topHermas: Parables-3 prev next
Parable 3
1 Ἔδειξέ μοι δένδρα πολλὰ μὴ ἔχοντα φύλλα, ἀλλ' ὡσεὶ ξηρὰ ἐδόκει μοι εἶναι· ὅμοια γὰρ ἦν πάντα.

καὶ λέγει μοι· Βλέπεις τὰ δένδρα ταῦτα;

Βλέπω, φημί, κύριε, ὅμοια ὄντα καὶ ξηρά.

ἀποκριθείς μοι λέγει· Ταῦτα τὰ δένδρα, ἃ βλέπεις, οἱ κατοικοῦντές εἰσιν ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ. 		He showed me many trees that did not have leaves, but seemed to me to be as though dry; for they were all alike.

And he says to me: 'Do you see these trees?'

'I see [them], Sir,' I say, 'being alike and dry.'

Answering me he says: 'These trees which you see are those who dwell in this age.'
2 Διατί οὖν; φημί, κύριε, ὡσεὶ ξηρά εἰσι καὶ ὅμοια;

Ὅτι, φησίν, οὔτε οἱ δίκαιοι φαίνονται οὔτε οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ, ἀλλ' ὅμοιοί εἰσιν· ὁ γὰρ αἰὼν οὗτος τοῖς δικαίοις χειμών ἐστι, καὶ οὐ φαίνονται μετὰ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν κατοικοῦντες. 		'Why then, Sir,' I say, 'are they as though dry and alike?'

'Because,' says he, 'neither the righteous nor the sinners are apparent in this age, but they are alike.

For this age is winter to the righteous, and they do not appear while dwelling alongside sinners
3 ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν τῷ χειμῶνι τὰ δένδρα ἀποβεβληκότα τὰ φύλλα ὅμοιά εἰσι καὶ οὐ φαίνονται τὰ ξηρὰ ποῖα εἰσιν ἢ τὰ ζῶντα, οὕτως ἐν τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ οὐ φαίνονται οὔτε οἱ δίκαιοι οὔτε οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἀλλὰ πάντες ὅμοιοί εἰσιν. For just as in winter the trees, having shed their leaves, are alike and it is not apparent which are dry or which are living, so in this age neither the righteous nor the sinners are apparent, but all are alike.'"
Summary
Parable 3 (Similitudo 3) advances the ecclesiological and eschatological themes of The Shepherd of Hermas by introducing the vision of the leafless trees in winter.

  The Winter of the Present Age (Ὁ Αἰὼν Οὗτος / Χειμών): The Shepherd compares the present temporal world to winter (χειμών).
During winter, deciduous trees drop their foliage and appear uniformly bare and dead (ξηρά).

 Hidden Righteousness (Invisibility of the Elect): In the present age, external appearances are deceiving.
The righteous (οἱ δίκαιοι) and sinners (οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί) live side by side, engaging in the same daily pursuits and sharing identical outward conditions.

Their true spiritual condition—whether they are spiritually alive or dead—remains veiled from human sight.

 Patience in the Present Disorder: The parable provides a pastoral explanation for why the righteous do not immediately possess obvious, visible glory or preeminence in this life.
Just as living trees retain hidden life within their trunks during winter, the spiritual vitality of the righteous is preserved inwardly, awaiting the coming eschatological transformation.
Key Themes & Theological Contributions
 Eschatological Dualism and Hiddenness: Anticipates the doctrine of the Ecclesia Invisibilis (the invisible church).
True spiritual identity cannot be evaluated based on worldly status, material success, or temporal circumstances during this life.

 Complementary Structure with Parable 4: Similitudo 3 sets up a conceptual pair with Similitudo 4.
While Parable 3 describes the present age as winter where all trees look dead, Parable 4 will present the coming age (ὁ αἰὼν ὁ ἐρχόμενος) as summer, where life bursts forth and the distinction between living and dead trees becomes obvious.
Significant Greek Expressions
 ὡσεὶ ξηρὰ ... ὅμοια: "As though dry ... alike." Highlights the outer uniformity of humanity in the present world order, where true moral and spiritual character remains obscured.

 ὁ αἰὼν οὗτος τοῖς δικαίοις χειμών ἐστιν: "This age is winter to the righteous." A striking metaphor defining the earthly lifespan of believers as a season of dormant waiting and hidden vitality rather than full manifest glory.

 οὐ φαίνονται μετὰ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν κατοικοῦντες: "They are not apparent while dwelling alongside sinners." Echoes early Christian reflection on the mixed state of the church and society (cf. the Parable of the Wheat and Tares in Matthew 13:24–30).

Hermas: The Shepherd
Book Three
Parables