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Targum texts, annotated

Verses of Onkelos (Torah) and Jonathan (Prophets), each beside its Hebrew. Texts: Hebrew from the WLC ("Tanach with Nikkud"); Onkelos from Sefaria's public-domain "Onkelos Genesis" … files; Jonathan from Sefaria's public-domain "Mikraot Gedolot" files; all quoted as printed (the printed pointing is late Tiberian, Phonology and orthography of Targumic Aramaic §2). Glossing abbreviations: Aramaic of the Jewish texts — overview and Biblical Aramaic. English renderings are our own.

1. Creation: Genesis 1:1–5

Hebrew:    בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ
Aramaic:   בְּקַדְמִין בְּרָא יְיָ יָת שְׁמַיָּא וְיָת אַרְעָא
Translit.: bə-qaḏmīn bərā yəyā yāṯ šəmayyā wə-yāṯ ʾarʿā
Gloss:     in-beginning.PL create.PEAL.PF.3MS LORD ACC heaven.DET and-ACC earth.DET
English:   In the beginning the LORD created the heavens and the earth.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 1:1 (public domain)

Notes: אֱלֹהִים becomes יְיָ (the God of Israel); the article becomes the determined state; אֵת becomes יָת; בְּרֵאשִׁית becomes בְּקַדְמִין "at first" (a plural of קַדְמִי "first").

Hebrew:    וְהָאָרֶץ הָיְתָה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וְחֹשֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵי תְהוֹם וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם
Aramaic:   וְאַרְעָא הֲוַת צָדְיָא וְרֵיקַנְיָא וַחֲשׁוֹכָא פָּרַשׂ עַל אַפֵּי תְהוֹמָא וְרוּחָא מִן קֳדָם יְיָ מְנַשְּׁבָא עַל אַפֵּי מַיָּא
Translit.: wə-ʾarʿā hăwaṯ ṣāḏyā wə-rēqanyā wa-ḥăšōḵā pāraś ʿal ʾappē ṯəhōmā wə-rūḥā min qŏḏām yəyā mənaššəḇā ʿal ʾappē mayyā
Gloss:     and-earth.DET be.PEAL.PF.3FS desolate.F.DET and-empty.F.DET and-darkness.DET spread.PEAL.PTCP.ACT.MS on face.PL.CST deep.DET and-wind.DET from before LORD blow.PAEL.PTCP.ACT.FS on face.PL.CST water.DET
English:   The earth was desolate and empty, darkness was spread over the face of the deep, and a wind from before the LORD was blowing over the face of the waters.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 1:2 (public domain)

Notes: the obscure תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ is explained (צָדְיָא וְרֵיקַנְיָא "desolate and empty"); "darkness" gets a verb (פָּרַשׂ "spread"); רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים "the spirit of God" becomes "a wind from before the LORD" — reverence and a naturalistic reading at once (Translation technique and syntax of the targums §3.1).

Hebrew:    וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי־אוֹר
Aramaic:   וַאֲמַר יְיָ יְהֵי נְהוֹרָא וַהֲוָה נְהוֹרָא
Translit.: wa-ʾămar yəyā yəhē nəhōrā wa-hăwā nəhōrā
Gloss:     and-say.PEAL.PF.3MS LORD be.PEAL.IPF.3MS light.DET and-be.PEAL.PF.3MS light.DET
English:   And the LORD said, "Let there be light", and there was light.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 1:3 (public domain)
Hebrew:    וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאוֹר כִּי־טוֹב וַיַּבְדֵּל אֱלֹהִים בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ
Aramaic:   וַחֲזָא יְיָ יָת נְהוֹרָא אֲרֵי טָב וְאַפְרֵשׁ יְיָ בֵּין נְהוֹרָא וּבֵין חֲשׁוֹכָא
Translit.: wa-ḥăzā yəyā yāṯ nəhōrā ʾărē ṭāḇ wə-ʾap̄rēš yəyā bēn nəhōrā ū-ḇēn ḥăšōḵā
Gloss:     and-see.PEAL.PF.3MS LORD ACC light.DET that good and-separate.APH.PF.3MS LORD between light.DET and-between darkness.DET
English:   The LORD saw the light, that it was good, and the LORD separated the light from the darkness.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 1:4 (public domain)

Notes: "God saw" is kept: seeing as knowing is not an anthropomorphism the targum avoids. אֲרֵי = כִּי. אַפְרֵשׁ is an aphel (Hebrew hiphil).

