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Author: Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.
Title: Mysterium magnum, or An exposition of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Concerning the manifestation or revelation of the divine word through the three principles of the divine essence; also of the originall of the world and the creation. Wherein the kingdome of nature, & the kingdome of grace are expounded. For the better understanding of the Old and New Testament, and what Adam and Christ are. Also, how man should consider and may know himselfe in the light of nature, where he is, and where his temporall and eternall life, consist; also, where his eternall blessednesse, and damnation, consist. And is an exposition of the essence of all essences for the further consideration of the lovers, in the divine gift. Comprised in three parts: written anno 1623. By Jacob Behm. To which is added, The life of the author. And his Foure tables of divine revelation.
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Print source: Mysterium magnum, or An exposition of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Concerning the manifestation or revelation of the divine word through the three principles of the divine essence; also of the originall of the world and the creation. Wherein the kingdome of nature, & the kingdome of grace are expounded. For the better understanding of the Old and New Testament, and what Adam and Christ are. Also, how man should consider and may know himselfe in the light of nature, where he is, and where his temporall and eternall life, consist; also, where his eternall blessednesse, and damnation, consist. And is an exposition of the essence of all essences for the further consideration of the lovers, in the divine gift. Comprised in three parts: written anno 1623. By Jacob Behm. To which is added, The life of the author. And his Foure tables of divine revelation.
Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624., Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624., Ellistone, John, d. 1652., Sparrow, John, 1615-1665?, H. B. (Henry Blunden)
London: printed and are to be sould by Lodowick Lloyd, next to the Castle in Cornhill, 1656.
Alternate titles: Mysterium magnum. English.
Subject terms:
Bible. -- O.T. -- Genesis -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A28529.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
THE PREFACE Of the Author JACOB BEME, To his COMMENTARY upon GENESIS, Called the MYSTERIVM MAGNVM.
DE Mysterio Magno. OF THE GRAND MYSTERIE. THAT IS, Of the Manifestation of the Divine Word, through the Three Principles of the Divine Essence.
The first Chapter. What God Manifested is: and of the Trinity.
CHAP. II. Of the Word, or Heart of God.
CHAP. III. How out of the Eternall Good, an Evill is come to be; which in the Good had no beginning to the Evill: and of the Ori∣ginall of the Dark World, or Hell, wherein the Devills dwell.
The Center of the Eternall Nature; how the will of the Abysse bringeth it selfe into Nature, and Forme.
CHAP. IV. Of the Two Principles: viz. Gods Love, and Anger: of Darknesse, and Light, very necessary for the Reader to con∣sider of.
The Exposition of the fore-going Charecters.
CHAP. V. Of the five Senses.
Love-fire Venus.
The Originall of Life . Jupiter.
CHAP. VI. Of the Essence of Corporallity.
The Seventh Forme of Nature. Luna and ♄ Saturnus. Beginning—End.
I. Forme; Astringent; Desire.
II. Forme, bitter; Compunctive.
III. Forme; Anguish, Perceivance.
IV. Fire, Spirit; Reason; Desire.
V. Forme; Light, Love.
VI. Forme, Sound, Voice, Word.
VII. Forme; Essence, Beeing, Mansion.
CHAP. VII. Of the Holy Trinity, and divine Essence.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Creation of Angells, and their Dominion.
CHAP. IX. Of the Fall of Lucifer with his Legions.
CHAP. X. Of the Creation of Heaven and the Outward World.
I. Saturnus: Sal.
II. Mercurius.
III. Sulphur.
IV. Sal-niter.
V. Oyle.
VI. The living Mercury; Sound.
[VII. Essence, Body.]
CHAP. XI. Of the Mystery of the Creation.
CHAP. XII. Of the six dayes Workes of the Creation.
The first Day.
Of the Second Day.
Of the third day of the Creation.
CHAP. XIII. Of the Creation of the fourth Day.
CHAP. XIV. Of the Creation of the fift Day.
CHAP. XV. Of the Sixt dayes worke of the Creation.
CHAP. XVI. Of the difference of the Heavenly and Earthly Man.
Of the Creation of the Seventh Day.
Seventh Day, Saturnus.
CHAP. XVII. Of Paradise.
CHAP. XVIII. Of the Paradisicall State, shewing how it should have been if Adam had not fallen.
CHAP. XIX. Of the building of the Woman; shewing how Man was ordained to the outward Naturall Life.
CHAP. XX. Of the lamentable and miserable fall and Corruption of Man.
CHAP. XXI. Of the Impression, and Originall of the Beastiall man; and of the beginning and ground of his sicknesse and mortality.
