Targum Neofiti
Encyclopedia
Targum Neofiti is the largest of the Western Targumim
on the Torah
, or Palestinian
Targumim. It consists of 450 folios covering all books of the Pentateuch, with only a few damaged verses.
More than a mere Aramaic translation of the Hebrew text, Neofiti offers lengthy expansions on the biblical text at several places. It is often more expansive than Targum Onkelos
, but less so than Targum Pseudo-Jonathan
.
At that time Targum Neofiti was titled incorrectly as a manuscript of Targum Onkelos
, and it remained unremarked until 1949, when Professor Jose Maria Millas Vallicrosa and Alejandro Díez Macho
noticed that it differed significantly from Targum Onkelos. It was translated and published from 1968-1979 and has since then been considered the most important of the Palestinian Targumim as it is by far the most complete of the Western Targumim and perhaps the earliest as well.
dates the copy to 1504 CE.
Díez Macho argues that Neofiti dated to the first century CE as part of a pre-Christian
textual tradition, based upon anti-halakhic
material, early geographical and historical terms, New Testament
parallels, Greek
and Latin
words, and some supposedly pre-masoretic Hebrew text. Martin McNamara argues that Neofiti originated in the fourth century CE.
The language of the Targum Neophyti is conventionally known as "Palestinian Aramaic" as opposed to the "Babylonian Aramaic" of the Targum Onkelos.
Targum
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
on the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, or Palestinian
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
Targumim. It consists of 450 folios covering all books of the Pentateuch, with only a few damaged verses.
More than a mere Aramaic translation of the Hebrew text, Neofiti offers lengthy expansions on the biblical text at several places. It is often more expansive than Targum Onkelos
Targum Onkelos
right|thumb|Interlinear text of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 6.3–10 with [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] Targum Onkelos from the [[British Library]]....
, but less so than Targum Pseudo-Jonathan
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan is a western targum of the Torah from the land of Israel . Its correct title is Targum Yerushalmi , which is how it was known in medieval times...
.
History
In 1587 Andrea de Monte gave Targum Neofiti to Ugo Boncompagni. De Monte had censored it by deleting most references to idolatry while he owned the manuscript. In 1602 Boncampagni gave what was at that time labeled "Item 1" along with a fragmentary targum to the Collegium Ecclesiasticum Adolescentium Neophytorum (or Pia Domus Neophytorum, the document's namesake), who preserved it until 1886, when the Vatican bought it along with other manuscripts when the Collegium closed.At that time Targum Neofiti was titled incorrectly as a manuscript of Targum Onkelos
Targum Onkelos
right|thumb|Interlinear text of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] [[Book of Numbers|Numbers]] 6.3–10 with [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] Targum Onkelos from the [[British Library]]....
, and it remained unremarked until 1949, when Professor Jose Maria Millas Vallicrosa and Alejandro Díez Macho
Alejandro Díez Macho
Alexandro Díez Macho was a Spanish Catholic priest and Hebraist. In 1951-52 he invited professor Alexander Sperber of New York to the University of Barcelona to work with Spanish scholars on the manuscripts of the Targum Neofiti.-References:...
noticed that it differed significantly from Targum Onkelos. It was translated and published from 1968-1979 and has since then been considered the most important of the Palestinian Targumim as it is by far the most complete of the Western Targumim and perhaps the earliest as well.
Dating
Neofiti's date of origin is uncertain. However, the manuscript's colophonColophon (publishing)
In publishing, a colophon is either:* A brief description of publication or production notes relevant to the edition, in modern books usually located at the reverse of the title page, but can also sometimes be located at the end of the book, or...
dates the copy to 1504 CE.
Díez Macho argues that Neofiti dated to the first century CE as part of a pre-Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
textual tradition, based upon anti-halakhic
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
material, early geographical and historical terms, New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
parallels, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
words, and some supposedly pre-masoretic Hebrew text. Martin McNamara argues that Neofiti originated in the fourth century CE.
The language of the Targum Neophyti is conventionally known as "Palestinian Aramaic" as opposed to the "Babylonian Aramaic" of the Targum Onkelos.