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The Song of the Hoe
Wheel of Heaven Translation
The Sumerian hymn to the hoe: Enlil sunders heaven from earth, sets the pickaxe to the soil at Uzu-e-a, and humankind breaks through the ground to bear the gods' labor
An English translation of the Sumerian composition 'The Song of the Hoe' (ETCSL 5.5.4), produced from the ETCSL composite transliteration. The hymn opens with Enlil, lord who brings forth what is fitting, resolving to make the seed of the Land sprout from the ground: he sunders heaven from earth and earth from heaven, sets the bond of heaven and earth at Uzu-e-a (the 'flesh-grower'), and fashions the hoe (Sumerian al) to break the hard ground — whereupon the first humans push up through the soil like plants. The remainder is a tour de force of scribal wordplay, threading the syllable /al/ through scores of words as it praises the hoe as the tool that builds cities, temples, canals, and the whole order of civilization. The composition is a Sumerian counterpart to the human-creation accounts of Enki and Ninmah and Atraḫasīs (humans made to relieve the gods of toil) and to Genesis 2:7 (the human formed from the ground, ʾadam from ʾadamah). Per-line commentary documents lexical decisions, ETCSL philological options, the /al/ paronomasia, and cross-corpus links to the Hebrew Bible, the Sumerian creation cluster, and Atraḫasīs. The Wheel of Heaven's translation of the Sumerian humanity-from-the-ground hymn.
The Song of the Hoe — Enlil sunders heaven and earth, fashions the hoe, and humankind sprouts from the soil
1
Not only did the lord cause what is fitting to come forth,
en-e niĝ2-du7-e pa na-an-ga-mi-in-e3
2
the lord whose decreed destinies cannot be overturned —
en nam tar-ra-na šu nu-bal-e-de3
4
hastening to part heaven from earth, he set to it,
an ki-ta ba9-re6-de3 saĝ na-an-ga-ma-an-šum2
5
hastening to part earth from heaven, he set to it.
ki an-ta ba9-re6-de3 saĝ na-an-ga-ma-an-šum2
6
So that flesh might sprout forth at {Uzu-ea (‘Where Flesh Came Forth’)} {alternate manuscript: Uzu-mua (‘Where Flesh Grew’)},
{uzu-e3-a} {() uzu-mu2-a} saĝ mu2-mu2-de3
7
at Dur-an-ki he {fixed} {alternate manuscript: raised up} the cosmic bond.
dur-an-ki-ka bulug {nam-mi-in-la2} {() nam-il2-e} {() nam-il2-la}
8
He set the hoe (al) to work, and daylight broke forth (al-e3).
^ĝišal-e mu-un-ĝar ud al-e3
9
He instituted the work-roster, and decreed (al-tar-re) the daily tasks.
eš2-gar3 mu-un-du3 nam al-tar-re
10
For the hoe (al) and the carrying-basket he set the wages in good order.
^ĝišal-e ^ĝišdusu-e a2 <phr type="VP" lemma="si sa2" label="to make straight"> si ba-ab-sa2-e </phr>
11
Then Enlil sang the praise (za3-mi2) of his hoe (al),
^den-lil2-le ^ĝišal-a-ni za3-mi2 ba-an-dug4
12
his hoe (al) of gold, its head of lapis lazuli,
^ĝišal-a-ni kug-sig17-ga saĝ-bi ^na4za-gin3-na
13
his hoe (al) whose blade was lashed on with cord, of silver and gold,
^ĝišal sa la2-a-ni kug-me kug-sig17-ga
14
his hoe (al), the tip of whose arm was a plough of lapis lazuli,
^ĝišal-a-ni a2 bulug-ba apin ^na4za-gin3-na-kam
15
whose tooth was a battering-ram {standing up to a great wall} {alternate manuscript: born for a great person},
zu2-bi gud-si-AŠ {bad3 gal ed2-de3-dam} {() saĝ gal u3-tud-da}
16
The lord reckoned up the hoe (al) and decreed (mi-ni-ib-tar-re) its destiny;
en-e ^ĝišal mu-un-šid nam mi-ni-ib-tar-re
17
upon its head he set a shining crown of earth.
