Right Ginza


The Right Ginza is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Left Ginza.
Summaries of each book, based mostly on Häberl, are provided below. Translated excerpts are from Gelbert, which is mostly based on Lidzbarski, while Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert.
Opening lines of each chapter are provided below, since Mandaeans often refer to Mandaic prayers by their opening lines.

Book 1

Book 1 contains a history of creation and of Mandaeism.
The book begins with the opening line :
Gelbert mentions two versions of the book, namely the Gabriel Version and the Ptahil Version.

Book 2

Book 2 also contains a history of creation and of Mandaeism. It has a total of four sections, since it also contains three small appended pieces. These books summarize many of the basic teachings of Mandaeism. Buckley considers Book 1 and 2 to be different versions of the same book.
  • Chapter 2.1 is a chronology of the world containing creation stories and the four epochs of the universe. Titled The Book of the Lord of Greatness. 165 paragraphs in Gelbert.
  • Chapter 2.2 is a confession of sins. Titled The Book of the Jordan. 65 paragraphs in Gelbert.
  • Chapter 2.3 has exhortations from the messenger of light. 65 poetic lines in Gelbert. Opening line:
  • Chapter 2.4 contains teachings on marriage. 11 paragraphs in Gelbert. Opening line:

    Book 3

Book 3, The Book of the Living First Teachings or alternatively Mystery and the First Book of the Living First Speech that Was When There Were No Precedents, is the longest book in the Ginza. It is a reconstructed poem also dealing with creation themes but concentrating more on the origin of evil. Aldihisi gives an English translation and detailed commentary for Book 3. The full Mandaic title of Book 3 is Raza u-sidra qadmaia ḏ-šuta haita qadmaita ḏ-huat mn laqadmaia. 2,700 lines in Gelbert.
The book begins with the opening lines:

Book 4

Book 4 is a small text connected to the story of Hibil's descent into the World of Darkness. Before descending into the underworld, Hibil, along with Shitil and Anush, are baptized by Manda ḏ-Hayyi and Mara ḏ-Rabuta. Some parts of the book are derived from Qulasta prayers 82 and 180–188. Titled The Mystery and the Book and the Commentary of the First Doctrine in Gelbert. 31 paragraphs in Gelbert.

Book 5

Book 5 contains 5 separate prose texts. The first one, which is also the largest, deals with a journey to the Underworld. The Al-Saadi translation treats this as three separate books, leading in book numbering in the Al-Saadi edition diverging from the other editions from this point onward. The 5 sections are:
  • Chapter 5.1 covers the savior spirit Hibil Ziwa's descent into the underworld. Titled The Book of the Underworld. 206 paragraphs in Gelbert.
  • Chapter 5.2, The Destruction of the Idols of the House, details the destruction of the world's idols by Manda ḏ-Hayyi. The chapter also contains references to parts of the Hebrew Bible, such as Psalm 114 and Isaiah 5. 44 paragraphs in Gelbert.
  • Chapter 5.3 is an account of the masiqta, the journey of the soul to the World of Light as it passes through maṭarta. Titled My Measure in the World is Full. 31 paragraphs in Gelbert.
  • Chapter 5.4 recounts the story of Manda ḏ-Hayyi's baptism by John the Baptist, and John the Baptist's death and ascension to the World of Light. 42 paragraphs in Gelbert.
  • Chapter 5.5, The Mystery and the Book of Šilmai, Lord of the House, is about Šilmai, an uthra identified in the chapter as the ruler of the material world and a member of Ruha's entourage. 51 paragraphs in Gelbert. See the article on Shilmai for a summary.
The opening lines of the first four chapters in Book 5 are:
Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Chapter 3:
Chapter 4:

Book 6

Book 6, The Book of Dinanukt is about Dinanukt, who is half-man and half-book, and his journey to the World of Light. 48 paragraphs in Gelbert.
The book begins with the opening lines:

Book 7

Book 7 consists of John the Baptist's words. The chapter is a compilation of proverbs and maxims. 113 paragraphs in Gelbert.
The book begins with the opening lines:

Book 8

Book 8 deals briefly with creation and evil, and contains Manda ḏ-Hayyi's warnings against Ruha. 15 paragraphs in Gelbert.

