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Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation · 6 of 12 · tr. L.W. King

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She hath given him the Tablets of Destiny on his breast she laid them, saving: Thy command shall not be without avail, and the word of thy mouth shall be established.' Now Kingu, thus exalted, having received the power of Anu, Decreed the fate for the gods, her sons, saying: 'Let the opening of your mouth quench the Fire-god; Whoso is exalted in the battle, let him display his might!' I sent Anu, but he could not withstand her; Nudimmud was afraid and turned back. But Marduk hath set out, the director of the gods, your son; To set out against Tiamat his heart hath prompted him. He opened his mouth and spake unto me, saying: 'If I, your avenger, Conquer Tiamat and give you life, Appoint an assembly, make my fate preeminent and proclaim it. In Upsukkinaku seat yourselves joyfully together; With my word in place of you will I decree fate. May, whatsoever I do remain unaltered, May the word of my lips never be changed nor made of no avail.' Hasten, therefore, and swiftly decree for him the fate which you bestow, That he may go and fight your strong enemy! Lahmu and Lahamu heard and cried aloud All of the Igigi [The elder gods] wailed bitterly, saying: What has been altered so that they should We do not understand the deed of Tiamat! Then did they collect and go, The great gods, all of them, who decree fate. They entered in before Ansar, they filled... They kissed one another, in the assembly...; They made ready for the feast, at the banquet they sat; They ate bread, they mixed sesame-wine. The sweet drink, the mead, confused their... They were drunk with drinking, their bodies were filled. They were wholly at ease, their spirit was exalted; Then for Marduk, their avenger, did they decree the fate. THE FOURTH TABLET They prepared for him a lordly chamber, Before his fathers as prince he took his place. "Thou art chiefest among the great gods, Thy fate is unequaled, thy word is Anu! O Marduk, thou art chiefest among the great gods, Thy fate is unequaled, thy word is Anu! Henceforth not without avail shall be thy command, In thy power shall it be to exalt and to abase. Established shall be the word of thy mouth, irresistible shall be thy command, None among the gods shall transgress thy boundary. Abundance, the desire of the shrines of the gods, Shall be established in thy sanctuary, even though they lack offerings. O Marduk, thou art our avenger! We give thee sovereignty over the whole world. Sit thou down in might; be exalted in thy command. Thy weapon shall never lose its power; it shall crush thy foe. O Lord, spare the life of him that putteth his trust in thee, But as for the god who began the rebellion, pour out his life." Then set they in their midst a garment, And unto Marduk,- their first-born they spake: "May thy fate, O lord, be supreme among the gods, To destroy and to create; speak thou the word, and thy command shall be fulfilled. Command now and let the garment vanish; And speak the word again and let the garment reappear! Then he spake with his mouth, and the garment vanished; Again he commanded it, and. the garment reappeared.
Themes
Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

The Tablets of Destiny represent the ontological power of divine decrees or names to establish and maintain cosmic order.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

[auto] The text explicitly attributes human physical features like breasts and mouths, as well as emotions such as fear and wailing, to the deities.

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Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

[auto] The passage depicts a fundamental conflict between Marduk, who represents order and avenging justice, and Tiamat, who represents chaos and the enemy.

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Covenanttheology

A binding agreement or relationship between the divine and a people or individual, establishing mutual obligations.

[auto] Marduk proposes a binding conditional agreement with the elder gods to grant him preeminence in exchange for defeating their enemy.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] The gods are portrayed as dynamic, personal realities that act, negotiate, feel fear, and express grief rather than abstract principles.

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Logoscosmology

The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world.

[auto] The power of the divine spoken word is central, as Marduk's command and decree are established to fix fate and order reality.