CHAP. XXII. Of the Originall of Actuall Sin, and of the Awakaning of Gods Anger in the humane Property.
CHAP. XXIII. How God re-called Adam and his Eve when they were entred into Sin and vanity, and awakened in the Serpents Ens; and laid upon them the Order of this toilsome laborious world, and ordained the Serpent-bruiser for an Help (or Sa∣viour) to them.
CHAP. XXIV. Of the Cause, and rise of the Curse of the Earth, and the Body of Sicknesse.
CHAP. XXV. How God drove Adam out of Paradise, and laid the Che∣rub before the Garden.
CHAP. XXVI. Of the Propagation of man in this World and of Cain the first borne the murderer of his brother.
CHAP. XXVII. Of Cains, and Abels offering, and of the false and antichri∣stian Church, and also of the true Holy Church.
A Looking-glasse for the World.
Of Cains Offring.
CHAP. XXVIII. Of Cains killing of his brother; viz. of the Proud Haughty Antichristian hypocriticall Church, upon the Earth; and al∣so of the true Christendome hidden under this Antichristian Church.
CHAP. XXIX. Shewes how the Adamicall Tree hath put forth and opened it selfe out of its Stock, and introduced it selfe into boughes branches, twiggs, and fruit, out of which pullulation or manifestation the Invention of All Arts, and Govern∣ments is Arisen.
The Deep Gates out of the Centre of the Eternall and also the Temporall Nature, shewing how the Eternall Wisdome hath introduced it selfe into a formall [visible and Ideall] Contemplation.
CHAP. XXX. Of the Line of the Covenant.
CHAP. XXXI. Of Enoch's Wonderfull Line.
CHAP. XXXII. Of the Covenant between God and Noah.
CHAP. XXXIII. Of the beginning of the Second Monarchy, and of the Covenant of God with Noah, and all creatures.
CHAP. XXXIV. How Noah cursed his Son Ham, and of the mysticall Prophe∣cie concerning his Three Sons and their posterity.
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CHAPTER XXXV. Shewes how the Humane Tree hath spread forth it selfe in its properties by the children of Noah; and how they were divided and Severed at the Towre of Babel in their pro∣perties, by the confusion of the Tongues into distinct Na∣tions.
CHAP. XXXVI. Of the Antichristian babilonicall VVhore of all Nations Tongues and Speeches; shewing what is contained under the Lan∣guages and Towre of Babel.
An open Gate of the Mystery of the Great Babilon.
CHAP. XXXVII. Of Abraham, and his seed, and of the Line of the Covenant in its Propagation; and also of the Heathenish Gods.
CHAP. XXXVIII. A cleare manifestation of the beginning of the heathenish war: how Abraham delivered Lot his brothers Son; and of the Royall Priest Melchisedeck of Salem, to whom Abra∣ham gave Tithes.
CHAP. XXXIX. How God appeared to Abraham in a vision; and established the Covenant with him in his Seed, and how Abrahams faith laid hold of the Covenant, which God accounted unto him for Righteousnesse, and how God commanded him to offer Sacrifice, and what is thereby to be understood.
CHAP. XL.. Of the Hystory, and exceeding wonderfull Typification of Gods Spirit concerning Hagar Sarahs Maid, and her Son Ismael, and his rejection from the Heir-ship and Inheritance of Isaack.
CHAP. XLI. Of the Seal of the Covenant of Circumcision, and of Baptisme.
CHAP. XLII. Of the Three men which Appeared to Abraham in the Plain of Mamre, who went towards Sodom, and set the Cities of the Children of Ham on fire from the Lord.
CHAP. XLIII. Of the Ruin, and Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, how the same was foretold of God unto Abraham.
CHAP. XLIV. How Lot departed out of Sodom, and of the Terrible overthrow of this whole Region in Hams Generation; of the circum∣stances thereof, and how it was effected.
The inward Figure stands thus.
The inward Figure stands thus.
The most inward figure of Lots wife being turned to a pillar of Salt is this.
CHAP. XLV. How God lead Abraham very wonderfully, and how he al∣wayes stood by him in Temptation, and defended him; what wee are to understand hereby.
CHAP. XLVI. Of Isaac's birth, and the casting-out of Ishmael, with his Mother Hagar. What thereby is signified.
The inward figure of this stands thus.
The inward figure of this is thus.
The inward exceeding pretious and worthy figure of this stands thus.
The inward pretious figure of this is thus.
CHAP. XLVII. Of the Covenant of Abimilech and Abraham, shewing what the same is, in the spirituall figure; and what the Spirit in Moses under his vail, doth here point at.
