(c) Images Courtesy of the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library. Photo, Shai Halevi. www.deadseascrolls.org.il

The Book of Tobit disappeared from Jewish tradition for centuries, known only through the fourth-century CE Greek manuscript Codex Sinaiticus and later translations in Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, and Arabic. But the Dead Sea Scrolls revealed something remarkable: the book’s Semitic origins survived in the caves. Cave 4 yielded five copies—four in Aramaic and one in Hebrew. Scholars still debate which Semitic language represents the original composition, but the scrolls prove Tobit began as a Jewish text before its Greek transformation. Set against the backdrop of the Assyrian Empire (8th–7th centuries BCE), Tobit weaves together adventure, family drama, and divine intervention. The story follows young Tobiah, son of the pious exile Tobit, whose devotion to charity and proper burial rites catches heaven’s attention. The angel Raphael descends in human disguise to guide the young man on a journey that will test faith and reveal providence. Tobiah’s mission grows urgent: his cousin Sarah has been cursed. Seven times she married; seven times a demon named Asmodeus murdered her husband on the wedding night before the marriage could be consummated. With Raphael’s guidance, Tobiah banishes the demon, freeing Sarah to finally know married life. The angel’s intervention extends further—he heals Tobiah’s father from blindness, restoring both sight and hope to the family. This tale of loyalty, supernatural protection, and family redemption resonated deeply with Second Temple Jewish communities navigating exile and foreign rule. 

Detail Translation

Frg. 4ii (= Tobit 6:12-19)

[“… This young women]

1 [is wise, and stron]g and very beautiful, and her father loves [her and all he has he gives to her,]

2 [and the inheritance of] her father [is determined for] you. And as for you, a lawful right has decided [that you] t[ake her. And now, listen to me,]

3 [my brother.] Tonight you will speak about this you[ng] woman, you will engage her and take her for a wif[e, … ]

4 [we will organize] the wedding-feast [for her.] I know that Raguel will not be able to deny her to you because he knows

5 [that it pertains to you to secure] and take his daughter more than to anyone els[e, for h]e knows that if he gives her to [another] man

6 [he deserves death according to the sentence of the book of] Moses. And now, [we shall speak about] this [young] woman tonight, we shall engage her

7 [for you”. … Then Tobias answered and said to Rapha]el: “Azarias, my brother, I have heard

8 [that she has already been given to seven men who died in her bridal chamber. They died whe]n they went in to her.

9 [And I have heard that the people said it was a demon who killed them. And now,] I am [af]raid [o]f the demon who

10 [loves her, for the demon kills those who try to approach her. I am an only son for] my [fa]ther and for my mother

11 [and I am afraid of dying and that sorrow for me might bring to the grave the life of my father and of my mother. And they have] no [ot]her [son]

12 [who could bury them”. And he said to him: “Do you not remember the precepts of your father] who commanded you

13 [to take a wife from your father’s house? Now,] listen to me, my brother, do not fear] this [de]mon and take her.

14 [I know that in this night she will be given to you as a wife. And when you enter her bridal chamber, take some of the heart of the fish and of its liver,]

15 [place it upon the embers of the incense and the smell will come out, the demon will smell it, flee and will not return to appear near her ever again.]

16 [And when you go to be wi]th her, [first] sta[nd up from …, both of you, to pray; ask the Lord of heaven that upon you may come mercy]

17 [and salvation. And do n]ot fear, [for] she has been set apart [for] you and [it has been rightfully determined] that you [should take her]

18 [… And] you will save [her and she will walk with you; and] I am sure that for you there will be [sons from her, and] that they will be

19 [like brothers for you”. And when] Tobias [he]ard the words of
Rapha[el that she was] his sister and from

Frg. 4iii (= Tobit 6:19-7:10)

1 [the descendants of his father’s house] he loved her [m]uch and his heart (clung) to her [exceeding]ly. And when they arrived within Ecba[tana,]

2 Tobias [said] to him: “Az[arias, my brother, t]ake me straight to the house of Raguel, our brother”. And he took him and [they] entered [the house]

3 of Raguel. And [they] found [Ra]gue[l sea]ted in front of the door of the courtyard, and first they wished him peace. And he said to them:

4 “In peace you came and in pea[ce] shall you go, my brothers”. And he made them enter his house. And he said to Edna, his wife: “How

5 like Tobit, my uncle’s son, is this young man!” And Edna asked them and said: “Where are you from, brothers?”

6 And they said to her: “From the sons of Naphtali, [who] are exiles in Nineveh”. And she said to them: “Do you know Tobit, o[ur] brother?”

7 They said to her: “We know him”. “Is he well?” They said to her: “He is we[ll”. And To]bias [sai]d:

8 “He is my father”. Raguel jumped up, kissed him and wep[t. And he answered him and said to him:]

9 “Blessings upon [you, my son. You are the] so[n of] a just man!” [… And he fell upon]

10 the neck of Tobias [his brother’s son and wept. And Edna his wife and Sarah his daughter also wept for him.]

11 And he slaugh[tered] a ram of the flock […]

12 to eat and to drink [… “Azarias, my brother, tell Raguel that he should give me Sarah,]

13 my sister”. And [Raguel] heard […]