Hebrew:    וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאוֹר יוֹם וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לָיְלָה וַיְהִי־עֶרֶב וַיְהִי־בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד
Aramaic:   וּקְרָא יְיָ לִנְהוֹרָא יְמָמָא וְלַחֲשׁוֹכָא קְרָא לֵילְיָא וַהֲוָה רְמַשׁ וַהֲוָה צְפַר יוֹמָא חָד
Translit.: ū-qərā yəyā li-nhōrā yəmāmā wə-la-ḥăšōḵā qərā lēlyā wa-hăwā rəmaš wa-hăwā ṣəp̄ar yōmā ḥāḏ
Gloss:     and-call.PEAL.PF.3MS LORD to-light.DET day(time) and-to-darkness.DET call.PEAL.PF.3MS night and-be.PF.3MS evening and-be.PF.3MS morning day.DET one
English:   The LORD called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. There was evening and there was morning, day one.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 1:5 (public domain)

Notes: two different Aramaic words for Hebrew יוֹם: יְמָמָא "daytime" against יוֹמָא "day (of 24 hours)" — the targum disambiguates.

2. The first humans: Genesis 2:7, 3:8–9

Hebrew:    וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה
Aramaic:   וּנְפַח בְּאַפּוֹהִי נִשְׁמְתָא דְחַיֵּי וַהֲוַת בְּאָדָם לְרוּחַ מְמַלְלָא
Translit.: ū-nəp̄aḥ bə-ʾappōhī nišməṯā ḏə-ḥayyē wa-hăwaṯ bə-ʾāḏām lə-rūaḥ məmallā
Gloss:     and-blow.PEAL.PF.3MS in-nostril.PL-3MS breath.DET REL-life.PL and-be.PEAL.PF.3FS in-Adam to-spirit speak.PAEL.PTCP.ACT.FS
English:   He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and it became in man a speaking spirit.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 2:7b (public domain)

Notes: a construct (נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים) becomes a ד־ phrase; "a living soul" becomes "a speaking spirit": what makes man human is speech.

Hebrew:    וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת־קוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים מִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּגָּן לְרוּחַ הַיּוֹם
Aramaic:   וּשְׁמָעוּ יָת קַל מֵימְרָא דַּיְיָ אֱלֹהִים מְהַלֵּךְ בְּגִינְתָא לִמְנַח יוֹמָא
Translit.: ū-šəmāʿū yāṯ qal mēmrā da-yəyā ʾĕlōhīm məhallēḵ bə-ḡīntā li-mnaḥ yōmā
Gloss:     and-hear.PEAL.PF.3MPL ACC voice.CST Memra.DET REL-LORD God walk.PAEL.PTCP.ACT.MS in-garden.DET to-rest.INF.CST day.DET
English:   They heard the voice of the Memra of the LORD God going about in the garden at the resting of the day.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 3:8a (public domain)
Hebrew:    וַיִּקְרָא יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶל־הָאָדָם וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ אַיֶּכָּה
Aramaic:   וּקְרָא יְיָ אֱלֹהִים לְאָדָם וַאֲמַר לֵהּ אָן אָתְּ
Translit.: ū-qərā yəyā ʾĕlōhīm lə-ʾāḏām wa-ʾămar lēh ʾān ʾāt
Gloss:     and-call.PEAL.PF.3MS LORD God to-Adam and-say.PEAL.PF.3MS to-3MS where you
English:   The LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
Source:    Onkelos Gen 3:9 (public domain)

Notes: the Hebrew one-word question אַיֶּכָּה is split into its parts.

