Volume 3, Chapter 3 / 29

Synopsis of Volume 3, Chapter 3 / 29

The house (Moor House) is the home of St. John (pronounced ‘sinjun') Rivers, a clergyman, his sisters Diana and Mary, and their servant Hannah. Hannah tells Jane something about the history of the family. Jane tells them about her own life, but says little about the reason why she has left Thornfield. She tells them that her name is Jane Elliott.

Commentary on Volume 3, Chapter 3 / 29

‘registers i' Morton church vestry' A vestry is a room in a church, used by the presiding clergyman to put on the vestments in which he will conduct the services. It is also used to store (often in a strong locked chest) the registers of births, deaths and marriages that have taken place among the parishioners.

like a Greek face … St John's eyes St John's classically handsome appearance is in sharp contrast with Rochester's irregular features. Rochester's unconventional looks are among the qualities that attract Jane. See Characterisation: St John Rivers.

the day of small things See Zechariah 4:10: St John hopes that Jane will be satisfied with the Rivers' modest and simple way of life.

Investigating Volume 3, Chapter 3 / 29

Re-read the passage ‘Mr St John … baked on top of the oven'
- What impression emerges of St John's character?
- How does it compare with the descriptions of Rochester's appearance? See Characterisation: Rochester and St John Rivers

English Standard Version
King James Version

¹And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. ²And he said to me, What do you see? I said, I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. ³And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left. ⁴And I said to the angel who talked with me, What are these, my lord? ⁵Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, Do you not know what these are? I said, No, my lord. ⁶Then he said to me, This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. ⁷Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of Grace, grace to it! ⁸Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁹The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. ¹⁰For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth. ¹¹Then I said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand? ¹²And a second time I answered and said to him, What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out? ¹³He said to me, Do you not know what these are? I said, No, my lord. ¹⁴Then he said, These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

¹And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. ²And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: ³And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. ⁴So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? ⁵Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. ⁶Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. ⁷Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. ⁸Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ⁹The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. ¹⁰For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. ¹¹Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? ¹²And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? ¹³And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. ¹⁴Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

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Volume 3, Chapter 3 / 29

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