Sirach 37: 17

[Jim_Baur]

I am really trying to find out the actual Greek of Sirach 37: 18.

The English is: The root of all conduct is the mind; four branches it shoots forth:

Good and evil, death, and life,

their absolute mistress is the tongue.

I am looking to see if there is a connection to the four rivers of Genesis and the tree of life and the tree of good and evil.

THANKS

 

[myway]

The tree of life was probably a fig tree. In ancient art Adam and Eve are shown with leaves that grew from a fig tree which covered there private parts.

 

[myway]

The tree of life was probably a fig tree. In ancient art, Adam and Eve are shown with leaves that grew from a fig tree which covered their private parts.

 

[Neofight]

I am really trying to find out the actual Greek of Sirach 37: 18.

The English is: The root of all conduct is the mind; four branches it shoots forth:

Good and evil, death, and life,

their absolute mistress is the tongue.

I am looking to see if there is a connection to the four rivers of Genesis and the tree of life and the tree of good and evil.

THANKS

Rather than four rivers, I think it is alluding to the two “ways” (Good, which brings life; and Evil which brings death) taught by the 12 in the Didache:

  1.1      There are two ways: one is the Way of Life, the other is the Way of Death; and there is a mighty difference between these two ways.

Peace and All Good!

 

[Neofight]

The tree of life was probably a fig tree. In ancient art, Adam and Eve are shown with leaves that grew from a fig tree which covered their private parts.

If Adam and Eve covered their nakedness with fig leaves, the fig tree would be more aptly be considered a tree of death, rather than a tree of life.

If read from the spiritual sense (anagogical), the Tree of Life would be the Cross, who’s fruit it bears is Jesus Christ.

Peace and All Good!

 

[Jim_Baur]

Thanks