The outward figure in the Text of Moses stands thus.
The inward holy figure stands thus.
CHAP. XLVIII. How God Tryed Abraham, and sett forth the figure of Christs Offring in his Suffering and Death.
This figure stands thus.
The figure of it internally stands thus.
The inward figure stands thus.
The pretious figure is thus.
CHAP. XLIX. Of the death of Sarah, and the hereditary Sepulchre of Abra∣ham: What is understood, and signified thereby.
CHAP. L. Of Abrahams sending forth his Servant to take a wife for his Son Isaac: what we are to understand under this figure.
The inward figure is thus.
The outward figure is thus explained.
The inward figure stands thus.
The inward figure is this.
CHAP. LI. How Abraham took another wife of whom he begat six Sons, to which he gave gifts; and unto his Son Isaac he gave all his goods; but the other he sent away from his Son Isaac while he yet lived; and also how he dyed, and was buried by his Sons Ismael and Isaac: what hereby is signified unto us.
This is thus to be understood in the inward figure.
The inward figure is this.
CHAP. LII. Of the history of Isaac, and also of the Birth of Esau and Jacob, and what hath been acted concerning them; the meaning thereof is hinted to us in this Chapter.
The inward figure.
The inward figure stands thus.
The inward figure stands thus.
CHAP. LIII. How Esau contemned his birth-right, and sold it for a Mess of Lentil-Pottage; what we are to understand by this figure.
The figure of Moses stands thus.
The inward divine figure is thus.
CHAP. LIV. How Isaac by reason of the famine went downe to Abimilech King of the Philistines at Gerar, and how the Lord appeared there to him, and commanded him to stay there, and renew∣ed there the Covenant of his father with him: of the meaning of this in its spirituall figure.
The inward spirituall figure is this.
The spirituall figure is thus.
CHAP. LV. Shewing what we are to understand by Isaacs blessing Jacob unknowingly when he was old, and ready to dye.
The inward spirituall figure stands thus.
CHAP. LVI. How Isaac and Rebecca sent away Jacob because of Esau in∣to another Countrey; and how the Lord appeared to him in a Vision upon the Ladder, which reached even in∣to heaven; and how Esau carried himselfe afterwards towards his Parents.
CHAP. LVII. How Jacob came to Laban, and kept his sheepe for him fourteene yeares for his two Daughters; what the Spirituall Figure of Christs Bride conteined under it, signifieth, how God sets Jacob in Christs figure, and so sporteth with the Type of Christ.
CHAP. LVIII. How Jacob served his Father in Law Twenty yeares, and be∣gat Twelve Sonnes and One Daughter, and how God blessed him, that he gat great Riches, and how Laban often changed his wages, and yet could not hurt him, what is to be understood thereby.
The Inward Spirituall Figure standeth thus.
The Figure is fundamentally thus.
The inward Spirituall figure is thus.
CHAP. LIX. How Jacob departed from Laban, what this Figure sig∣nifieth, and what is to be understood thereby.
CHAP. LX. How Esaw went to Meete Jacob with foure hundred Men, Soul∣diers, what this signifieth, And how Jacob sent a Present to his Brother Esaw, and how a Man wrestled with him the whole Night. What all this meaneth. Gen. 32.
The Figure of Christ standeth thus.
The inward holy Figure standeth thus.
CHAP. LXI. The Excellent and Wonderfull Figure, Shewing, how Jacob and Esaw mett, and how all heart-burning and Evill-will, was changed into great Joy, Kindnesse, and Com∣passion. What is to be understood thereby.
The inward precious figure standeth thus.
The inward Figure stands thus.
And the figure is thus.
CHAP. LXII. Of Dinah Jacobs Daughter, which he begat of Lea, how she was deflowred by Hemor's Son, and how Jacobs Son's slew Si∣chem for it, and all the males that were in that City; and tooke Dinah again, and what is to be understood by this figure.
The Gates of Christians warre, for the Babylonish Whore∣dome; now highly to be Considered.
That is thus much in the figure.
CHAP. LXIII. How God called Jacob to depart from Sichem, and what hapned upon it; and how afterwards Rachell bare Benjamin, and dyed in the Birth; also how Isaak dyed, and what is to be understood thereby.
The inward Figure standeth thus.
The figure of Christendom stands thus.
CHAP. LXIV. Of Esaw's Genealogie: and of the very excellent, and empha∣ticall Figure, which is signified by Joseph the Son of Jacob. And what is thereby to be understood.
Note.
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chapter 37
The inward Figure is this.