ki-in-du men kug saĝ-ĝa2 mu-ni-in-ĝal2
18
There, {at Uzu-ea (‘Where Flesh Came Forth’) he set this very hoe (al) to work;} {alternate manuscript: at Uzu-mua (‘Where Flesh Grew’), the unassailable,}
{{uzu-e3-a} {() uzu-mu2-a} ^ĝišal am3-mi-ni-in-du3}
18A
so as to settle a head (the first of mankind) at Uzu-mua,
uzu-mu2-a saĝ nu-ĝa2-ĝa2-de3
19
he placed the first of humankind in the brick-mould.
saĝ nam-lu2-ulu3 u3-šub-ba mi-ni-in-ĝar
20
Before Enlil, his Land began to break up through the soil.
^den-lil2-še3 kalam-ma-ni ki mu-un-ši-in-dar-re
21
He looked with favour upon his black-headed people.
saĝ gig2-ga-ni-še3 igi zid mu-ši-in-bar
22
Now the Anuna gods stepped forward to him,
^da-nun-na mu-un-na-sug2-sug2-ge-eš
23
and laid their hands upon their noses (in obeisance) before him.
šu-bi giri17-ba mu-un-ne-ĝal2
24
With a prayer they soothed Enlil,
^den-lil2 a-ra-zu-a mu-ni-in-ḫuĝ-e-ne
25
for they were demanding (al ... be2-ne) the black-headed people from him.
uĝ3 saĝ gig2-ga <phr type="VP" lemma="al dug4" label="to desire"> al mu-un-da-be2-ne </phr>
26
To give birth to a lady, to give birth to an en-priest, to give birth to a king —
nin en u3-tud-de3 lugal u3-tud-de3
27
Ninmena set going (al-ĝa2-ĝa2) the begetting of mankind.
^dnin-men-na-ke4 tud-tud al-ĝa2-ĝa2
28
The leader of heaven and earth, Lord Nunamnir,
mas-su an ki-a en ^dnu-nam-nir-ra
29
called out the rightful persons, the precious persons,
saĝ zid saĝ kal-la mu-ni-ib-sa4-sa4
30
and those persons he {brought forth} {alternate manuscript: led up} {alternate manuscript: laid out} on a single thread,
saĝ-bi gu dili-a {mu-un-ed2-de3-a} {() mu-un-ne-ed3-de3-a} {() mu-un-ni-ib-du8}
31
and took them up to provide rations for the gods.
diĝir-re-e-ne-ra šukur2-še3 mu-un-dab5-be2
32
Then Enki sang the praise (za3-mi2) of his hoe (al),
^den-ki-ke4 ^ĝišal-a-ni za3-mi2 ba-an-dug4
33
and the maiden Nisaba was set over the keeping of the records.
ki-sikil ^dnisaba eš-bar-ra ba-an-gub
34
So the people took the radiant hoes (al), the holy hoes (al), into their hands.
^ĝišal mul ^ĝišal kug-ba šu mu-un-ne-ĝal2
35
The E-kur, the house of Enlil, was founded with the hoe (al).
e2-kur e2 ^den-lil2-la2 ^ĝišal-e ĝar-ra-am3
36
By day it built it up (al-du3-e); by night it made it grow (al-mu2-mu2).
ud-de3 al-du3-e ĝi6 al-mu2-mu2
37
In well-founded Nibru, in the women’s quarters of the Tummal —
nibru^ki ki ĝar-ra ama5 tum-ma-al^ki-a
38
the Tummal, the {bread-basket} {alternate manuscript: masterwork raised by the craftsman} of Mother Ninlil —
tum-ma-al {^gipisaĝ ninda} {() gašam in-du3} ama ^dnin-lil2-la2-kam
39
from the women’s estate at Tummal, with everything set in order,
e2-mi tum-ma-al^ki-a niĝ2 sa2 dug4-ga-ta
40
the hero Ninurta entered in before Enlil,
ur-saĝ ^dnin-urta ^den-lil2-ra mu-na-da-an-ku4-ku4
41
with a black kid and a first-fruit offering for the lord.
