The Aramaic Bible: Targums in their Historical Context

MAHER Tar gum Pseudo-Jonathan of Deuteronomy LI-8 285
has the same meaning, Onqelos and Neofiti again use pny and sty
respectively, while Neofiti has hrhr, 'contemplate (committing sin)'.
In Lev. 19.4, where pnh is used in the context of turning to the
worship of idols, Onqelos again employs the Aramaic cognate, while
Pseudo-Jonathan and Neofiti use sty. However, in Deut. 31.18, 20,
where Hebrew pnh has the same meaning, Pseudo-Jonathan follows
Onqelos and uses the Aramaic cognate, against sty of Neofiti. In
Lev. 19.31 and 20.6 where pnh is used with reference to turning to
mediums Onqelos once again has pny, while Neofiti 42 and Pseudo-
Jonathan have sty.
In Lev. 26.9 where pnh means 'look with favour' Pseudo-Jonathan,
Neofiti and Neofiti marginal gloss, as well as Onqelos, render it by its
Aramaic cognate. In Num. 16.15, where pnh means 'pay attention to
(offerings)', Onqelos and Neofiti translate it as 'accept (qbl) with
favour', while Pseudo-Jonathan, Neofiti marginal gloss, P and V all
employ the verb ski, 'look upon'. In Exod. 2.12, where pnh means
'turn (to look)', Onqelos again uses the Aramaic cognate, while
Pseudo-Jonathan, Neofiti, V and P all use the verb ski, which means
'look', and which suits the context admirably. When Num. 12.10 states
that Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous
Onqelos renders 'turned (wv/?n)' by 'tpny. Pseudo-Jonathan employs
the root ski, as does Neofiti marginal gloss. The phrase in question is
omitted in Neofiti. In Deut. 9.27, where pnh means 'pay attention to',
Pseudo-Jonathan and Neofiti again use ski, while Onqelos employs pny
as usual. When pnh is used in the formula 'towards evening
(morning)' in Gen. 24.63 and Deut. 23.12 Onqelos renders it
literally, using the Aramaic cognate, while the other Targums of these
verses (Gen. 24.63: Pseudo-Jonathan, Neofiti, Neofiti interlinear gloss;
Deut. 23.12: Neofiti marginal gloss, V) 43 employ a more idiomatic
Aramaic phrase I'dwny, literally, 'at the time of.
From all of this we see that Onqelos is almost one hundred per cent
consistent in translating Hebrew pnh by its Aramaic cognate. Pseudo-
Jonathan often agrees with Onqelos, as is the case in our present verse
(Deut. 1.7). On many occasions, however, Pseudo-Jonathan, in order
to bring out a particular nuance of the Hebrew verb, abandons the
42. In 19.31 Neofiti actually reads ttwn, which, following Neofiti interlinear
gloss, should be corrected to tstwn. In 20.6 Neofiti marginal gloss has ystkl,
'watches'.
43. Deut. 23.12 is omitted in both Neofiti and Pseudo-Jonathan.