Sophia Scriptura

Miscellanies 4.19.119

Clement of Alexandria · Miscellanies · ca. 198–203 · Alexandria · Read in context

Summary: Esther, by fasting and prayer, saved Israel from Haman; Miriam shared leadership with Moses; Susanna, condemned by the lustful elders, remained an unwavering witness to chastity even to death.

Greek text · Stählin 2:300–301

πάλιν τε αὖ ἡ τελεία κατὰ πίστιν Ἐσθὴρ ῥυομένη τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τυραννικῆς ἐξουσίας καὶ τῆς τοῦ σατράπου ὠμότητος, μόνη γυνὴ νηστείαις τεθλιμμένη πρὸς μυρίας ὡπλισμένας ἀντετάξατο δεξιάς, τυραννικὸν διὰ πίστεως ἀναλύουσα δόγμα· καὶ δὴ τὸν μὲν ἐτιθάσευσεν, ἀνέστειλεν δὲ τὸν Ἀμὰν καὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τῇ τελείᾳ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν δεήσει ἀπαθῆ διεφύλαξεν. σιωπῶ γὰρ Σουσάνναν καὶ τὴν Μωυσέως ἀδελφήν, ὡς ἣ μὲν συνεστρατήγησεν τῷ προφήτῃ πασῶν ἐξάρχουσα τῶν κατὰ σοφίαν παρʼ Ἑβραίοις εὐδοκίμων γυναικῶν, ἣ δὲ σεμνότητος ὑπερβολῇ καὶ μέχρι θανάτου χωροῦσα πρὸς τῶν ἀκολάστων ἐραστῶν κατακρινομένη μάρτυς ἁγνείας ἔμεινεν ἀρρεπής.

English · Claude translation

And again Esther, perfect in faith, rescuing Israel from tyrannical power and the cruelty of the satrap, a woman alone, afflicted with fasts, set herself against countless armed hands, undoing a tyrant's decree through faith; and she tamed the one and checked Haman, and kept Israel unharmed by her perfect prayer to God. I pass over Susanna and the sister of Moses: the sister of Moses shared command with the prophet, leading all the women among the Hebrews esteemed for wisdom; Susanna, by the height of her modesty, going even to death, condemned by licentious lovers, remained an unwavering martyr of chastity.

About this passage

Source
Stählin 2:300–301 · Otto Stählin, ed., Clemens Alexandrinus, vol. 2, Stromata Buch I–VI, GCS 15 (Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1906); vol. 3, Stromata Buch VII und VIII, GCS 17 (Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1909) · Greek text: Otto Stählin, Clemens Alexandrinus 2–3 (GCS 15, 17, 1906–1909), digitized by the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0
Translation
Claude translation (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-27 · Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Stählin (1906–1909); made independently of existing English translations.
Scripture
Extrabiblical texts
  • Add Esth (Additions to Esther) · allusion, medium confidence
  • Sus (Susanna) · allusion, high confidence
Topics
Martyrdom, Fasting, Prayer

Notes

Translation notes

  • The allusions are Esth 4–7 (with the Greek additions), Exod 15:20–21, and Susanna (the Greek addition to Daniel).

Cite this passage

Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.19.119 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/19/119/).

Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 4.19.119 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/4/19/119/).

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