The Spirituall Christian figure, is thus [to be understood.]
CHAP. LXV. Of Juda and Thamar, being a Mysticall Figure of Adam and Christ, in which the New Birth is excellently prefigured.
This Figure stands thus.
The inward Figure standeth thus:
The Inward figure stands thus.
CHAP. LXVI. The Most Excellent History of Joseph: how he was sold to Potiphar; what befell Joseph, and of Josephs Chastity, and feare of God.
The Holy Figure standeth thus:
CHAP. LXVII. How Joseph in Prison Expounded King Pharaohs Chiefe Butlers and Bakers Dreame to each of them; and what is to be understood thereby.
CHAP. LXVIII. Of the Dreames of King Pharaoh; how Joseph is fetch out of Prison, and presented before the King, and Cometh to Great Honour.
CHAP. LXIX. How this Famine went through all Lands, and how Jacob sent his sonnes into the Land of Aegypt for Corne, and how they came before Joseph, and how he shewed himselfe to them. What is thereby to be understood.
The Historie sayth thus.
The inward precious Figure standeth thus.
The Figure standeth thus.
CHAP. LXX. How Jacobs Sonnes went into Aegypt againe because of the Famine, to Joseph to buy Corne, and take Benjamin with them; How Joseph caused them to be brought into his House, and to Eate at his Table. What is thereby to be understood.
This figure standeth thus.
CHAP. LXXI. How Joseph caused his Brethrens Sacks to be filled, and the Money to be layd uppermost in their Sacks, as also his Cup in Benjamins Sack, and Caused them to be pur∣sued and charged with Theft: What is thereby to be understood.
The Figure standeth thus.
The inward Figure standeth thus.
CHAP. LXXII. How Joseph Manifested himselfe before his Brethren. And what is to be understood thereby.
The inward Figure standeth thus.
The holy Figure standeth thus.
The Figure standeth thus.
The Figure standeth thus.
This figure standeth thus.
CHAP. LXXIII. How Jacob and all his Children, and all that were belong∣ing to him, and all their Cattle went into Egypt.
The inward Figure standeth thus.
This Figure standeth thus.
The inward Figure standeth thus.
CHAP. LXXIV. How Jacob was set before Pharaoh with the five youngest bro∣thers of Joseph, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh, also how Joseph bought all the Land of Egypt for Pharaohs owne: What is heereby to be understood.
The inward Figure standeth thus.
The figure standeth thus.
This Figure standeth thus.
The Figure standeth thus.
CHAP. LXXV. How Jacob before his End, blessed the two sonnes of Jo∣seph, and preferred the Youngest before the Eldest. And what is thereby to be understood.
This Figure standeth thus.
The Figure standeth thus.
This figure standeth thus.
CHAP. LXXVI. How Jacob called all his Sonnes before his End, and signified and prophesied to them, how their Generations would rise up, and what each of their State and Condition would be, whereby he Expressed the Roote of Abrahams Tree, together with its Branches and fruit; What the State and Office of each of them would be, and how they would behave themselves, and how Christ would be borne of the Stock of Judah: also how long their Kingdome would continue under the Law.
I. The Testament of Reuben.
In the Figure it standeth thus.
This Figure standeth thus.
II. & III. The Testament of Simeon and Levi.
IV. The Testament of Judah.
CHAP. LXXVII. A Further Exposition of Jacobs Testament, Concerning the other Eight Sonnes, how both the Jewish Government or Kingdome on Earth, and also Christendome is Typified under it, shewing how it would goe with them.
V. The Testament of Zebulun.
VI. The Testament of Issachar.
VII. The Testament of Dan.
In the Figure it standeth thus.
VIII. The Testament of Gad.
IX. The Testament of Asher.
X. The Testament of Naphtali.
XI. The Testament of Joseph.
XII. The Testament of Benjamin.
CHAP. LXXVIII. Of the Holy Patriarch Jacobs Buriall in the Land of Canaan. What is thereby to be understood.
A Brief Abstract of the Sub∣lime Consideration and deep understand∣ing of the Mysterium Magnum.
A Table of the Chiefe Matters to be found in this Booke of the Mysterium Magnum.
title page
TO THE READER With an Account of the following Tractate.
table 1
A Brief Explication of the first Table, of GOD revealed; how out of himself he continually begetteth, and breatheth forth himself: And how this Table is to be understood.
table 2
The Second Table Expounded.
TETRAGRAMMATON.
table 3
An Explanation of the third Table, MACROCOSMUS.
table 4
An Explanation of the fourth Table. MICROCOSMUS.