Stromata Editions · The Shepherd of Hermas
Vision IV
Vis. 4.1.1–4.3.7
Complete audiobook →Chapter 1
Greek source
ἣν εἶδον, ἀδελφοί, μετὰ ἡμέρας εἴκοσι τῆς προτέρας ὁράσεως τῆς γενομένης, εἰς τύπον τῆς θλίψεως τῆς ἐπερχομένης.
Translation
Brothers and sisters, I saw this vision twenty days after the previous one. It was an image of the distress that is coming.
Greek source
ὑπῆγον εἰς ἀγρὸν τῇ ὁδῷ τῇ Καμπανῇ. ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς δημοσίας ἐστὶν ὡσεὶ στάδια δέκα· ῥαδίως δὲ ὁδεύεται ὁ τόπος.
Translation
I was going to the field along the Campanian road. It is about ten stadia from the public road, and the route is easy to walk.
Greek source
μόνος οὖν περιπατῶν ἀξιῶ τὸν κύριον ἵνα τὰς ἀποκαλύψεις καὶ τὰ ὁράματα ἅ μοι ἔδειξεν διὰ τῆς ἁγίας Ἐκκλησίας αὐτοῦ τελειώσῃ, ἵνα με ἰσχυροποιήσῃ καὶ δῷ τὴν μετάνοιαν τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἐσκανδαλισμένοις, ἵνα δοξασθῇ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ τὸ μέγα καὶ ἔνδοξον, ὅτι με ἄξιον ἡγήσατο τοῦ δεῖξαί μοι τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ.
Translation
As I walked alone, I asked the Lord to bring to completion the revelations and visions he had shown me through his holy Assembly, to strengthen me and grant repentance to his servants who had stumbled. In this way his great and glorious name might be glorified, because he had considered me worthy of seeing his wonders.
Greek source
καὶ δοξάζοντός μου καὶ εὐχαριστοῦντος αὐτῷ, ὡς ἦχος φωνῆς μοι ἀπεκρίθη· Μὴ διψυχήσεις, Ἑρμᾶ. ἐν ἐμαυτῷ ἠρξάμην διαλογίζεσθαι καὶ λέγειν· Ἐγὼ τί ἔχω διψυχῆσαι οὕτω τεθεμελιωμένος ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἰδὼν ἔνδοξα πράγματα;
Translation
As I praised and thanked him, something like the sound of a voice answered me: “Do not waver, Hermas.” I began to think and say to myself, “What reason have I to waver, when the Lord has established me so firmly and I have seen glorious things?”
Greek source
καὶ προσέβην μικρόν, ἀδελφοί, καὶ ἰδοὺ βλέπω κονιορτὸν ὡς εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, καὶ ἠρξάμην λέγειν ἐν ἐμαυτῷ· Μήποτε κτήνη ἔρχονται καὶ κονιορτὸν ἐγείρουσιν; οὕτω δὲ ἦν ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ὡς ἀπὸ σταδίου.
Translation
I went a little farther, brothers and sisters, and suddenly saw a cloud of dust rising as high as heaven. I began to say to myself, “Could cattle be approaching and raising the dust?” It was about a stadion away from me.
Greek source
γινομένου μείζονος καὶ μείζονος κονιορτοῦ ὑπενόησα εἶναί τι θεῖον· μικρὸν ἐξέλαμψεν ὁ ἥλιος, καὶ ἰδοὺ βλέπω θηρίον μέγιστον ὡσεὶ κῆτός τι, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ἀκρίδες πύριναι ἐξεπορεύοντο. ἦν δὲ τὸ θηρίον τῷ μήκει ὡσεὶ ποδῶν ρʹ, τὴν δὲ κεφαλὴν εἶχεν ὡσεὶ κεράμου.
Translation
As the dust grew larger and larger, I suspected that something divine was happening. The sun shone out a little, and suddenly I saw an enormous beast, like some sea monster. Fiery locusts came out of its mouth. The beast was about a hundred feet long, and its head was like an earthenware jar.
Greek source
καὶ ἠρξάμην κλαίειν καὶ ἐρωτᾶν τὸν κύριον ἵνα με λυτρώσηται ἐξ αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐπανεμνήσθην τοῦ ῥήματος οὗ ἀκηκόειν· Μὴ διψυχήσεις, Ἑρμᾶ.
Translation
I began to weep and ask the Lord to rescue me from it. Then I remembered the words I had heard: “Do not waver, Hermas.”
