Questions tagged [targumin]
Referring to the various ancient translations of the Tanach into Aramaic
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What does the aramaic "pon" mean?
Once in a while, Onkelos will throw in the word pon (פּוֹן) that doesn't directly translate from the Hebrew.
Avimelech to Yitzchak: k'z'eir pon shachiv d'm'yached b'ama (Toldos 26:10)
Lavan to Yaakov:...
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Onkelus translation of Gods name
Why does Onkelus usually translate the name Elokim as Hashem?
For example in the following pasuk (Bereshit 5:1):
זֶה סֵפֶר תּוֹלְדֹת אָדָם בְּיוֹם בְּרֹא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם בִּדְמוּת אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה ...
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Did Levi see Moshe and Aaron?
Exodus 6:16 states that Levi lived for 137 years. The Targum Yonatan, (ibid) says:
ואלין שמהת בנוי דלוי לייחוסיהון גרשון קהת ומררי ושני חיוי דלוי מאה ותלתין ושבע שנין חייא עד דחמא ית משה וית אהרון ...
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Is the Targum Neofiti a valid source of translation?
Targum Neofiti is believed by scholars to be an ancient translation of the torah.
Does the average orthodox rabbi consider it as a valid and reliable resource to translate or explain a word, the way ...
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Why are the Kenites translated as Shalmites?
In the verse where Hashem promises to give Avraham's descendants the land of the 10 Canaanite nations, one is listed as the Kenites (Genesis 15:19):
אֶת־הַקֵּינִי֙ וְאֶת־הַקְּנִזִּ֔י וְאֵ֖ת ...
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Onkelos, Anthropomorphism, and The Exodus
Onkelos the Convert is said by the Talmud to be the author of the official aramaic translation of the Pentateuch. Rashi and Maimonides understand Onkelos as having a tendency to interpret physical ...
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Who wrote the Aramaic translation for Psalms and when?
The Talmud in Migila specifies that no translation (Targum) for the Ktuvim was written since although Rabbi Yonatan Ben Uziel wanted to, he was told not to do so:
עוד ביקש לגלות תרגום של כתובים ...
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How does one read words with a "yud" in Targum?
While doing "Shenayim Mikrah" I encounter many words that have a "yud" as second to last letter. For example the word "cities" is "קִרְוָיךְ". Is the yud pronounced during reading? I.e. is this read ...
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Inconsistencies in Targum Onkelos for Bamidbor chapter 26. Explanation please
Rashi on Bamidbor 26(5) remarks on the way the names of the families are written (e.g. חֲנוֹךְ֙ מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַֽחֲנֹכִ֔י) as follows:
… Therefore, the Holy One, blessed is he, appended His Name to ...
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Why does the Targum switch the order when identifying Memuchan and Hasach?
Targum on Esther identifies Memuchan as Haman (in 1:16):
ממוכן הוא המן
Memuchan, who is Haman
Yet on 4:5, when he identifies Hasach as Daniel, he switches the order:
דניאל דמתקרי התך
...
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Targum to Ex. 32:27
Why do the targumim to Sh'mos 32:27 ("וְהִרְגוּ אִישׁ אֶת אָחִיו וְאִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ וְאִישׁ אֶת קְרֹבוֹ") use g'var twice and then enash?
For example, Onkelos:
וקטולו גבר ית אחוהי וגבר ית ...
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How to do Shnayim Mikra when the Aramaic Targum has multiple alternate wordings?
What should one do when saying שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום if one comes upon a verse where the Targum (Aramaic translation) has two alternative wordings? I would just say the verse in Targum twice (or four ...
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Translation/Commentary on Targum
I'm looking for a translation or commentary on Targum Onkelos, especially for the non-literal parts (such as on Birkas Yaakov and Shiras Hayam).
It can be in either Hebrew or English.
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Targum Onkelos on זה קרבן פלוני בן פלוני
At the end of Naso, there is a difference in the Stone chumash's Targum Onkelos (edit: it's the same in the Dirshu chumash) between Nachshon and the other nesiim. For Nachshon, it says:
דין ...
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Rabbinic understandings of non-Divine origin of Onqelos
Shavua' tov all,
A question from a friend that I thought I would post here regarding the origin of Onqelos. It seems fair to say that the classical rabbinic understanding is that the Aramaic ...
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Targum Pseudo-Jonathan in Rabbinic Literature
The Gemara Megillah (3a) implies that Onkelos translated just the Chumash, whereas Yonattan ben Uzziel translated just Nevi'im:
וא''ר ירמיה ואיתימא רבי חייא בר אבא תרגום של תורה אונקלוס הגר אמרו ...