maš2 gig2 nesaĝ en-na-ta
42
Holy Ninisina entered in before Enlil.
kug ^dnin-i3-si-in-na ^den-lil2-ra mu-na-da-an-ku4-ku4
43
Next the Abzu, with the lions before it, where the powers (me) may not be demanded (al ... di-da):
abzu igi piriĝ3-ĝa2 me <phr type="VP" lemma="al dug4" label="to desire"> al nu-di-da </phr>
44
the hoe-wielder (al-tar), the rightful man, Lord Nudimmud —
al-tar lu2 zid-de3 en ^dnu-dim2-mud-e
45
he was building (al-du3-e) the Abzu, Eridug being chosen for the construction-work (al-tar-ra).
abzu al-du3-e eridug^ki al-tar-ra
46
The mother of the gods, Ninhursaga,
ama diĝir-re-e-ne ^dnin-ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2-ke4
47
had the mighty (al-tar) light of the lord dwell with her in Kesh,
ud al-tar en-na keš3^ki-a mu-da-an-til3
48
and Shul-pa-e, none other, stood by her at the construction-work (al-tar).
^dšul-pa-e3-a na-nam ^ĝišal-tar mu-da-an-gub
49
The shrine E-ana was made holy by means of the hoe (al).
eš3 e2-an-na ^ĝišal-e kug-ga-am3
50
For the lady of E-ana, the rightful {wild cow} {alternate manuscript: woman} —
nin e2-an-na { im-ma-al } {() munus} zid-da
51
The hoe (al) deals with ruin-mounds; the hoe (al) deals with the weeds.
^ĝišal du6-du6-dam ^ĝišal ^u2KI.KAL-dam
52
In the city of Zabalam, the hoe (al) is Inana’s workman.
ki zabalam^ki-a ^ĝišal lu2 ^dinana-kam
53
She decreed (mi-ni-ib-tar-re) the destiny of the hoe (al), bringing forth its projecting {beard} {alternate manuscript: tooth} of lapis lazuli.
^ĝišal nam mi-ni-ib-tar-re {sun4} {() zu2} za-gin3 ed2-de3
54
At her construction-work (al-tar), Utu stood by her;
^ĝišal-tar-ra-ni-a ^dutu mu-da-an-gub
55
the celebrated construction-work (al-tar) is that of youthful Utu.
^ĝišal-tar ka tar-ra šul ^dutu-kam
56
The lady of broad understanding, Nisaba,
nin ĝeštug2 daĝal-la ^dnisaba-ke4
57
ordered the survey of E-ana for the construction-work (al-tar),
šudum e2-an-na-ka ^ĝišal-tar ba-an-dug4
58
and laid out, none other, her own E-hamun for the construction-work (al-tar).
e2-ḫa-mun na-nam ^ĝišal-tar mu-da-an-gub
59
The king who reckoned up the hoe (al), who passes his days in its tracks —
lugal ^ĝišal šid-da us2-a ud zal-la
60
the hero Ninurta introduced the construction-work (al-tar) into the rebel land.
ur-saĝ ^dnin-urta ki-bal-a ^ĝišal-tar ba-an-gub
61
He brings to hand (al-ĝa2-ĝa2) any city that will not submit to its lord.
iri en-še3 nu-še-ga šu-še3 al-ĝa2-ĝa2
62
Toward heaven he roars (al-gi4-gi4) like a storm;
an-še3 ud-dam šeg11 al-gi4-gi4
63
toward earth he strikes down (al-ĝa2-ĝa2) like a dragon.
ki-še3 ušumgal-am3 al-ĝa2-ĝa2
64
Shara {sat down} {alternate manuscript: was set} upon Enlil’s knees,
^dšara2 ^den-lil2-la2 dub3-ba {nam-mi-in-tuš} {() nam-mi-in-ĝar}
65
and Enlil granted him whatever he desired (al-dug4-ga-ni):
niĝ2 al-dug4-ga-ni mu-na-da-ab-šum2-mu
66
he {mentioned the mace, the weapon, the arrow and quiver, and the hoe (al)} {alternate manuscript: desired (al ... dug4) the mace, the weapon, the arrow and quiver}.