3. Cain and Abel: Genesis 4:8

Hebrew:    וַיֹּאמֶר קַיִן אֶל־הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיָּקָם קַיִן אֶל־הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ
Aramaic:   וַאֲמַר קַיִן לְהֶבֶל אַחוֹהִי וַהֲוָה בְּמֶהֱוֵיהוֹן בְּחַקְלָא וְקָם קַיִן עַל הֶבֶל אַחוֹהִי וְקַטְלֵהּ
Translit.: wa-ʾămar qayin lə-heḇel ʾaḥōhī wa-hăwā bə-mehĕwēhōn bə-ḥaqlā wə-qām qayin ʿal heḇel ʾaḥōhī wə-qaṭlēh
Gloss:     and-say.PF.3MS Cain to-Abel brother-3MS and-be.PF.3MS in-be.INF-3MPL in-field.DET and-rise.PF.3MS Cain against Abel brother-3MS and-kill.PEAL.PF.3MS-3MS
English:   Cain spoke to Abel his brother; and when they were in the field, Cain rose against Abel his brother and killed him.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 4:8 (public domain)

Notes: Onkelos leaves the gap of the Hebrew ("Cain said to Abel …" — said what?) as it is. The Palestinian targums and Pseudo-Jonathan fill it with a whole dispute between the brothers (Jewish Palestinian Aramaic texts, annotated): the clearest single contrast between the two targum traditions.

4. The binding of Isaac: Genesis 22

Hebrew:    וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסָּה אֶת־אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי
Aramaic:   וַיְיָ נַסִּי יָת אַבְרָהָם וַאֲמַר לֵהּ אַבְרָהָם וַאֲמַר הָא אֲנָא
Translit.: wa-yəyā nassī yāṯ ʾaḇrāhām wa-ʾămar lēh ʾaḇrāhām wa-ʾămar hā ʾănā
Gloss:     and-LORD test.PAEL.PF.3MS ACC Abraham and-say.PF.3MS to-3MS Abraham and-say.PF.3MS here I
English:   The LORD tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
Source:    Onkelos Gen 22:1b (public domain)
Hebrew:    קַח־נָא אֶת־בִּנְךָ אֶת־יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר־אָהַבְתָּ אֶת־יִצְחָק וְלֶךְ־לְךָ אֶל־אֶרֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּה
Aramaic:   דְּבַר כְּעַן יָת בְּרָךְ יָת יְחִידָךְ דִּי רְחַמְתָּ יָת יִצְחָק וְאִיזֵל לָךְ לְאַרְעָא פּוּלְחָנָא
Translit.: dəḇar kəʿan yāṯ bərāḵ yāṯ yəḥīḏāḵ dī rəḥamtā yāṯ yiṣḥāq wə-ʾīzēl lāḵ lə-ʾarʿā pulḥānā
Gloss:     take.PEAL.IMP.2MS now ACC son-2MS ACC only-2MS REL love.PEAL.PF.2MS ACC Isaac and-go.PEAL.IMP.2MS to-2MS to-land.DET worship.DET
English:   Take, now, your son, your only one, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of worship,
Source:    Onkelos Gen 22:2a (public domain)
Hebrew:    וְהַעֲלֵהוּ שָׁם לְעֹלָה עַל אַחַד הֶהָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ
Aramaic:   וְאַסְקֵהּ קֳדָמַי תַּמָּן לַעֲלָתָא עַל חַד מִן טוּרַיָּא דִּי אֵימַר לָךְ
Translit.: wə-ʾasqēh qŏḏāmay tammān la-ʿălāṯā ʿal ḥaḏ min ṭūrayyā dī ʾēmar lāḵ
Gloss:     and-bring.up.APH.IMP.2MS-3MS before-1SG there to-burnt.offering.DET on one of mountain.M.PL.DET REL say.PEAL.IPF.1SG to-2MS
English:   and offer him up before me there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will tell you.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 22:2b (public domain)

Notes: the four יָת mirror the four אֶת; קֳדָמַי "before me" is added; Moriah is interpreted as "worship" (the Temple mount).