Greek source
ἐνδυσάμενος οὖν, ἀδελφοί, τὴν πίστιν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ μνησθεὶς ὧν ἐδίδαξέν με μεγαλείων, θαρσήσας εἰς τὸ θηρίον ἐμαυτὸν ἔδωκα. οὕτω δὲ ἤρχετο τὸ θηρίον ῥοίζῳ, ὥστε δύνασθαι αὐτὸ πόλιν λυμᾶναι.
Translation
So, brothers and sisters, I put on faith in the Lord and remembered the great things he had taught me. Taking courage, I gave myself up to face the beast. It was rushing forward with such a roar that it could have devastated a city.
Greek source
ἔρχομαι ἐγγὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ τηλικοῦτο κῆτος ἐκτείνει ἑαυτὸ χαμαὶ καὶ οὐδὲν εἰ μὴ τὴν γλῶσσαν προέβαλλεν, καὶ ὅλως οὐκ ἐκινήθη μέχρις ὅτε παρῆλθον αὐτό·
Translation
I came close to it, and the huge monster stretched itself out on the ground. It did nothing except stick out its tongue and did not move at all until I had passed it.
Greek source
εἶχεν δὲ τὸ θηρίον ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς χρώματα τέσσερα· μέλαν, εἶτα πυροειδὲς καὶ αἱματῶδες, εἶτα χρυσοῦν, εἶτα λευκόν.
Translation
The beast had four colours on its head: black; then fiery red and blood-red; then gold; then white.
Chapter 2
Greek source
Μετὰ δὲ τὸ παρελθεῖν με τὸ θηρίον καὶ προελθεῖν ὡσεὶ πόδας λʹ, ἰδοὺ ὑπαντᾷ μοι παρθένος κεκοσμημένη ὡς ἐκ νυμφῶνος ἐκπορευομένη, ὅλη ἐν λευκοῖς καὶ ὑποδήμασιν λευκοῖς, κατακεκαλυμμένη ἕως τοῦ μετώπου, ἐν μίτρᾳ δὲ ἦν ἡ κατακάλυψις αὐτῆς· εἶχεν δὲ τὰς τρίχας αὐτῆς λευκάς.
Translation
After I had passed the beast and gone forward about thirty feet, a maiden came to meet me, adorned as though coming out of a bridal chamber. She was dressed entirely in white, with white shoes and a veil reaching to her forehead. Her covering was a headband, and her hair was white.
Greek source
ἔγνων ἐγὼ ἐκ τῶν προτέρων ὁραμάτων ὅτι ἡ Ἐκκλησία ἐστίν, καὶ ἱλαρώτερος ἐγενόμην. ἀσπάζεταί με λέγουσα· Χαῖρε σύ, ἄνθρωπε· καὶ ἐγὼ αὐτὴν ἀντησπασάμην·
Translation
From the earlier visions I recognized that she was the Assembly, and I became more cheerful. She greeted me, saying, “Greetings to you, man.” I returned her greeting:
Greek source
Κυρία, χαῖρε· ἀποκριθεῖσά μοι λέγει· Οὐδέν σοι ἀπήντησεν; λέγω αὐτῇ· Κυρία, τηλικοῦτο θηρίον, δυνάμενον λαοὺς διαφθεῖραι· ἀλλὰ τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ κυρίου καὶ τῇ πολυσπλαγχνίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐξέφυγον αὐτό.
Translation
“Greetings, lady.” She answered, “Did nothing meet you?” I said, “Lady, an enormous beast, large enough to destroy whole peoples. But I escaped it through the Lord's power and his great compassion.”
Greek source
Καλῶς ἐξέφυγες, φησίν, ὅτι τὴν μέριμνάν σου ἐπὶ τὸν θεὸν ἐπέριψας καὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου ἤνοιξας πρὸς τὸν κύριον, πιστεύσας ὅτι δι’ οὐδενὸς δύνῃ σωθῆναι εἰ μὴ διὰ τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ ἐνδόξου ὀνόματος. διὰ τοῦτο ὁ κύριος ἀπέστειλεν τὸν ἄγγελον αὐτοῦ τὸν ἐπὶ τῶν θηρίων ὄντα, οὗ τὸ ὄνομά ἐστιν Θεγρί, καὶ ἐνέφραξεν τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μή σε λυμάνῃ. μεγάλην θλῖψιν ἐκπέφευγας διὰ τὴν πίστιν σου, καὶ ὅτι τηλικοῦτο θηρίον ἰδὼν οὐκ ἐδιψύχησας·
Translation
“You escaped safely,” she said, “because you cast your care upon God and opened your heart to the Lord, believing that you could be saved through nothing except the great and glorious name. That is why the Lord sent his angel who is in charge of the beasts, whose name is Thegri, and shut its mouth so that it would not harm you. You have escaped great distress through your faith, and because you did not waver at the sight of so great a beast.
