Shepherd of Hermas — Similitude 8 · Chapter 1
Similitude 8.1.1
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.1 He showed me a great willow overshadowing plains and mountains. All those called by the name of the Lord had come beneath the willow's shelter.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.1 — Textual: The willow shelters all who are called by the Lord's name; its reach spans both plains and mountains. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.2
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.2 Beside the willow stood a glorious angel of the Lord, exceedingly tall, holding a great sickle. He cut branches from the willow and gave them to the people sheltered beneath it. He gave them small rods, about a cubit long.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.2 — Textual: An imposing angel distributes rods approximately a cubit long. The approximate measurement and distinction between branches and distributed rods are retained. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.3
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.3 After everyone had received the rods, the angel put down the sickle. The tree remained sound, just as I had seen it before.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.3 — Textual: The tree remains undamaged after the distribution, establishing the marvel that Hermas next questions. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.4
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.4 I wondered within myself, saying, “How is the tree sound when so many branches have been cut?” The shepherd said to me, “Do not wonder that this tree remained sound after so many branches were cut. When you have seen everything,” he said, “what it means will be explained to you.”
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.4 — Textual: Explanation is postponed until the whole vision has been seen. Lake's apparatus records variation affecting Hermas's voiced question and the conditional expression. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.5
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.5 The angel who had given the rods to the people asked for them back. They were called to him in the order in which they had received them, and each returned his rod. The angel of the Lord received and examined them.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.5 — Textual: The rods are returned individually in the original order of distribution; examination precedes assignment to separate groups. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.6
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.6 From some he received rods that were dry and eaten as though by a moth. The angel commanded those who had handed over such rods to stand apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.6 — Textual: Dryness combined with apparent moth damage forms the first category; it must remain distinct from dryness alone. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.7
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.7 Others handed over dry rods that had not been eaten by a moth. He commanded these too to stand apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.7 — Textual: These rods are dry but uneaten, a separate condition from the first group's damaged rods. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.8
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.8 Others handed over half-dried rods. These too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.8 — Textual: Half-dried rods form another category; no splits are specified until the following section. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.9
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.9 Others handed over rods that were half-dried and had splits. These too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.9 — Textual: The combination of partial dryness and splits distinguishes this group from the preceding unsplit rods. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.10
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.10 Others handed over green rods that had splits. These too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.10 — Textual: Green rods can nevertheless be split. Lake prints this category while recording its absence from A and L1. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.11
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.11 Others handed over rods with one half dry and the other half green. These too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.11 — Textual: The rod is explicitly divided into a dry half and a green half, distinguishing a measured division from the earlier half-dried description. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.12
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.12 Others brought their rods with two parts green and the third dry. These too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.12 — Textual: Two green parts and one dry part establish a new proportion; reversing the proportions would change the category. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.13
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.13 Others handed over rods with two parts dry and the third green. These too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.13 — Textual: The proportions reverse the preceding category: two parts are dry, and only one is green. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.14
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.14 Others handed over rods almost entirely green, with only a very small part dry, the very tip; but they had splits in them. These too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.14 — Textual: These nearly green rods have both a tiny dry tip and splits; neither defect should disappear from the description. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.15
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.15 Others had only a very small part green, with the rest of their rods dry. These too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.15 — Textual: Only a minimal green portion survives in otherwise dry rods; this initially poor condition becomes significant at reinspection. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.16
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.16 Others came carrying rods as green as when they received them from the angel. The greater part of the crowd handed over rods of this kind. The angel was very pleased with them, and these too stood apart.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.16 — Textual: The largest group returns rods unchanged and green; preservation, rather than additional growth, explains this category. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.17
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.17 Others handed over green rods bearing shoots. These too stood apart, and the angel was very pleased with them.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.17 — Textual: Shoots distinguish this group from unchanged green rods. Lake reconstructs this entire section from Latin and Ethiopic rather than a surviving Greek witness. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.
Similitude 8.1.18
Greek (Lake printed text, including explicitly identified versional reconstructions)
Similitude 8.1.18 Others handed over green rods bearing shoots, and their shoots had what looked like fruit. The people whose rods were found like this were very cheerful. The angel rejoiced over them, and the shepherd was very cheerful over them too.
Textual & reception notes
Similitude 8.1.18 — Textual: Fruit-like growth differentiates these rods from those with shoots alone; both angel and shepherd share the owners' joy. Reception: No section-specific reception verified in the sources checked.