Hebrew:    אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה־לּוֹ הַשֶּׂה לְעֹלָה בְּנִי וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּו
Aramaic:   קֳדָם יְיָ גְּלֵי לֵהּ אִימְרָא לַעֲלָתָא בְּרִי וַאֲזָלוּ תַרְוֵיהוֹן כַּחֲדָא
Translit.: qŏḏām yəyā gəlē lēh ʾīmrā la-ʿălāṯā bərī wa-ʾăzālū ṯarwēhōn ka-ḥăḏā
Gloss:     before LORD reveal.PEAL.PTCP.PASS.MS to-3MS lamb.DET to-burnt.offering.DET son-1SG and-go.PEAL.PF.3MPL two-3MPL together
English:   "Before the LORD the lamb for the burnt offering is revealed, my son." And the two of them went on together.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 22:8 (public domain)
Aramaic:   וּפְלַח וְצַלִּי אַבְרָהָם תַּמָּן בְּאַתְרָא הַהוּא וַאֲמַר קֳדָם יְיָ הָכָא יְהוֹן פַּלְחַן דָּרַיָּא
Translit.: ū-p̄əlaḥ wə-ṣallī ʾaḇrāhām tammān bə-ʾaṯrā hahū wa-ʾămar qŏḏām yəyā hāḵā yəhōn palḥan dārayyā
Gloss:     and-worship.PEAL.PF.3MS and-pray.PAEL.PF.3MS Abraham there in-place.DET that and-say.PF.3MS before LORD here be.IPF.3MPL worship.PTCP.MPL generation.M.PL.DET
English:   Abraham worshipped and prayed there in that place, and said before the LORD: "Here the generations shall worship."
Source:    Onkelos Gen 22:14a (public domain; Hebrew: וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָהָם שֵׁם־הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא יְהוָה יִרְאֶה)

Notes: the name "the LORD will see" is replaced by an act of worship: God is not said to see or be seen.

5. Jacob's vow: Genesis 28:20–21

Hebrew:    אִם־יִהְיֶה אֱלֹהִים עִמָּדִי וּשְׁמָרַנִי בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ
Aramaic:   אִם יְהֵא מֵימְרָא דַּיְיָ בְּסַעְדִי וְיִטְרִינַנִּי בְּאָרְחָא הָדֵין דִּי אֲנָא אָזֵל
Translit.: ʾim yəhē mēmrā da-yəyā bə-saʿdī wə-yiṭrīnannī bə-ʾorḥā hāḏēn dī ʾănā ʾāzēl
Gloss:     if be.IPF.3MS Memra.DET REL-LORD in-support-1SG and-guard.PEAL.IPF.3MS-ENERG-1SG in-way.DET this REL I go.PEAL.PTCP.ACT.MS
English:   If the Memra of the LORD will be my support and guard me on this way that I am going,
Source:    Onkelos Gen 28:20 (public domain)

Notes: Memra; "with me" → "in my support"; the energic suffix ־נַּנִּי as in Biblical Aramaic; the participle אָזֵל as present.

6. Prophecies of the king: Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17

Aramaic:   לָא יַעֲדֵי עָבֵד שָׁלְטָן מִדְבֵית יְהוּדָה … עַד דְיֵיתֵי מְשִׁיחָא דְדִילֵהּ הִיא מַלְכוּתָא וְלֵהּ יִשְׁתַּמְעוּן עַמְמַיָּא
Translit.: lā yaʿăḏē ʿāḇēḏ šolṭān miḏ-ḇēṯ yəhūḏā … ʿaḏ də-yēṯē məšīḥā də-ḏīlēh hī malḵūṯā wə-lēh yištamʿūn ʿaməmayyā
Gloss:     NEG pass.APH.IPF.3MS do.PTCP.ACT.MS rule from-house.CST Judah … until REL-come.IPF.3MS Messiah.DET REL-of-3MS COP.3FS kingdom.DET and-to-3MS obey.ITHPA.IPF.3MPL people.M.PL.DET
English:   One who exercises rule shall not pass away from the house of Judah … until the Messiah comes, whose is the kingdom, and him the peoples shall obey.
Source:    Onkelos Gen 49:10 (public domain)
Aramaic:   כַּד יְקוּם מַלְכָּא מִיַעֲקֹב וְיִתְרַבָּא מְשִׁיחָא מִיִשְׂרָאֵל
Translit.: kaḏ yəqūm malkā mi-yaʿăqōḇ wə-yiṯrabbā məšīḥā mi-yiśrāʾēl
Gloss:     when rise.PEAL.IPF.3MS king.DET from-Jacob and-be.anointed.ITHPA.IPF.3MS Messiah.DET from-Israel
English:   When a king arises from Jacob and the Messiah is anointed from Israel
Source:    Onkelos Num 24:17b (public domain; Hebrew: דָּרַךְ כּוֹכָב מִיַּעֲקֹב וְקָם שֵׁבֶט מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל)

Notes: the images (sceptre, star) are decoded as "ruler", "king", "Messiah". כַּד "when" is a targumic conjunction (BA כְּדִי).

