ ܒܳܬܰܪ ܕܰܒܣܰܝܢ\nܟܦܶܢ ܩܕܳܡܰܝܟ ܚܰܝܠܳܐ ܟܰܣܝܳܐ\nܡܳܐ ܚܰܨܺܝܦ ܐܰܢܬ ܥܽܘܠܳܐ ܕܥܰܠ ܟܽܠ\nܢܰܦܫܳܟ ܫܳܕܶܝܬ ܠܟܽܠ ܕܰܦܓܰܥ ܒܳܟ\nܗܳܐ ܓܳܚܶܟ ܐܰܢܬ ܠܟܽܘܠ ܡܰܢ ܕܰܚܙܳܟ\nܗܳܐ ܣܳܘܰܚ ܐܢܬ ܕܡܳܐ ܚܽܘܒܳܟ\nܐܰܝܟ ܗܰܘ ܕܰܟܦܶܢ ܠܰܒܢܰܝ̈ܢܳܫܳܐ\nܠܳܐ ܦܳܪܶܫ ܐܰܢܬ ܟܰܝ ܠܐܰܒܳܗ̈ܰܝܟ\nܡܶܢ ܢܽܘܟܪ̈ܳܝܶܐ ܘܠܳܐ ܠܝܳܠܶܕܬܳܟ\nܡܶܢ ܐܶܡܗ̈ܳܬܳܐ ܘܠܳܐ ܠܡܰܝܢܰܩܬܳܟ\nܡܶܢ ܛܰܡ̈ܐܳܬܳܐ ܚܽܘܨܳܦܳܟ ܗܽܘ ܟܰܝ\nܐܰܘ ܚܽܘܒܳܟ ܗܽܘ ܪܳܚܶܡ ܟܽܠܳܐ\nܡܳܐ ܫܳܓܶܫ ܐܰܢܬ ܕܥܰܠ ܟܽܠ ܕܰܚܙܳܟ\nܢܰܦܫܳܟ ܫܳܕܶܝܬ ܥܰܠ ܥܰܬܺܝܪ̈ܶܐ\nܘܥܰܠ ܡܶܣܟܺܢ̈ܶܐ ܒܗܽܘܢ ܛܳܦܶܣ ܐܰܢܬ\nܟܰܕ ܠܳܐ ܩܪ̈ܰܐܽܘܟ ܡܶܢ ܐܰܝܟܳܐ ܐܶܬܳܐ ܠܳܟ\nܕܗܳܟܰܢ ܟܦܶܢܬ ܠܰܒܢ̈ܰܝܢܳܫܳܐ\nܡܰܢܽܘ ܚܽܘܒܳܟ ܕܐܶܢ ܐܢܳܫ ܢܶܟܐܶܐ\nܠܳܐ ܪܳܓܶܙ ܐܰܢܬ ܘܐܶܢ ܙܳܥܶܩ ܒܳܟ\nܠܳܐ ܡܶܬܪܰܗܒܰܬ ܘܐܶܢ ܢܳܨܶܦ ܒܳܟ\nܠܳܐ ܡܶܬܟܰܡܪܰܬ ܪܰܒ ܐܰܢܬ ܗܽܘ ܟܰܝ\nܡܶܢ ܢܳܡܽܘܣܳܐ ܕܦܳܪܰܥ ܚܽܘ̈ܒܠܶܐ\nܡܰܟܺܝܟ ܡܽܘܫܶܐ ܘܰܩܫܶܐ ܛܢܳܢܶܗ\nܕܰܒܥܰܛ ܘܰܩܛܰܠ ܐܳܦ ܐܶܠܺܝܫܰܥ\nܕܐܰܚܺܝ ܛܰܠܝܳܐ ܟܶܢܫܳܐ ܕܫܰܒܪ̈ܶܐ","english":"In your poverty you made your voice small,  \nthe great sea that diminished itself.  \nYou came that they might see you as God;  \nbehold, in the head you came that they might see you.  \nAs for the voiceless, a tree grew for him,  \nthat your divinity might make small and stand  \nupon your changes—or is it true?  \n[You came that they might see] the dwelling of your tent.  \nFrom the house of David, Uriah is the heir;  \nfrom his bridal chambers, the cave is your tent;  \nfrom his palaces, a stable instead of his chariot.  \nA lowly manger reaches you;  \nmake small and believe that you are his heir.  \nTo the throne of David you went that you might sit,  \nand the heaven cried out from you,  \nand the earth beneath, after you sat,  \nbowed before you, a hidden power.  \nHow bold you are, the cunning one over all!  \nYou cast yourself upon all who met you;  \nbehold, you laugh at all who saw you;  \nbehold, you mock what your love is like,  \nas one who bowed to the poor.  \nYou do not distinguish between your fathers  \nand strangers, nor between your mother  \nand other women, nor between your nurse  \nand the impure; your shamelessness is like,  \nor your love is that which loves all.  \nHow you disturb all who saw you!  \nYou cast yourself upon the rich  \nand upon the poor; in the same way you seize,  \nthough they did not call you—from where did you come,  \nthat thus you bowed to the poor?  \nMake small your love, that it may be in the voiceless.  \nYou do not become angry even if one cries out at you;  \nyou are not haughty even if one is ashamed at you;  \nyou are not embittered; you are great like that  \nfrom the law that repays debts,  \nhumble, lowly, and harsh in his error,  \nwho struck and killed even Elisha,  \nwho revived the lad, the staff of youths.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܐܢܳܫܽܘܬܳܟ ܡܰܢܽܘ ܢܡܽܘܫܳܟ","severity":"info","text":"The opening line contrasts the Son's voluntary poverty with his divine voice, a paradox central to Ephrem's theology.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܶܢ ܒܶܝܬ ܕܰܘܺܝܕ ܐܽܘܪܺܝܳܐ ܗܽܘ ܝܶܪܬܶܬ","severity":"info","text":"Alludes to David and Uriah (2 Samuel 11), contrasting David's sin with the Son's legitimate inheritance of the throne.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܐܰܚܺܝ ܛܰܠܝܳܐ ܟܶܢܫܳܐ ܕܫܰܒܪ̈ܶܐ","severity":"info","text":"Elisha reviving the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:32-37) is invoked to illustrate the Son's power over life and death.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܰܢܽܘ ܘܗܰܝܡܶܢ ܕܐܰܢܬ ܝܺܪܶܬܬܺܝܗܝ","severity":"info","text":"The command 'make small and believe' echoes the earlier 'make small your voice,' reinforcing the theme of humility as a path to faith.