The Archangel Raphael Leaving Tobias' Family

Tobit

Unknownc. 200 BCE
Bible

Read this if you…

  • like a charming biblical novella with an angel-in-disguise, a love story, and a demon to defeat
  • want the deuterocanonical book where the archangel Raphael accompanies a young man on a quest
  • care about reading parts of the Bible that read more like folktale than scripture

Skip this if you…

  • don't want to read explicitly religious/Christian texts

Why It Matters

Tobit is the most entertaining narrative in the Bible, part love story, part adventure, part comedy of errors, with an angel showing up to set things right. Its picture of ordinary piety, family loyalty, and trust in God's quiet providence has kept it well loved for a long time.

Connections

The lineage through Tobit

What It Shapedwhat it set in motionTobitParadise Lost

  • Paradise Lost by John Milton. Tobit shaped it. - Milton plucks the demon Asmodeus straight out of *Tobit* — the "fishy fume" that drove him off Tobit's son's bride becomes Milton's image for Satan's frustrated lust - Tobit's angelic companion Raphael returns too, named in *Paradise Lost* as the spirit who "deign'd to travel with Tobias" - This deuterocanonical book gave Milton two figures — one demonic, one angelic — that he wove directly into his epic
See the full map
Gallery

Depicted in Art

Raphael ascends in a blaze of light as Tobit, Tobias, Anna and Sarah kneel in awe; the angel's identity revealed only at the moment of departure.

Rembrandt van Rijn, 1637

Aged blind Tobit sits at home accusing Anna of stealing the goat she has been given; Anna defends herself holding the kid.

Rembrandt van Rijn, 1626

Blind Tobit sits by the hearth in shadow while Anna spins; both wait for Tobias to return from his journey.

Rembrandt van Rijn, 1630

Editions

Recommended Editions

#1Top Pick$18.95$17.66

King James Version

Oxford University Press · 1611

The most influential and commonly quoted translation in English. The prose rhythm everyone else is responding to, even modern translations.

Buy on Bookshop

Please support us by purchasing through these links, at no extra cost to you!

Deep Dive

What It's About

Spoiler warning

This summary gives away plot details.

Notable Quotes

“Do that to no man which thou hatest.”

— Tobit, to his son Tobias · Tobit 4:15 (KJV)

“I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.”

— The angel Raphael · Tobit 12:15 (KJV)

More by Unknown

  1. 17Job~500 BCUnknownModerate·Short·—Influence90Popularity54BibleWisdomHebrew
  2. 81Beowulf~1000UnknownModerate·Medium·213 pagesInfluence65Popularity71MedievalEpicOld English
  3. 93The Nibelungenlied~1200UnknownModerate·Long·403 pagesInfluence63Popularity31MedievalEpicMiddle High German
  4. 161The Song of Roland~1100UnknownModerate·Medium·224 pagesInfluence64Popularity31MedievalEpicOld French
  5. 190The Poetic Edda~1270UnknownModerate·Long·382 pagesInfluence6Popularity30MedievalEpicOld Norse
  6. Prayer of Manasses~150 BCUnknownEasy·Quick·—Influence—Popularity—BibleLyricAncient Greek
  7. 1 Esdras~150 BCUnknownModerate·Short·—Influence—Popularity—BibleScripture — NarrativeAncient Greek
  8. 2 Esdras~100UnknownHard·Medium·—Influence—Popularity—BibleApocalypticLatin
  9. 2 Maccabees~124 BCUnknownModerate·Short·—Influence—Popularity—BibleScripture — NarrativeAncient Greek
  10. Judith~100 BCUnknownEasy·Short·—Influence—Popularity—BibleScripture — NarrativeHebrew
  11. Tobit~200 BCUnknownEasy·Quick·—Influence—Popularity—BibleScripture — NarrativeAramaic
  12. Esther~400 BCUnknownEasy·Quick·—Influence—Popularity—BibleScripture — NarrativeHebrew
  13. 1 Maccabees~100 BCUnknownModerate·Short·—Influence—Popularity—BibleScripture — NarrativeHebrew