Greek source
ὕπαγε οὖν καὶ ἐξήγησαι τοῖς ἐκλεκτοῖς τοῦ κυρίου τὰ μεγαλεῖα αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς ὅτι τὸ θηρίον τοῦτο τύπος ἐστὶν θλίψεως τῆς μελλούσης τῆς μεγάλης· ἐὰν οὖν προετοιμάσησθε καὶ μετανοήσητε ἐξ ὅλης καρδίας ὑμῶν πρὸς τὸν κύριον, δυνήσεσθε ἐκφυγεῖν αὐτήν, ἐὰν ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν γένηται καθαρὰ καὶ ἄμωμος, καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς τῆς ζωῆς ἡμέρας ὑμῶν δουλεύσητε τῷ κυρίῳ ἀμέμπτως. ἐπιρίψατε τὰς μερίμνας ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον, καὶ αὐτὸς κατορθώσει αὐτάς.
Translation
“Go, then, and explain the Lord's great deeds to his chosen ones. Tell them that this beast is an image of the great distress to come. If you prepare yourselves and repent toward the Lord with all your heart, you will be able to escape it—if your heart becomes pure and without blemish, and you serve the Lord blamelessly for the remaining days of your life. Cast your cares upon the Lord, and he will set them right.
Greek source
πιστεύσατε τῷ κυρίῳ, οἱ δίψυχοι, ὅτι πάντα δύναται καὶ ἀποστρέφει τὴν ὀργὴν αὐτοῦ ἀφ’ ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξαποστέλλει μάστιγας ὑμῖν τοῖς διψύχοις. οὐαὶ τοῖς ἀκούσασιν τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα καὶ παρακούσασιν· αἱρετώτερον ἦν αὐτοῖς τὸ μὴ γεννηθῆναι.
Translation
“Trust the Lord, you who waver: he can do all things. He turns his anger away from you and sends scourges upon you who waver. Woe to those who hear these words and disobey them. It would have been better for them not to have been born.”
Chapter 3
Greek source
Ἠρώτησα αὐτὴν περὶ τῶν τεσσάρων χρωμάτων ὧν εἶχεν τὸ θηρίον εἰς τὴν κεφαλήν. ἡ δὲ ἀποκριθεῖσά μοι λέγει· Πάλιν περίεργος εἶ περὶ τοιούτων πραγμάτων.
Translation
I asked her about the four colours the beast had on its head. She answered, “You are being inquisitive about such things again.”
Greek source
Ναί, φημί, κυρία· γνώρισόν μοι τί ἐστιν ταῦτα. Ἄκουε, φησίν·
Translation
“Yes, lady,” I said. “Make their meaning known to me.” “Listen,” she said.
Greek source
τὸ μὲν μέλαν οὗτος ὁ κόσμος ἐστίν, ἐν ᾧ κατοικεῖτε· τὸ δὲ πυροειδὲς καὶ αἱματῶδες, ὅτι δεῖ τὸν κόσμον τοῦτον δι’ αἵματος καὶ πυρὸς ἀπόλλυσθαι·
Translation
“The black is this world in which you live. The fiery red and blood-red mean that this world must perish through blood and fire.
Greek source
τὸ δὲ χρυσοῦν μέρος ὑμεῖς ἐστε οἱ ἐκφυγόντες τὸν κόσμον τοῦτον. ὥσπερ γὰρ τὸ χρυσίον δοκιμάζεται διὰ τοῦ πυρὸς καὶ εὔχρηστον γίνεται, οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς δοκιμάζεσθε οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν αὐτοῖς. οἱ οὖν μείναντες καὶ πυρωθέντες ὑπ’ αὐτῶν καθαρισθήσεσθε. ὥσπερ τὸ χρυσίον ἀποβάλλει τὴν σκωρίαν αὐτοῦ, οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀποβαλεῖτε πᾶσαν λύπην καὶ στενοχωρίαν, καὶ καθαρισθήσεσθε καὶ χρήσιμοι ἔσεσθε εἰς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ πύργου.