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If the Targum on the Torah written by Onkelus was given at Har Sinai, How can Rashi say that he made a mistake?
If the Targum on the Torah written by Onkelus was given at Har Sinai, How can Rashi say that he made a mistake?
See Gemara מגילה דף ג ע"א Megilla 3a:
ותרגום של תורה אונקלוס הגר אמרו? והא אמר רב ...
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Shnayim Mikra Out of Order [duplicate]
When doing shnayim mikra, may one read an entire parsha/aliyah once, then do the targum, then read the pesukim again? Or does it have to be in the order of its name - first shnayim mikra and then ...
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Why does Onkelos translate "לֹֽא יוּכַל" as "לָא יִכּוֹל" rather than "לֵית לֵיהּ רְשׁוּ"
The verse in Shemos 19:23 says "וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יי לֹֽא־יוּכַל הָעָם לַֽעֲלֹת אֶל־הַר סִינָי." Rashi says that although it uses the words "לֹֽא־יוּכַל" it means they're not allowed. Onkelos ...
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What is the oldest extant source which attributes Targum Pseudo-Jonathan to Yonasan Ben Uziel?
There’s an impressive list of proofs that what’s commonly called Targum Yonasan on the Chumash was not, in fact, written by Yonasan Ben Uziel.
Where did the rumor start that it was actually written ...
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Targum of Elokim
The Targum uses yod yod for both Hashem and Elokim unless both are mentioned together. Should the yod yod be understood generically and pronounced Elokim when the chumash says Elokim, or should it be ...
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The Fourth Exile, Persia or Rome?
When Avraham experiences a vision of 'fear, darkness, great, descending upon him', (Gen 15:12), the Midrash says that these four words refer to the 4 exiles. Fear is Babylon, darkness is Medea, great ...
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Looking for an english translation of targum onkeles
I am looking for an english orthodox translation of targum onkeles or, if a translation doesn't exist, maybe a shiur which goes through targum in english on a weekly basis.
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Trying to understand Targum Onkelos's rendering of סביב
It seems every instance we have the word סביב in the Torah, Targum Onkelos translates it as סחור סחור, a doubling of the word which I would have assumed would suffice in single format.
See for ...
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Is it possible we didn’t speak Egyptian while in Egypt?
Our sages say that we didn’t change our language, clothes, and names and in that merit we were redeemed. However didn’t we have to communicate with the Egyptians in their language?
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Why do we recite Targum translation for 3 verses in "Kedusha Desidra"?
Following Shacharit Shemonah Esreh, during Shabbat Mincha, and after the Amidah on Motza'ei Shabbat, קדושה דסדרא also called, ובא לציון is said. The beginning contains 3 verses, 2 of which are part of ...
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Targum of Shem HaShem
Why do we find that there is no differentiation in targum between the The four letter Shem HaShem and Elokeinu; they are both translated as Yud Yud?
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Targum's use during second temple period
I'm curious about how the Targum was used.
I've been told that Hebrew Scriptures were the holy writ but also see that the Targum was also used. Was the Targums' use isolated to a certain region, a ...
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Onkelos Commentary
Rashi on the talmud (kidushin 49a) says the aramaic translation/commentary on the torah was given at sinai, forgotten and brought back by Onkelos.
Where did Onkelos obtain the correct text?
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What does the Targum have against Tattenai?
In Ezra 5-6 appears the governor of Ever Hanahar (the southern side of the Euphrates in this case), Tattenai. Tattenai, upon seeing that the Jews got back to building the Temple after several years of ...
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Recitation of Hallel Accompanied by an Aramaic Targum? (in Megilla 21b)
I recently noticed in גמ' מגילה כא עמוד ב a possibility that there was some point where Targum accompanied the public recitation of the Hallel, due to the line:
"ובהלל ובמגילה אפילו עשרה קורין ...
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Question on Targum Yonatan
While looking up info for a different question, I saw that on the pasuk in Bereshit 43:32, Targum Yonatan translates the word "Ha'Ivrim" as "Yehudaee" - יְהוּדָאֵי, while Onkelos ...
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Understanding the parameters of translating the pesukim
In Kiddushin 49a R' Yehuda makes the following statement
ר' יהודה אומר המתרגם פסוק כצורתו הרי זה בדאי והמוסיף עליו הרי זה מחרף ומגדף
One who translates a verse literally is a liar, one who adds his ...
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Why no targum on Ezra?
Why does the book of Ezra/Nechemia no have Aramaic targum? Divrei Hayamim has targum R Yosef. Daniel is singled out as not having targum in Gemora Megillah because "in it is the end of moshiach&...
