# Epistle of Barnabas 12.1

- Author: Anonymous
- Work: [Epistle of Barnabas](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/) (*Epistula Barnabae*)
- Date: ca. 70–135 (often ca. 130) (disputed)
- Source: Lake, LCL 24:382; Kirsopp Lake, ed. and trans., The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 1, LCL 24 (London: Heinemann; New York: Macmillan, 1912), 340–407 (Greek text: K. Lake, The Apostolic Fathers (LCL, 1912), digitized by the Perseus Digital Library and published by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Translation: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), 2026-09-26
- Canonical URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/12/1/

Summary: A prophecy of the cross: blood dripping from a tree.

## Greek text

Ὁμοίως πάλιν περὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ ὁρίζει ἐν ἄλλῳ προφήτῃ λέγοντι· Καὶ πότε ταῦτα συντελεσθήσεται; λέγει κύριος· ὅταν ξύλον κλιθῇ καὶ ἀναστῇ, καὶ ὅταν ἐκ ξύλου αἷμα στάξῃ. ἔχεις πάλιν περὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ καὶ τοῦ σταυροῦσθαι μέλλοντος.

## English translation (Claude)

Likewise again he defines the cross in another prophet, who says, “And when will these things be accomplished? The Lord says: When a tree is bent down and rises up, and when blood drips from a tree.” Again you have a word about the cross and about the one who was to be crucified.

## Extrabiblical texts

- 2 Esd 5:5 (2 Esdras): allusion, medium confidence

## Translation notes

- The quotation is not in the Old Testament; the second part resembles 4 Ezra 5:5 (2 Esdras 5:5).

## Citation (SBL)

Barn. 12.1 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/barnabas/12/1/).