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Ginza Rabba

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For other books with similar titles, see Books of Adam.

Ginza Rba (in Mandaic, which translates into The Great Treasure) or Siddra Rba (The Great Book) is one of many holy scriptures of the Mandaean religion. It is also referred to as The Book of Adam.

Ginza Rba consists of 18 books in 62 chapters containing about 700 pages. The book, still mainly hand written, with upright text on each right-hand page for the living and text when turned upside-down is the left for the dead. The right section of the Ginza Rba contains sections dealing with theology, creation, ethics, historical, and mythical narratives. The left section of Ginza Rba deals with man's soul in the after life.

The best sources for scholars today are still the German translations; for example "Der Ginza oder das grosse Buch der Mandaer" published by Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen, 1925. There are no full English translations of the Ginza Rba available; although you find bits and pieces on the Internet and scattered through various research books on the Mandaeans.

  • Ginza Rba and other Mandaean materials at the Gnostic Society Library. On this web site the book referred to as the Ginza Rba is in reality "The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans" or the "Qoulasta".
  • Mandaean Literature An ever changing web site that continues to add Mandaean books as available.
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