šita2 ^ĝištukul ti mar-uru5 {^ĝišal} {() <phr type="VP" lemma="al dug4" label="to desire"> al} am3-ma-an-dug4 </phr>
67
Dumuzid is the one who makes the upper land thrive (al-lum-lum-ma).
^ddumu-zid al-lum-lum-ma igi-nim-ma-ka
68
Gibil made his hoe (al) lift its head toward heaven;
^dgibil6 ^ĝišal-a-ni saĝ an-še3 mi-ni-il2
69
he had the holy hoe (al) refined with fire.
^ĝišal-e kug-ga-am3 izi nam-mi-in-la2
70
The Anuna were rejoicing (al-ḫul2-ḫul2-le-de3-eš).
^da-nun-na al-ḫul2-ḫul2-le-de3-eš
71
The house of Geshtin-ana resembles the al-gar-sur drumsticks —
e2 ^dĝeštin-an-na-ka ^ĝišal-ĝar-surx(UZ3×BALAĜ)-ra-am3
72
the al-gar-sur drumsticks of Mother Geshtin-ana, sweet of sound.
ama ^dĝeštin-an-na-ka ^ĝišal-ĝar-surx(UZ3×BALAĜ) gu3 dug3-ga-ka
73
The lord bellowed at his hoe (al) like a bull.
en-e ^ĝišal-a-ni gud-gin7 mur im-ša4
74
As for the grave: the hoe (al) carries the head down into the earth;
irigal-am3 ^ĝišal saĝ ki-a tum2-ma
75
by the hoe (al) the corpse is carried down into the ground.
adx(BAD.LU2) ^ĝišal-e ki-ta tum2-ma-am3
76
As for the mighty youth of An, the younger brother of Nergal —
šul idim an-na šeš-ban3-da ^dnergal-ka-kam
77
the hero Gilgamesh: by the hoe (al) he is a hunting-net.
ur-saĝ ^dgilgameš2 ^ĝišal-e sa-par4-am3
78
The {(one manuscript adds: sage)} son of Ninsumun is foremost at the oar (ĝisal).
dumu ^dnin-sumun2-ka {() gašam} ^ĝišĝisal-e dub-saĝ-ĝa2
79
By the hoe (al) he is the chief barber of the watercourses.
^ĝišal-e id2-da kindagal-am3
80
In the {residence} {alternate manuscript: place} of the cella, by the hoe (al) he is the minister.
{dag} {() ki} agrun-na-ka ^ĝišal-e sukkal-am3
81
The evil ones who lie about in the daylight are sons of the hoe (al);
ḫul-ĝal2 ud nu2-a dumu ^ĝišal-me-eš
82
born from heaven after sleep had been spoken of.
u4-sa2 dug4-ga-ta an-ta u3-tud-de3-eš
83
In heaven there is the al-tirigu bird, the bird of the god;
an-še3 al-ti-ri2-gu7 mušen diĝir-ra-am3
84
on earth there is the hoe (al): a dog in the reedbeds, a dragon in the forest.
ki-še3 ^ĝišal-am3 ĝiš-gi-a ur-ra tir-ra ušumgal-am3
85
On the field of battle there is the dur-allub battle-axe.
ki me3-ka dur10-al-lub-am3
86
By the city wall there is the al-luhab battle-net.
ki bad3-ka ^ĝišal-lu5-ḫab2-am3
87
On the offering-table there is the maltum bowl.
ki ^ĝišbanšur-ra ^ĝišma-al-tum-ma
88
In the chariot-shed there is the mayaltum sledge.
ki ^ĝišgigir-ka ^ĝišma-a-a-al-tum-ma
89
In the donkey-stable there is the argibil rack.
e2 anše-ka ^ĝišar-gibil2-am3
90
The hoe (al) — sweet is its name — is present too on the hill-country:
^ĝišal-am3 mu-bi dug3-ga ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 mu-un-ĝal2
91
the tree of the hill-country is the allanum oak;
ĝiš ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 ^ĝišal-la-nu-um-ma
92
the fragrance of the hill-country is the arganum balm;
šim ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 ^ĝišar-ga-nu-um-ma
93
the stone of the hill-country is the algamesh stone.
na4 ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 ^na4algameš-am3
94
The hoe (al) makes things thrive (lum-lum-ma); the hoe (al) makes things flourish (lam-lam-ma).