Translation
“The golden part is you who have escaped this world. Just as gold is tested by fire and becomes useful, so you too are tested, you who live amid these things. You who endure and are refined by them will be cleansed. Just as gold sheds its dross, so you will shed all grief and affliction, and you will be cleansed and become useful for the building of the tower.
Greek source
τὸ δὲ λευκὸν μέρος ὁ αἰὼν ὁ ἐπερχόμενός ἐστιν, ἐν ᾧ κατοικήσουσιν οἱ ἐκλεκτοὶ τοῦ θεοῦ· ὅτι ἄσπιλοι καὶ καθαροὶ ἔσονται οἱ ἐκλελεγμένοι ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
Translation
“The white part is the age that is coming, in which God's chosen ones will live. For those chosen by God for eternal life will be spotless and pure.
Greek source
σὺ οὖν μὴ διαλίπῃς λαλῶν εἰς τὰ ὦτα τῶν ἁγίων. ἔχετε καὶ τὸν τύπον τῆς θλίψεως τῆς ἐρχομένης μεγάλης. ἐὰν δὲ ὑμεῖς θελήσητε, οὐδὲν ἔσται. μνημονεύετε τὰ προγεγραμμένα.
Translation
“So do not cease speaking into the ears of the holy ones. You now have the image of the great distress that is coming. But if you are willing, it will come to nothing. Remember what was written before.”
Greek source
ταῦτα εἴπασα ἀπῆλθεν καὶ οὐκ εἶδον ποίῳ τόπῳ ἀπῆλθεν· νέφος γὰρ ἐγένετο· κἀγὼ ἐπεστράφην εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω φοβηθείς, δοκῶν ὅτι τὸ θηρίον ἔρχεται.
Translation
After saying this, she went away. I did not see where she went, because a cloud appeared. I turned back in fear, thinking that the beast was coming.
Reader’s notes
1. 4.1.2, 5–6; 4.2.1
Stadia and feet are the source's measures. No modern precision is imposed. The beast is compared to a sea monster, not identified as a zoological species. Its earthenware-like head is an unusual image; the precise shape meant by
κέραμοςremains open.2. 4.1.10
Fiery red and blood-red describe one of the four colour groups, not two extra colours.
3. 4.2.1
The maiden's white clothing, white shoes, white hair, and head covering are retained. The exact relation of the veil and
μίτρα(“headband”) remains open; “bridal chamber” does not make the account a historical description of a wedding.4. 4.2.4
Thegri is the name given for the angel in charge of beasts. The sentence retains the Lord as the grammatical subject of sending the angel and shutting the beast's mouth; the effect is not attributed to Hermas.
5. 4.2.6
Turning away anger and sending scourges are both stated in the Greek. Neither clause is suppressed to make the passage more reassuring.
6. 4.3.4
“Amid these things” retains the plural reference of
ἐν αὐτοῖς, probably to the fiery and bloody trials just described. The precise antecedent remains open.7. 4.3.6
“If you are willing, it will come to nothing” preserves the strong conditional statement. It has not been reduced to a general statement about coping with hardship.
About this edition
English translation v02. Greek source v01: Molly Whittaker, second revised edition, 1967; Patristic Text Archive (2018), Annette von Stockhausen — conversion to CTS-compliant PTA TEI and markup of places and persons. Technical derivative: Stromata Editions, 2026-09-29. Fixed version ef861ab3.
Dotted underlining marks editorial supplied spans in the selected source and the corresponding translation, including partial spans. The sign alone does not establish the intervention’s nature or necessarily indicate a conjecture. Original square brackets are preserved.
Latin ending: the ancient Vulgata edited by Adolphus Hilgenfeld, Hermae Pastor (Leipzig, 1873), pp. 155–164; project source HER-ENDING-SOURCE-v01. Hilgenfeld took the insertion in Sim. 10.2.4 from the Palatina and added habet himself. The Greek digital source’s license does not automatically cover the Latin edition or the translations.
The translation is a reviewed working version following an AI editorial pass; human philological review is not claimed.
The reproduced Greek source and its technical derivative: CC BY-SA 4.0. Whitespace adapted for reading; words and diacritics preserved. Attribution does not imply endorsement of Stromata by PTA contributors.
Vulgata · Hilgenfeld 1873 · StromataPTA · ef861ab3CC BY-SA 4.0
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