The Aramaic Bible: Targums in their Historical Context

McNAMARA Glazier-Liturgical Press Aramaic Bible Project 109
translation (i.e. if the same Hebrew term or phrase is always translated
in the same manner in Aramaic, the same should be done in the
English translation). Targumic deviations from the Hebrew text,
whether by interpretation or paraphrase, should be indicated by italics.
The tetragrammaton, or letters representing it, should be translated as
'the Lord'. Technical terms such as Memra, Shekinah (Shekinta),
Dibbur(a), Dibber(a) should be left untranslated. Their meaning could
be explained in a glossary accompanying each volume.
9. The apparatus would indicate the relationship between the
English translation and the Aramaic original, noting variant readings
in the original, emendations and such like.
10. The notes to the text should pay attention to a variety of
matters, e.g. the relation of the Aramaic translation to the original
Hebrew, to other early versions, to parallel passages in Jewish and
Christian tradition, the presence of foreign loan words (Greek, Latin,
for example, in the Aramaic text, or the reason for the particular
Aramaic paraphrase). The notes, in their extent and nature, would
vary from one Targum and translator to another.
11. The introductions were expected to contain all the information
necessary and useful for the understanding of the particular Targum
or group of Targums. Each introduction would attend to the following:
the use of the particular biblical book in Jewish life—in the
liturgy, schools etc.—and in the history of Jewish interpretation; early
citations of the particular Targum; the number and nature of the
known manuscripts of the Targum; the nature of the Aramaic of the
particular Targum manuscripts; the nature of the Aramaic paraphrase
and its relation to the Hebrew text; the relation of a particular Targum
to Jewish exegesis as known from other sources; the theological concepts
and teaching of the particular Targum; the probable date and
place of composition of the Targum; editions of the Aramaic text;
translations of the particular Targum, especially in English translation;
and finally, a bibliography of writings (particularly recent and in
English) on the particular Targum, or group of Targums.
These guidelines were drawn up at the inception of the project. It
was to be expected that they would be modified as the individual
Targums were being translated and annotated.
Among other things considered at this early period was the question
of deadlines for the submission of manuscripts for the various
Targumim, the date of publication of the individual works and of