7. Sinai: Exodus 3:14; 15:3; 19:4; 20:2–3; 24:10

Aramaic:   וַאֲמַר כִּדְנַן תֵּימַר לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶהְיֶה שַׁלְחַנִי לְוָתְכוֹן
Translit.: wa-ʾămar kiḏnan tēmar li-ḇnē yiśrāʾēl ʾehye šalḥanī lə-wāṯḵōn
Gloss:     and-say.PF.3MS thus say.PEAL.IPF.2MS to-son.PL.CST Israel EHYEH send.PEAL.PF.3MS-1SG to-beside-2MPL
English:   And he said: "Thus shall you say to the children of Israel: EHYEH has sent me to you."
Source:    Onkelos Exod 3:14b (public domain)

Notes: the divine name אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה is left in Hebrew, untranslated, as a name.

Aramaic:   יְיָ מָרֵי נִצְחָן קְרָבַיָּא יְיָ שְׁמֵהּ
Translit.: yəyā mārē niṣḥān qərāḇayyā yəyā šəmēh
Gloss:     LORD master.CST victory.PL battle.M.PL.DET LORD name-3MS
English:   The LORD is the master of the victories of battles; the LORD is his name.
Source:    Onkelos Exod 15:3 (public domain; Hebrew: יְהוָה אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה)
Aramaic:   וּנְטָלִית יָתְכוֹן כִּדְעַל גַדְפֵי נִשְׁרִין וְקָרֵבִית יָתְכוֹן לְפָלְחָנִי
Translit.: ū-nəṭālīṯ yāṯḵōn kiḏ-ʿal ḡaḏp̄ē nišrīn wə-qārēḇīṯ yāṯḵōn lə-p̄olḥānī
Gloss:     and-carry.PEAL.PF.1SG ACC-2MPL as-on wing.PL.CST eagle.M.PL.ABS and-bring.near.PAEL.PF.1SG ACC-2MPL to-worship-1SG
English:   I carried you as if on eagles' wings and brought you near to my worship.
Source:    Onkelos Exod 19:4b (public domain)

Notes: two 1 sg. perfects in ־ִית (the targumic ending); יָתְכוֹן is the object marker with a suffix.

Aramaic:   אֲנָא יְיָ אֱלָהָךְ דִי אַפֵּיקְתָּךְ מֵאַרְעָא דְמִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עַבְדוּתָא
Translit.: ʾănā yəyā ʾĕlāhāḵ ḏī ʾappēqtāḵ mē-ʾarʿā ḏə-miṣrayim mi-bbēṯ ʿaḇḏūṯā
Gloss:     I LORD god-2MS REL bring.out.APH.PF.1SG-2MS from-land.DET REL-Egypt from-house.CST slavery.DET
English:   I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Source:    Onkelos Exod 20:2 (public domain)
Aramaic:   לָא יְהֵי לָךְ אֱלָהּ אָחֳרָן בַּר מִנִי
Translit.: lā yəhē lāḵ ʾĕlāh ʾoḥŏrān bar minnī
Gloss:     NEG be.IPF.3MS to-2MS god other except from-1SG
English:   You shall have no other god besides me.
Source:    Onkelos Exod 20:3 (public domain; Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל־פָּנָי)

Notes: the Hebrew plural "other gods" becomes a singular "another god", and "before my face" becomes "except me".

Aramaic:   וַחֲזוֹ יָת יְקַר אֱלָהָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּתְחוֹת כָּרְסֵי יְקָרֵהּ
Translit.: wa-ḥăzō yāṯ yəqar ʾĕlāhā ḏə-yiśrāʾēl ū-ṯəḥōṯ kārsē yəqārēh
Gloss:     and-see.PEAL.PF.3MPL ACC glory.CST god.DET REL-Israel and-under throne.CST glory-3MS
English:   They saw the Glory of the God of Israel, and under the throne of his Glory …
Source:    Onkelos Exod 24:10a (public domain; Hebrew: וַיִּרְאוּ אֵת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְתַחַת רַגְלָיו)