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Related passages · 12 parallels
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 8 (part 2)
Verily it shall be cast forth by my healing words of power, and I will drive it away from before the sight of thy sunbeams." The holy god opened his mouth and said, "I was passing along my path, and I was going through the two regions of my…”
Both passages involve a divine being (Ra and Marduk) who faces a threat and requires the intervention of another deity (Isis and the assembly of gods) to overcome it. The themes of divine power, the revelation of names, and the establishment of order are central to both narratives.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 18 (part 10)
O god of light, come thou down unto me and swallow up the worms which are in Amenta, The great god who dwelleth within Tattu, whom he seeth not, heareth his prayers. They who are in affliction fear him [the god] who cometh forth with the s…”
Both passages involve a divine figure (Osiris in Passage A and Marduk in Passage B) who is granted authority and power by other gods. They also share themes of divine command, the establishment of fate, and the granting of a mouth or voice to speak with divine authority.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 23 (part 6)
Text [CHAPTER LVI.]: CHAPTER OF SNIFFING THE AIR UPON EARTH. [He saith]: "(2) Hail, Tmu, grant thou unto me the sweet breath which is in thy two nostrils. I embrace the mighty throne which is in Unnu,[4] and I watch and guard the Egg of t…”
Both passages deal with the theme of divine authority and the power of words or commands. In Passage A, the deceased seeks the power to sniff the air and grow, while in Passage B, Marduk is given the power to decree fate and his word is established as unalterable. Both texts emphasize the transformative power of divine words and commands.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 24 (part 2)
May naught rise up (3) against me in judgment in the presence of the lord of the trial; let it not be said concerning me and of that which I have done. 'He hath done deeds against that which is right and true'; may naught be against me in…”
Both passages deal with the theme of divine judgment and the power of words or commands. In Passage A, the deceased seeks to have his heart, which represents his conscience, vindicated in the underworld. In Passage B, Marduk is given the power to decree fate and his word is established as unalterable. Both texts emphasize the importance of divine approval and the power of divine speech.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 27 (part 2)
, Ra); Ani, triumphant in peace." Vignette: Ani, standing with both hands raised in adoration. Behind him is his wife: Ausar nebt per qematet en Amen Thuthu. Osiris, the lady of the house, priestess of Amen, Thuthu. Text [CHAPTER XV.]: (…”
Both passages involve the conferring of divine authority and power upon a central figure (Marduk in Passage A and Osiris in Passage B). They also share themes of creation, divine decrees, and the establishment of order, reflecting a conceptual parallel in their mystical traditions.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 29 (part 1)
PLATE XXI. "Thou dost place thy disk in the west, and my two hands are [raised] in adoration [of thee] when thou settest (30) as a living being. Behold, thou art the maker of eternity, and thou art adored [when] thou settest in the heaven…”
Both passages depict a divine figure receiving authority and power from other gods, emphasizing the establishment of fate and the supremacy of the chosen deity. They share themes of divine investiture and the cosmic order.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 29 (part 2)
Text [CHAPTER CXXXIII.]: (1) TO BE SAID ON THE DAY OF THE MONTH.[2] (2) Osiris Ani, the scribe, triumphant in peace, triumphant, saith: "Ra riseth (2) in his horizon, and the company of his gods follow after the god when he appeareth from h…”
Both passages depict a divine figure receiving supreme authority and power from other gods, emphasizing the establishment of fate and command. They share themes of divine elevation, the conferring of power, and the expectation of victory over chaos or enemies.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 34 (part 1)
PLATE XXVII. life. O, I have made them to know the plans of the gods which Horus hath devised (55) at the bidding of his father Osiris. Hail, lord, thou most terrible and mighty soul! Let me come, even me, (56) let me lift myself up! I…”
Both passages describe a divine figure (Marduk in Passage A and Horus in Passage B) being granted supreme authority and power by the assembly of gods. They also involve themes of creation, destiny, and the establishment of order.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 34 (part 2)
I have come, having done away all the evil which dwelleth in your hearts against me, I have made an end of all the sin which I committed (10) against you; I have brought unto you that which is good, I have made to come unto you that which i…”
Both passages describe a divine figure (Marduk in Passage A and Horus in Passage B) being granted supreme authority and power by other gods. They also involve themes of creation, destiny, and the establishment of order, reflecting a conceptual parallel in their mystical traditions.
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 36 (part 1)
PLATES XXIX. AND XXX. Vignette (PLATE XXIX.): Ani and his wife standing with hands raised in adoration before the god Thoth, who has ankh , "life," upon his knees, and is seated on a pylon-shaped throne. Text [CHAPTER CLXXV.]: (1) THE CH…”
Both passages involve the conferring of divine authority and power upon a chosen figure (Marduk in Passage A and Horus in Passage B) through a decree or command. They also share themes of cosmic order, divine intervention, and the establishment of fate.
2 more
egyptian|The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani)|Chapter 43 (part 108)
O Unas, the Eye of Horus hath been given to thee that it may embrace thee.[6] O Unas, the Eye of Horus which strove with Set hath been, given unto thee, in order that the opening of thy mouth may be caused thereby.[7] O Unas, that which flo…”
Both passages describe a deity or divine figure receiving power and authority from other gods, emphasizing the opening of the mouth as a symbolic act of empowerment and the establishment of divine order. The themes of divine command, the transfer of power, and the ritualistic elements are conceptually parallel across the two traditions.
gnosticism|Pistis Sophia|Document SECONDh
And thou also art he who will deliver me from all their threats which are cruel. And also the word which said thy power by David, He will make shadow unto thee under his (thy, MS ) breast, and thou wilt trust under his wing, namely, that t…”
Both passages describe a divine figure receiving power and protection from a higher authority, and both emphasize the invincibility and authority of the figure. The themes of divine protection, authority, and the establishment of fate are shared across the two mystical traditions.