Tobias

Etymology

From 'tov' (good) and 'Yah' (God). A simple, direct declaration: God is good. The name appears in both canonical and deuterocanonical books.

Who they were

Tobias is the hero of the book of Tobit — canonical for Catholics and Orthodox, apocryphal for Protestants, and beloved by all traditions for its warmth and storytelling. His father Tobit was a devout Jewish exile in Nineveh who was blinded while doing charitable work. Tobit sent his son Tobias on a dangerous journey to retrieve money owed to the family. A travelling companion appeared — a young man named Azariah, who was actually the archangel Raphael in disguise. On the road, Tobias caught a fish whose organs held healing properties. Raphael instructed him on their use. When they reached their destination, Raphael arranged Tobias' marriage to Sarah, a young woman afflicted by a demon who had killed her seven previous husbands. Using the fish's heart and liver, Tobias drove the demon away. He married Sarah. On returning home, he applied the fish's gall to his father's eyes and restored his sight. Only then did Raphael reveal himself: 'I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels.' The story is about providence disguised as coincidence, healing hidden in ordinary objects, and the goodness of God working through a young man's journey. The name — God is good — is the book's thesis.

Family

Father

Tobit (blinded righteous man)

Mother

Anna

Spouse

Sarah (freed from a demon by Raphael)

Character qualities

• Obedience to his father
• Courage on a dangerous road
• Trust in an unknown companion
• Compassion for Sarah

Key verse

Tobit 12:6-7

Where they appear

Themes

Variants & related forms

Toby · Tobiah · Tobit

Related names