Drafted by Grok 4.7 on 8 October 2026. First draft. Not independently reviewed. Aramaic and Hebrew where a Qumran copy can be read (4Q196–4Q200), and otherwise the longer Greek of Codex Sinaiticus. The shorter Greek in Swete is not the base. Gaps in Sinaiticus are not filled from a later edition.
1Then Tobias answered and said to Tobit his father, “I will do everything you have commanded me, father.
2But how can I get it from him? He doesn’t know me, and I don’t know him. What sign should I give him so that he recognizes me, trusts me, and gives me the silver? And I don’t know the roads to Media, to go there.”
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4Q200 fragment 3 preserves a few words of this problem: “and he does not know me,” “and he will trust,” and “to go there.” The Greek is continuous and is printed. The Hebrew does not contradict it.
3Tobit answered and said to Tobias his son, “He gave me his bond, and I gave him a bond. We divided them in two, and each of us took one. I put mine with the silver. It has been twenty years since I deposited this silver. Now, child, find yourself a trustworthy man to go with you, and we will pay him until you return. Then take the silver from him.”
4Tobias went out to look for a man who knew the road and would go with him to Media. He went out and found Raphael the angel standing opposite him, and he did not know that he was an angel of God.
5He said to him, “Where are you from, young man?” He said, “From the sons of Israel, your kindred. I have come here to work.” Tobias said, “Do you know the road to Media?”
6He said to him, “Yes. I have been there many times. I know the way, and I know all the roads. I have gone to Media often, and I have stayed with Gabael our kinsman, who lives in Ecbatana of Media. It is two full days’ journey from Ecbatana to Garras, for they lie in the hill country, and Ecbatana is in the middle of the plain.”
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Sinaiticus repeats the clause about Garras, and the place names in this verse do not sit still: Gabael is in Ecbatana here, while the silver was deposited in Rages. The English prints the verse as it stands and does not correct the map. The repeated clause is printed once.
7Tobias said to him, “Wait for me, young man, until I go in and tell my father. I need you to travel with me, and I will pay you.”
8He said, “I will wait. Only don’t take long.”
9Tobias went in and told Tobit his father, “I have found a man from our kindred, from the sons of Israel.” Tobit said, “Call the man in, so I can find out what family he is from, what tribe, and whether he is trustworthy enough to go with you, child.”
10Tobias went out and called him. He said, “Young man, my father is calling you.” He came in. Tobit greeted him first and said, “Joy to you, a great deal of it.” Tobit then said, “What joy is left for me? I am a man who cannot see. I do not see the light of heaven. I lie in the dark like the dead who no longer see the light. I am alive among the dead. I hear people’s voices and I do not see them.” The young man said to him, “Take heart. God is near, and he can heal you. Take heart.” Tobit said to him, “Tobias my son wants to go to Media. Can you go with him and bring him back? I will pay you, brother.” He said, “I can go with him. I know all the roads. I have often gone to Media and crossed all its plains and its mountains, and I know all its roads.”
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Sinaiticus writes a few words twice in this long exchange (“joy,” and a broken “I do not see them”). The doubles are printed once. The sense of the speech is clear.
11Tobit said to him, “Brother, what family are you from, and what tribe? Tell me, brother.”
12He said, “Why do you need a tribe?” Tobit said, “I want to know the truth of whose you are, brother, and what your name is.”
13He said to him, “I am Azariah son of Hananiah the elder, one of your kindred.”
14Tobit said to him, “May you arrive well and safe, brother. Don’t be bitter with me, brother, for wanting to know the truth and your family. You turn out to be a kinsman, from a good family. I knew Hananiah and Nathan, the two sons of Shemeliah the elder. They used to travel with me to Jerusalem and worship with me there, and they did not go astray. Your kinsmen are good men. You are from a good root. May you come in joy.”
15He said to him, “I will pay you a drachma a day, and your expenses, the same as for my son.
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A drachma is the coin named in the Greek. No modern wage is substituted.
16Travel with my son, and I will add something to your pay.”
17He said to him, “I will go with him. Don’t be afraid. We will leave in good health, and we will come back to you in good health, because the road is safe.” Tobit said, “Blessing on you, brother.” He called his son and said, “Child, get ready for the road and go out with your brother. May the God in heaven keep you safe there and bring you back to me in good health, and may his angel travel with you and bring you through safely, child.” Tobias went out to start the journey. He kissed his father and his mother. Tobit said to him, “Go, and stay well.”
18His mother wept and said to Tobit, “Why have you sent my child away? Isn’t he the staff in our hand? He is the one who goes in and out before us.
19Don’t let money be added to money. Let it be rubbish, compared with our child.
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An Aramaic copy, 4Q197, preserves a broken line of this protest. A published reading of it is that the child should not cling to money. This draft did not re-read that fragment on a photograph, so the Aramaic wording is not swapped in. The Greek sentence is printed, and the Aramaic agreement is noted only in substance. If that reading of 4Q197 is wrong, the Greek still stands.
20What the Lord has given us to live on is enough for us.”
21Tobit said to her, “Don’t make a case of it. Our child will go in good health and come back to us in good health, and your eyes will see him on the day he comes back to you well.
22Don’t make a case of it. Don’t be afraid for them, sister. A good angel will go with him. His road will go well, and he will return in good health.”
23She grew quiet, still weeping.