The Lord’s Prayer translation from Aramaic (the language of Jesus)
The Aramaic version of the Lord’s Prayer is considered closer to how Jesus might have spoken it, as he likely used Aramaic, the language of his time and region. Here is an Aramaic version of the prayer and a transliteration, followed by a line-by-line Gnostic commentary:
The Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic
Text:
Abwoon d’bashmaya
Nethqadash shmakh
Teytey malkuthakh
Nehwey sebyanach aykanna d’bwashmaya aph b’arha
Hawvlan lachma d’sunqanan yaomana
Washboqlan khaubayn aykana daph khnan shbwoqan l’khayyabayn
Wela tahlan l’nesyuna
Ela patzan min bisha
Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l’ahlam almin, ameyn.
Translation:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done,
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Gnostic Commentary on the Aramaic Prayer
- “Abwoon d’bashmaya” – “Our Father, who art in heaven”
The word “Abwoon” can be broken down as “Abba” (Father) and “Woon” (source or womb). This addresses the Divine as both a Father and the Source of all life, embracing the masculine and feminine. In Gnostic spirituality, this is a recognition of the Divine Pleroma, the Fullness where masculine and feminine principles exist in harmony and unity beyond the confines of duality. - “Nethqadash shmakh” – “Hallowed be Thy Name”
The idea of “hallowing” or making sacred the Divine Name suggests an acknowledgment of an ineffable, transcendent reality. In Gnostic thought, this Divine Name represents the indescribable essence of the Source beyond all conceptions. Naming it is not to limit it but to celebrate its mystery, as in Gnosticism, the ultimate Divine reality is unknowable and beyond ordinary perception. - “Teytey malkuthakh” – “Thy Kingdom come”
The “Kingdom” is often interpreted in Gnosticism as the Divine Spark within each person. This line expresses a call for the inner Divine presence (often symbolized by Sophia, wisdom) to awaken within. It is a reminder that we, too, are part of the spiritual realm, and the Kingdom of Heaven is within us. - “Nehwey sebyanach aykanna d’bwashmaya aph b’arha” – “Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”
This line suggests that the harmony of the spiritual realms should be reflected on Earth. Gnostics believe the material world is a shadow of the Divine, a lesser emanation often seen as a place of illusion. To bring Heaven to Earth is to awaken to the Divine truth, transcending the limitations of material existence and experiencing spiritual unity. - “Hawvlan lachma d’sunqanan yaomana” – “Give us this day our daily bread”
While traditionally seen as a request for sustenance, this “bread” in Gnostic terms might be interpreted as the “bread of wisdom” or spiritual nourishment. Here, the prayer is for the inner sustenance of knowledge (gnosis), which feeds the soul rather than the body, enabling one to transcend the material and awaken to inner truths. - “Washboqlan khaubayn aykana daph khnan shbwoqan l’khayyabayn” – “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”
Forgiveness, in Gnostic thought, is an act of liberating oneself from the chains of the Demiurge, the creator of this imperfect material world. To forgive is to release karmic entanglements and to free oneself and others from the illusions of separateness and judgment. This mutual forgiveness clears the way for spiritual ascent. - “Wela tahlan l’nesyuna” – “And lead us not into temptation”
In Gnosticism, “temptation” refers to the allure of the material world, which is filled with distractions that keep us from spiritual awakening. This prayer is a request for assistance in resisting attachment to illusionary pleasures and remaining focused on the journey to spiritual enlightenment. - “Ela patzan min bisha” – “But deliver us from evil”
Gnosticism often interprets “evil” as ignorance, particularly ignorance of the Divine Spark within. Here, the plea is to be freed from ignorance and falsehood, breaking the chains of the Demiurge’s world and moving toward truth, understanding, and gnosis. - “Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l’ahlam almin, ameyn” – “For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
This final line is a declaration of the Divine Fullness. The Kingdom, power, and glory are inherent in the Source, the Pleroma, beyond the limited physical reality. This is a call to align with that boundless reality and affirm our connection with it eternally.
In Gnostic interpretation, the Lord’s Prayer is not merely a plea for guidance and protection but a roadmap for returning to the Divine Source. Each line reflects the journey from the confines of earthly existence, through understanding, forgiveness, and transcendence, toward a direct experience of the Divine unity within.
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Here’s a comparison of this Aramaic-inspired translation of the Lord’s Prayer with the traditional English version. This translation emphasizes the unity and cosmic nature of the Divine, aligning with some Gnostic and mystical interpretations. Each line in this modern version has subtle differences that deepen its spiritual focus.
- “Our Father, who art in heaven”
Modern Translation: “O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos”
- Comparison: This line expands the Divine to a nurturing, universal Creator, embracing both masculine and feminine qualities, rather than a paternal figure alone.
- “Hallowed be Thy Name”
Modern Translation: “Focus your light within us—make it useful.”
- Comparison: Instead of simply revering the Divine Name, this line calls for an inward illumination that is purposeful. It suggests that the sacred should manifest practically through us.
- “Thy Kingdom come”
Modern Translation: “Create your reign of unity now.”
- Comparison: Here, the “Kingdom” is seen as a unifying force in the present moment, rather than a future divine realm. It emphasizes an immediate experience of unity.
- “Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven”
Modern Translation: “Your one desire then acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms.”
- Comparison: This line suggests a harmonious alignment between divine and human will, reflecting a non-dual understanding where Divine will is expressed through all forms of existence.
- “Give us this day our daily bread”
Modern Translation: “Grant what we need each day in bread and insight.”
- Comparison: This version adds “insight” alongside bread, merging physical sustenance with spiritual wisdom, highlighting that we need both to thrive.
- “And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”
Modern Translation: “Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.”
- Comparison: Rather than a traditional view of “sin,” this line refers to “cords of mistakes,” suggesting that forgiveness is a process of untangling and releasing mutual guilt, fostering liberation.
- “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
Modern Translation: “Don’t let surface things delude us, but free us from what holds us back.”
- Comparison: Instead of “temptation” and “evil,” this line speaks of delusion and inner limitations. It’s a request to stay centered and not be led astray by illusions.
- “For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever”
Modern Translation: “From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do, the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews.”
- Comparison: This line describes the Divine as the source of all purpose and beauty that sustains the cosmos. It’s less about a sovereign kingdom and more about a creative, renewing force that encompasses life itself.
- “Amen”
Modern Translation: “Truly—power to these statements—may they be the ground from which all my actions grow: Amen.”
- Comparison: This final line adds a personal intention for these words to ground one’s actions, implying a transformative commitment rather than a simple affirmation.
Summary
This modern translation reinterprets the Lord’s Prayer as a cosmic, inward journey rather than a traditional petition to a distant deity. It emphasizes unity, personal responsibility, forgiveness as liberation, and spiritual growth. Instead of focusing on divine intervention, it calls for inner alignment with the Divine presence and power already within us. This aligns well with mystical and Gnostic perspectives, viewing the prayer as an invocation for spiritual awakening and empowerment.
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