8. The Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4–7

Aramaic:   שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְיָ אֱלָהָנָא יְיָ חָד
Translit.: šəmaʿ yiśrāʾēl yəyā ʾĕlāhanā yəyā ḥāḏ
Gloss:     hear.PEAL.IMP.2MS Israel LORD god-1PL LORD one
English:   Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.
Source:    Onkelos Deut 6:4 (public domain)
Aramaic:   וְתִרְחַם יָת יְיָ אֱלָהָךְ בְּכָל לִבָּךְ וּבְכָל נַפְשָׁךְ וּבְכָל נִכְסָךְ
Translit.: wə-ṯirḥam yāṯ yəyā ʾĕlāhāḵ bə-ḵol libbāḵ ū-ḇə-ḵol nap̄šāḵ ū-ḇə-ḵol niḵsāḵ
Gloss:     and-love.PEAL.IPF.2MS ACC LORD god-2MS with-all heart-2MS and-with-all soul-2MS and-with-all property-2MS
English:   You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your property.
Source:    Onkelos Deut 6:5 (public domain)
Aramaic:   וּתְתָנִנוּן לִבְנָיךְ וּתְמַלֵל בְּהוֹן בְּמִתְּבָךְ בְּבֵיתָךְ וּבִמְהָכָךְ בְּאָרְחָא וּבְמִשְׁכְּבָךְ וּבִמְקִימָךְ
Translit.: ū-ṯəṯāninnūn li-ḇnāḵ ū-ṯəmallēl bəhōn bə-mittəḇāḵ bə-ḇēṯāḵ ū-ḇi-mhāḵāḵ bə-ʾorḥā ū-ḇə-miškəḇāḵ ū-ḇi-mqīmāḵ
Gloss:     and-repeat.PAEL.IPF.2MS-3MPL to-son.PL-2MS and-speak.PAEL.IPF.2MS in-3MPL in-sit.INF-2MS in-house-2MS and-in-go.INF-2MS in-way.DET and-in-lie.INF-2MS and-in-rise.INF-2MS
English:   Repeat them to your children and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the way, when you lie down and when you rise.
Source:    Onkelos Deut 6:7 (public domain)

Notes: weqatal → imperfect (וְתִרְחַם, וּתְתָנִנוּן, וּתְמַלֵּל); Hebrew infinitives construct with suffixes → Aramaic miqṭal infinitives with suffixes; מְאֹד → נִכְסִין "property" (the rabbinic reading).

9. Jonathan to the Prophets

Aramaic:   בְּשַׁתָּא דְאִתְנַגַע בָּהּ מַלְכָּא עֻזִיָה אֲמַר נְבִיָא חֲזֵיתִי יַת יְקָרָא דַייָ שָׁרֵי עַל כּוּרְסֵיהּ רָם
Translit.: bə-šattā də-ʾiṯnaḡaʿ bāh malkā ʿuzziyyā ʾămar nəḇiyyā ḥăzēṯī yaṯ yəqārā da-yəyā šārē ʿal kūrsēh rām
Gloss:     in-year.DET REL-be.struck.ITHP.PF.3MS in-3FS king.DET Uzziah say.PF.3MS prophet.DET see.PEAL.PF.1SG ACC glory.DET REL-LORD dwell.PEAL.PTCP.ACT.MS on throne-3MS high
English:   In the year in which King Uzziah was struck (with leprosy), the prophet said: I saw the Glory of the LORD resting on his high throne
Source:    Jonathan Isa 6:1a (Mikraot Gedolot, public domain; Hebrew: בִּשְׁנַת־מוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עֻזִּיָּהוּ וָאֶרְאֶה אֶת־אֲדֹנָי)

Notes: "the year King Uzziah died" becomes "the year he was struck" (the rabbinic view that leprosy is like death); "I saw the Lord" becomes "I saw the Glory of the LORD"; אֲמַר נְבִיָּא "the prophet said" introduces a first-person text. Note also the 1 sg. perfect חֲזֵיתִי (with ־ִי, a variant of ־ִית) and the spelling יַת.

Aramaic:   קַדִישׁ בִּשְׁמֵי מְרוֹמָא עִלָאָה בֵית שְׁכִנְתֵּיהּ קַדִישׁ עַל אַרְעָא עוֹבַד גְבוּרְתֵּיהּ קַדִישׁ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָא
Translit.: qaddīš bi-šmē mərōmā ʿillāʾā bēṯ šəḵintēh qaddīš ʿal ʾarʿā ʿōḇaḏ gəḇūrtēh qaddīš lə-ʿālam ū-lə-ʿālmē ʿālmayyā
Gloss:     holy in-heaven.PL.CST height.DET high.DET house.CST presence-3MS holy on earth.DET work.CST might-3MS holy for-ever and-for-age.PL.CST age.M.PL.DET
English:   Holy in the highest heavens, the house of his Presence; holy on earth, the work of his might; holy for ever and to all eternity
Source:    Jonathan Isa 6:3 (Mikraot Gedolot, public domain)

Notes: the threefold "holy" is explained as three domains (heaven, earth, eternity). This targum is recited daily in the prayer U-va le-Ṣiyyon (the Qedushah de-sidra).

