My brother is like a gazelle on the mountains of Bethel
My brother is like a gazelle and like a young stag on the mountains of Bethel. These two animals are named rather often in the Scriptures, and the more they are to be wondered at, the more they signify the Lord. The gazelle sees most sharply; the young stag crosses the mountains with a swift leap. Christ both sees hidden things sharply and, with a swift leap, came down from heaven to earth and ascended from earth to heaven. The mountains of Bethel — Bethel is interpreted house of God — understand as the prophets and apostles, in whom God dwells.
Latin
Similis est fratruelis meus capreae hinnuloque cervorum in montibus Bethel. Haec duo animalia in scripturis saepius nominantur, et quo magis admiranda sunt, eo magis Dominum significant. Caprea acutissime videt; hinnulus cervorum saltu celeri montes transit. Christus et acute videt occultorum et saltu celeri de caelo in terras descendit et de terris ad caelum ascendit. Montes Bethel — Bethel interpretatur domus Dei — prophetas et apostolos intellege, in quibus habitat Deus.
About this text
Origen’s Homilia II on the Song of Songs (Jerome’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–13.
English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII (GCS 33, 1925), Jerome’s Latin of Homilia II. Lawson ACW 26 was not used as wording. This page is Homilia II §§1–13 (closeout).
Witnesses
- Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VIII = GCS 33 (1925) (Latin · Homilia II §§1–13)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.