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܳܐ ܚܰܨܺܝܦ ܐܰܢܬ ܥܽܘܠܳܐ ܕܥܰܠ ܟܽܠ","severity":"info","text":"A rhetorical question ('How bold you are') marks a shift from narrative to direct address, intensifying the paradox of the Son's behavior.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܳܬܶܝܢ ܕܢܶܚܙܶܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The bracketed phrase is a conjectural restoration; the Syriac text is damaged here, and the sense may be incomplete.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-561","label":"source edition: Nativity 13","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/561"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'the voiceless' (ܐܢܳܫܳܐ) is ambiguous: it may refer to the poor, the Gentiles, or those without the Word.","The phrase 'your changes' (ܫܽܘ̈ܚܠܳܦܰܝܟ) could mean the Son's incarnational transformations or his shifting fortunes."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":"ܒܕܒ̈ܶܐ ܦܳܪܶܬ ܡܰܢ ܐܰܢܬ ܛܰܠܝܳܐ\nܕܪܰܒ ܗܽܘ ܚܽܘܒܳܟ ܡܶܢ ܕܰܢܒ̈ܺܝܶܐ\nܗܰܘ ܒܰܪ ܗܳܓܳܪ ܕܰܥܪܳܕܳܐ ܗܘܳܐ\nܒܰܥܛܶܗ ܠܐܺܝܣܚܳܩ ܣܰܝܒܰܪ ܘܰܫܬܶܩ\nܘܐܶܡܶܗ ܛܢܳܬ ܐܰܢܬ ܐܰܢܬ ܐܪܳܙܶܗ\nܐܰܘ ܗܽܘ ܛܽܘܦܣܳܟ ܠܐܺܝܣܚܳܩ ܕܳܡܶܝܬ\nܐܰܘ ܗܽܘܝܽܘ ܟܰܝ ܗܳܐ ܕܳܡܶܐ ܠܳܟ","english":"In the forests you scattered, O child, you who are great, your love from the mountains. That son of Hagar, who was a wild ass, in his silence bore Isaac and was quiet, and his mother buried his secret. Or is that your type? To Isaac you are likened, or is it that he is like you?","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage shifts from the previous image of David and Uriah to a series of Old Testament typologies: Ishmael (son of Hagar), Isaac, and the binding of Isaac. The speaker questions whether Isaac is a type of Christ or Christ a type of Isaac.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܒܰܪ ܗܳܓܳܪ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'son of Hagar' refers to Ishmael, traditionally considered the ancestor of the Arabs. In Ephrem's typology, Ishmael is depicted as a 'wild ass' (ܥܪܳܕܳܐ), a figure of untamed nature, contrasting with Isaac's sacrificial obedience.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܺܝܣܚܳܩ","severity":"info","text":"Isaac (ܐܺܝܣܚܳܩ) is the central figure of the binding narrative (Genesis 22). Ephrem here alludes to Isaac's silent submission during the Akedah, which is typologically linked to Christ's passion.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The 'wild ass' (ܥܪܳܕܳܐ) is a common Syriac symbol for the untamed, often associated with Ishmael's nomadic life. Ephrem uses this to contrast the wildness of Ishmael with the obedient silence of Isaac.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage ends with a rhetorical question ('Or is that your type? To Isaac you are likened, or is it that he is like you?'), which inverts the expected typological direction, a characteristic move in Ephrem's poetry.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text at the end is ambiguous: 'ܐܰܘ ܗܽܘ ܛܽܘܦܣܳܟ ܠܐܺܝܣܚܳܩ ܕܳܡܶܝܬ ܐܰܘ ܗܽܘܝܽܘ ܟܰܝ ܗܳܐ ܕܳܡܶܐ ܠܳܟ' could be read as either 'Or is that your type? To Isaac you are likened, or is it that he is like you?' The translation takes the latter, but the syntax allows for a more direct equation."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]}]}