Aramaic:   הָא יַצְלַח עַבְדִי מְשִׁיחָא יְרוּם וְיִסְגֵי וְיִתְקוֹף לַחֲדָא
Translit.: hā yaṣlaḥ ʿaḇdī məšīḥā yərūm wə-yisgē wə-yiṯqōp̄ la-ḥăḏā
Gloss:     behold prosper.APH.IPF.3MS servant-1SG Messiah.DET be.high.IPF.3MS and-grow.IPF.3MS and-be.strong.IPF.3MS very
English:   Behold, my servant the Messiah shall prosper; he shall be exalted, increase and be very strong.
Source:    Jonathan Isa 52:13 (Mikraot Gedolot, public domain)
Aramaic:   וְקָם יוֹנָה לְמֶעְרַק לְיַמָא מִן קֳדָם דְאִתְנַבֵּי בִּשְׁמָא דַייָ
Translit.: wə-qām yōnā lə-meʿraq lə-yammā min qŏḏām də-ʾiṯnabbē bi-šmā da-yəyā
Gloss:     and-rise.PF.3MS Jonah to-flee.PEAL.INF to-sea.DET from before REL-prophesy.ITHPA.PF.3MS in-name.DET REL-LORD
English:   Jonah set out to flee to the sea, away from (the place where) he had prophesied in the name of the LORD
Source:    Jonathan Jonah 1:3a (Mikraot Gedolot, public domain; Hebrew: לִבְרֹחַ תַּרְשִׁישָׁה מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה)

Notes: one cannot flee "from before the LORD", so the targum makes it a flight from prophecy; "Tarshish" becomes "the sea" (לְיַמָּא).

Aramaic:   אֱלָהֵין לְמֶעְבַּד דִין דִקְשׁוֹט וּלְמִרְחַם גְמִילוּת חִסְדָא וַהֲוֵי צְנִיעַ לְהַלְכָא בִּדְחַלְתָּא דֶאֱלָהָךְ
Translit.: ʾĕlāhēn lə-meʿbaḏ dīn də-qəšōṭ ū-lə-mirḥam gəmīlūṯ ḥisdā wa-hăwē ṣənīaʿ lə-halḵā bi-ḏḥaltā de-ʾĕlāhāḵ
Gloss:     but to-do.PEAL.INF judgment REL-truth and-to-love.PEAL.INF doing.CST kindness.DET and-be.PEAL.IMP.2MS humble to-walk.PAEL.INF in-fear.DET REL-god-2MS
English:   only to do true justice, to love deeds of kindness, and to be humble in walking in the fear of your God
Source:    Jonathan Mic 6:8b (Mikraot Gedolot, public domain)
Aramaic:   וְשַׁבַּחַת דְבוֹרָה וּבָרָק בַּר אֲבִינוֹעַם עַל נִסָא וּפוּרְקָנָא דְאִתְעֲבִידָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיוֹמָא הַהוּא לְמֵימָר
Translit.: wə-šabbaḥaṯ dəḇōrā ū-ḇārāq bar ʾăḇīnōʿam ʿal nissā ū-p̄urqānā də-ʾiṯʿăḇīḏā lə-yiśrāʾēl bə-yōmā hahū lə-mēmar
Gloss:     and-praise.PAEL.PF.3FS Deborah and-Barak son.CST Abinoam on miracle.DET and-salvation.DET REL-do.ITHP.PF.3FS to-Israel in-day.DET that to-say.INF
English:   Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam gave praise for the miracle and the salvation that was done for Israel on that day, saying:
Source:    Jonathan Judg 5:1 (Mikraot Gedolot, public domain; Hebrew: וַתָּשַׁר דְּבוֹרָה …)

Notes: the verb agrees with the first subject (3 f. sg., as in the Hebrew); "sang" becomes "praised", and the reason is added.

The Elamur team

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