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Miswa of Lifne Iwer isn't what the words mean literally?
My fellow Jew (let's call him Bob) and I were discussing the Miswa of "You shall not place a stumbling block in front of a blind person (Wayikra 19)". Bob was saying that that verse was referring to ...
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איצטנא in Targ. Y. Exodus 16
Shalom, first time posting.
Can someone help me track down a dictionary entry for the word איצטנא or אצטנא (which is found in Targum Pseudo-Jonathan for Exodus 16:4 and 16:15)?
The English ...
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Seeking information on the Targum to Iyov
Tosefta Shabbat 14(13?):2-3 describes a targum to the book of Iyov which was subsequently hidden away.
א"ר יוסי מעשה [שהלך ר'] חלפתא אצל רבן גמליאל לטבריא ומצאו שהיה יושב על שולחנו של ר' יוחנן [...
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Targum on Obadiah 1:3 a Reference to Rome?
The prophecy of Obadiah concerns the fate of Edom. Obadiah 1:3 reads,
זְדוֹן לִבְּךָ הִשִּׁיאֶךָ, שֹׁכְנִי בְחַגְוֵי-סֶלַע מְרוֹם שִׁבְתּוֹ; אֹמֵר בְּלִבּוֹ, מִי יוֹרִדֵנִי אָרֶץ.
The pride of thy ...
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Targum of the Peace Offering
Leviticus makes mention of the korban shelamim, the peace offering, for the first time in chapter 3. Both Targum Onkelos and Targum Pseudo Jonathan translate this as נכסת קודשיא, literally 'holy ...
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The "ben neichar" who is banned from eating the Korbon Pesach
Exodus 12:43 says that a "ben neichar" would not be able to eat the Korbon Pesach (the Passover offering) when the Temple is rebuilt, placing this category of persons in the same category as non-Jews. ...
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Who was Paltiya ben Yehoyada?
In Targum Sheni on Esther 1:3, a man named Paltiya ben Yehoyadah (פלטיא/פלטיה בן יהוידע) is mentioned as someone who argued with Nevuchadnetzar when he came to destroy Yerushalayim:
"When ...
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The Matrites and the midrash
In Shmuel 1:10:21 it says:
"Then Samuel brought forward the tribe of Benjamin by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was indicated; and then Saul son of Kish was indicated. But when they ...
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Nefesh tachas Nefesh vs. Nefesh BeNefesh
Exodus 21:23-24 states:
וְאִם־אָס֖וֹן יִהְיֶ֑ה וְנָתַתָּ֥ה נֶ֖פֶשׁ תַּ֥חַת נָֽפֶשׁ׃
But if other damage ensues, the penalty shall be life for life,
עַ֚יִן תַּ֣חַת עַ֔יִן שֵׁ֖ן תַּ֣חַת ...
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Logic behind Targum of בא
Targum Onklus Will either use the word אתא or על for the word בא. What is the logic behind his choice?
Of interest is the times where a variant text is brought, for instance in parshas Vayeishev 30 ...
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Mappik hei in word in Onkelos Devarim 23:11?
The Artscroll Chumash has no mappik hei in the word "mikrei" in the phrase "mikrei leilya" in Devarim 23:11 in Onkelos. However, I have seen some non-Artscroll Chumashim that have the mappik hei in ...
user19758
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Last line of Yetziv Pitgam
The Artscroll siddurim (that I've seen, I haven't done a full survey of the siddurim and machzorim) translate the last line of Yetziv Pitgam as a reference to Yonatan ben Uziel.
The Artscroll chumash,...
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Where did the well come from?
Numbers 21:16, on the topic of the "Wars of God", after describing the flow of the streams of Arnon toward the borders of Moab says:
וּמִשָּׁם בְּאֵרָה הִוא הַבְּאֵר אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהוָה ...
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Has anyone posed a theory as to who authored Targum Pseudo-Yonasan?
This answer and this one bring several commentaries who hold that Targum Yonasan was not written by Yonasan ben Uziel. Are there any other people mentioned who may have authored the work?
To clarify:
...
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Do you have to read the Targum of words that are repeated in the same sedrah?
According to the view (quoted here) that the reading of the Targum in shnaim mikro v’echod targum is to
add layers of explanation to every word
could one fulfil the mitzvo by reading the Targum ...
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Controversial commentaries from Targum Yonasan
Someone posted a comment to this question (and have since removed it so I'll maintain their anonymity) and wrote:
Indeed it would be quite bizarre to find anyone who does think YbU wrote it. It has ...
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