^ĝišal lum-lum-ma ^ĝišal lam-lam-ma
95
The hoe (al) is good barley; the hoe (al) is {a hunting-net} {alternate manuscript: an overseer […]}.
^ĝišal še dug3-ga ^ĝišal {sa-par4-am3} {() /šabra\-[…]}
96
The hoe (al) is the brick-mould; the hoe (al) is what made mankind exist.
^ĝišal u3-šub-ba ^ĝišal saĝ ĝal2-la-am3
97
The hoe (al) is the strength of young manhood.
^ĝišal-am3 a2 nam-ĝuruš-a-kam
98
The hoe (al) and the carrying-basket are the tools for building cities.
^ĝišal ^ĝišdusu niĝ2 iri du3-du3-dam
99
It builds (al-du3-e) the rightful house; it lays out (al-ĝa2-ĝa2) the rightful field.
e2 zid al-du3-e gana2 zid al-ĝa2-ĝa2
100
It is you, hoe, who broaden the rightful field!
gan2-ne2 zid-de3 šu daĝal-la-me-en
101
As for the field that rebels against its owner,
gan2-ne2 lugal-bi-ir bal-e
102
the field that will not bow its neck to its owner,
gan2-ne2 lugal-bi-ir gu2 nu-ĝar-ra-e
103
the hoe (al) makes that field bend its neck to its owner.
^ĝišal-e lugal-bi-ir gu2 mu-na-ab-ĝa2-ĝa2
104
It makes the heads of the vile esparto-grass, the vile esparto-grass, tremble;
^u2numun2 ḫul ^u2numun2 ḫul-e saĝ dub2-dub2-be2
105
it tears them out by their roots and rips away their stalks.
ur2-ba mu-un-bur12-re pa-bi mu-un-ze2-e
106
The hoe (al) also brings the hirin-weed to hand (al-ĝa2-ĝa2).
^ĝišal-e ^u2ḫirin^ḫu-ri2-in šu-še3 al-ĝa2-ĝa2
107
The hoe (al), the implement whose destiny Father Enlil decreed —
^ĝišal-e ĝiš nam tar-ra a-a ^den-lil2-la2
108
the celebrated hoe (al) be praised (za3-mi2)!
^ĝišal-e za3-mi2 dug4-ga
109
Nisaba be praised (za3-mi2)!
^dnisaba za3-mi2
The composition opens by imagining humankind as a crop. numun kalam-ma — 'the seed (numun) of the Land (kalam)' — is the human seed-stock of Sumer that Enlil germinates; kalam is governed by
kalam-ka-na-ag-the-land-cross-corpus, and the human-as-seed reading bynumun-kalam-ma-seed-of-the-land-human-germination. ETCSL renders 'the human seed of the Land'. The Translator's option of spelling out numun as 'human seed' in the verse was declined for accuracy: 'the seed of the Land' is closer to the Sumerian and lets the human referent surface from context. The principal witness has the seed sprout ki-ta ('from the earth', chthonic emergence); variants have eš3-ta ('from the shrine', cultic emergence), preserved via the manuscript-variant convention — the variant shifts the cosmology from soil-germination to temple-emergence. The botanical image (humans sprouting from the ground) recurs at the Uzu-mua toponym (line 6) and the breaking-through-the-soil of line 20; the comparative reach to Genesis 2:7's ʾāḏām / ʾăḏāmâ (human named for the ground) is noted at line 6 and kept to the apparatus.