Book 9

Book 9 has 2 parts. Part 1 deals with other religions and the nature of the Godhead; a smaller part 2 deals with the Holy Unique One.
  • Chapter 9.1, The Destruction of the Seven Planets, is a critique of other religions such as Christianity and Islam. It also mentions the Manichaeans, who are called Zandiqia and Mardmania. The tractate also mentions the Zoroastrians, who are called Iazuqaiia and are associated with Shamish. Titled The Overthrow of the Seven in Gelbert. 61 paragraphs in Gelbert.
  • Chapter 9.2 is about the Great Mana creating a young boy from the heavenly Jordan. Titled The Mystery and Book of the Radiance that is Burning in the Mana. 21 paragraphs in Gelbert.

    Book 10

Book 10, The Mystery and the Book of the Radiance that Shines Forth from the Pihta, deals with the sacrament of the bread and also continues the creation story. Within the same book, Hibil and Adakas are mentioned in two different versions of the soul's descent into the physical body of Adam. 66 paragraphs in Gelbert.
The book begins with the opening line:

Book 11

Book 11, The Mystery and the Book of the Great Anush , deals with battles between the forces in the World of Light and World of Darkness led by Ruha. Since the text is difficult to interpret, Lidzbarski had originally hesitated to translate it. 145 paragraphs in Gelbert.
The book begins with the opening lines:

Book 12

Book 12, in seven parts, mixes poetry and prose and provides a basic introduction to Mandaean beliefs. Chapters 2–5 are acrostic hymns, with each stanza ordered according to a letter of the Mandaic alphabet.
  • Chapter 12.1 is an address by Anush. 15 paragraphs in Gelbert.
  • Chapter 12.2 is an acrostic hymn, corresponding to Prayer 179 in the Qulasta. This hymn is also at the beginning of the Code Sabéen manuscripts 25 and 15. The poem begins with the opening lines:
  • Chapter 12.3 is an acrostic hymn. The poem begins with the opening lines:
  • Chapter 12.4 is an acrostic hymn that is identical to Prayer 214 in the Qulasta. The poem begins with the opening lines:
  • Chapter 12.5 is an acrostic hymn. The poem begins with the opening lines:
  • Chapter 12.6 is about the World of Darkness, its king Ur, and its inhabitants. Descriptions of the King of Darkness have parallels in chapters 6 and 27 of the Manichaean Kephalaia. 27 paragraphs in Gelbert. The chapter begins with the opening lines:
  • Chapter 12.7 is about the directions and the cosmic ocean. 16 paragraphs in Gelbert. The chapter begins with the opening line:

    Book 13

Book 13, The Prayer of the Tarmidia to the Pious, comprises a short interim conclusion to what seems to be the original version of the Ginza. 38 paragraphs in Gelbert.
The book begins with the opening line:

Book 14

Book 14, The Book of the Great Nbaṭ, a prose text containing a creation myth, deals with material from Book 3 such as the various emanations. 65 paragraphs in Gelbert.
The book begins with the opening lines:

Book 15

Book 15 is a collection of poems. Numbering differs between editions since Lidbarski's text includes 20 poems, Gelbert's includes 21 and Al-Saadi's translation covers only nine.
  • Chapter 15.1 : "The Word" descends into the material world on behalf of the Great Life to teach the believers.
  • Chapter 15.2 : The Great Life sends Hibil Ziwa to Tarwan. There, he teaches the uthras. Hibil Ziwa also visits Yushamin and Ptahil.
  • Chapter 15.3 is about the Living Water's lamentations about the material world. Šilmai and Nidbai, the guardian uthras of the Living Water, console him.
  • Chapter 15.4 describes the Moon. It is also found in chapter 53 of the Mandaean Book of John, but with minor variations.
  • Chapter 15.5: The Great Life sends Sam Ziwa to be a guardian for the believers in the material world.
  • Chapter 15.6: Yukabar Kušṭa goes to the material world to teach the believers.
  • Chapter 15.7 : The Great Life sends a messenger who is either Manda ḏ-Hayyi or Yawar to the material world to teach the Nasoreans.
  • Chapter 15.8 is about the messenger Yawar.
  • Chapter 15.9 is about the soul's lamentation upon being sent into a material body.
  • Chapter 15.10 is about the creation of the uthras by the Great Mana.
  • Chapter 15.11 consists of a story about Anush's battle with Ruha. Jerusalem is built and settled by the Jews. Anush gains many followers in Jerusalem, but they are killed. Anush then destroys Jerusalem.
  • Chapter 15.12: The Great Life sends an uthra to the material world to teach the believers.
  • Chapter 15.13, the "Hymn of Ptahil", is a creation story similar to Book 3.
  • Chapter 15.14, the "Hymn of the Priests Questioning the Uthra from the Great Life": The Great Life sends an uthra to the material world to teach the believers. Namrus tries to tempt the uthra without success.
  • Chapter 15.15 consists of Ptahil's lamentation and his threat of starting a war. One of the two niana poems in Book 15 with the refrain "when the chosen pure one went away".
  • Chapter 15.16 covers Manda ḏ-Hayyi's debate with Yushamin. Afterwards, Manda ḏ-Hayyi sends Hibil Ziwa to visit Ptahil, then Abatur, and then Yushamin, after which Hibil Ziwa finally returns to the heavens. One of the two niana poems in Book 15 with the refrain "when the chosen pure one went away". After this chapter, Gelbert has another chapter numbered 17 that is not in Lidzbarski's text.
  • Chapter 15.17 is a poem about the descent of Manda ḏ-Hayyi into the world and his subsequent battle with Ruha and her entourage. The poem also advises against asceticism.
  • Chapter 15.18 is an admonition that is also found in chapter 44 of the Mandaean Book of John.
  • Chapter 15.19 is a song about the descent of the soul that is also found in chapter 46 of the Mandaean Book of John.
  • Chapter 15.20 is a brief creation story.
Since Mandaean priestly commentary texts often refer to hymns and prayers by their opening lines, the opening lines of each of the 21 poems in Book 15 are provided below. The English translations below are from Gelbert, while the Mandaic transliterations are derived from Gelbert.
  1. I am a word, a son of words
  2. I am a peaceful Gupna, I who was planted out
  3. At the beginning of the formation of the living waters
  4. When the gleaming was planted from its place
  5. The call it is of the pure Sam-Ziwa, whom the Great called into being from out of His mouth.
  6. I am Yokabar-Kušṭa, I who went away from the house of my father and came .
  7. From the dwelling of the Mighty the Great called me, and gave me orders and confirmed me.
  8. With the power of radiance and of the sindirka, they created the yawar and appointed him over everything.
  9. I am the perfume of the uthras, I who went away and found a dwelling in the true hearts.
  10. I am speaking with My Likeness : "Come, I and Thou will form ."
  11. When I, Anuš-ʿuthra, came into this world
  12. At the head of the pure wreath, which the Great sent, He created a calm uthra.
  13. When I, Ptahil, was formed and came into being, I came into being from the exalted well-spring of radiance.
  14. The priests question the man who has come from the Great .
  15. When the chosen pure one went away, the Life created me from Himself.
  16. When the chosen pure one went away, the Life created me from the heights.
  17. When the chosen pure one went into the pure place, where the perfect ones dwell
  18. I was planted and came up into this world.
  19. The majestic voice of the Life is calling, The majestic voice of the Mighty Life.
  20. From the realm of Light have I come, out of thee, eternal abode.
  21. Who is it who comes, and who is it who speaks to me ?