“The Targum Neofiti does not translate the Torah: interprets it, expands it, and makes it speak with the living voice of his people”

1) Definition and scope

Targum Neofiti it is the largest of the so-called targumes western or palestinian on the Torah (Pentateuch). It is not a mere translation word-for-word from Hebrew to aramaic, but rather a version parafrástica and exegetical, with amplifications that explain or develop the sense of the biblical text. In terms of scope, it is often more expansive that Onquelos and less that Pseudo-Jonathan. Covers the five books of the Torah in a single codex almost completely (about 450 sheets), with only a few passages damaged.

2) The manuscript: origins, identification and publication

The primary witness is the codex known as Neofiti 1currently kept in the Vatican Library. The manuscript was historically associated with the Collegium Neophytorum (“The college of the Neophytes”, hence the name “Neofiti”), after passing through the hands of converts from judaism as Andrea Monte (who also introduced censorship) and Ugo Boncompagni. The Vatican bought the set at the close of the Collegium in 1886. For decades, the codex was evil classified as Onquelos until the mid-TWENTIETH century recognized its true nature.

The rediscovered academic links to Alejandro Díez Machowho in 1956 announced the identification of a targum palestinian complete in the Vatican Library and began his critical edition and dissemination—a milestone that reactivated the studies on the targumes western. The reference edition was published between 1968 and 1979 (series Neophyti 1: Targum Palestinense MS of the Vatican Library).

The colophon the manuscript dates back to the copy in 1504 (Rome)—that is to say, the witness it is late-medieval/renaissance; no confused with the composition original of the targum. The codex features numerous glosses marginal with corrections and variants (a number close to the Pseudo-Jonathan).

3) Dating and context of the work

The date of composition the Targum Neofiti is discussed. Díez Macho, he defended a origin very early (first century ad. C.) with features of pre-christian (vocabulary, place names, a possible parallel new testament, etc). For its part, Martin McNamara proposed a frame, rear (IV century d. C.). In any case, the consensus places targum western/palestinian (language aramaic palestinianother than the aramaic babylonian of Onquelos).

4) Profile of the linguistic and textual

• Language: aramaic west known as “aramaic of palestine” (unlike the eastern aramaic/babylonian). Recorded loans Greek and Latin, a feature which is compatible with an environment western mediterranean.
• Format and device: the codex includes glosses marginal and variants; its been almost completely converted in the witness key for the palestinian family in front of the fragmentary nature of reality of other texts (“Fragment Targums”).
• Relationships text: by their nature, Neofiti often about to the Pseudo-Jonathan in passages expansive, although it maintains a profile; its continuity with the tradition palestine, it becomes indispensable to study the set of Targumim Yerushalmí/Palestinians.

5) Traits exegetical and theological

• Paraphrase interpretative: Neofiti added expansions midrashic that dealt with theological implications, moral or narrative of the Hebrew text; their degree of expansion is intermediate between Onquelos (more literal), and Pseudo-Jonathan (most verbose).
• Trends common to the targumes palestinians: avoidance of anthropomorphisms by way of finding difficulties with descriptions around theological and use of equivalent reverential; contextualizaciones historical; and occasional updates interpretive own environment sinagogal. (Characterization general of the palestinian family based in panoramas academic Brill and introductions The Aramaic Bible).

the examples of verse-to-verse and the critical apparatus can be found in the editions and translations listed below and in digital resources that offer the aramaic text apparatus

6) Comparison with other Targumim on the Torah

• Onquelos (babylonian): version more literal and standardized in the field babylonian rabbinical; Neofiti, in turn, reflects western tradition with paraphrase and notes midrashic more frequent.
• Pseudo-Jonathan (western): often more long and flowery that Neofiti; the Neofiti is usually located between Onquelos and Pseudo-Jonathan in degree of expansion.

7) Condition of the edition, and translations accesses

• Prince edition and studies: A. Díez Macho, Neophyti 1: Targum Palestinense MS of the Vatican Library (1968-1979). Founding milestone in the dissemination of modern text.
• English translations series (academic): Martin McNamara and collaborators published Genesis (1992) and Exodus (1994, with notes of R. Hayward) in the collection The Aramaic Bible: The Targums (Liturgical Press). These are translations with introduction critical and device notes.
• Digital access: there are portals that present the aramaic text with comparison tools and apparatus (for example, Sefaria and AlHaTorah). Useful for reference and comparison, although the critical edition print remains the basis of academic.

8) Importance of academic

Neofiti 1 is central to rebuild the tradition palestine the targumes for your integrity and profile exegetical. Its rediscovery in 1956 reallocated studies of targum, providing a witness continuous in front of the fragmentariness of other texts, western and offering a privileged window the aramaic palestinian and hermeneutics sinagogal tardoantigua.

9) Use and precautions performing

• Textual criticism: always distinguish between the date of the manuscript (copy of 1504), and the stratigraphy textual (layers and previous traditions).
• Context is doctrinal: the paraphrase reflect readings performing; therefore, Neofiti is not a “dictionary of equivalences” of the Hebrew into aramaic, but a witness exegetical should be read along to Onquelos, Pseudo-Jonathan and Fragment Targums.

Conclusion

The Targum Neofiti it is the pillar to study the palestinian family of targumes: a witness almost full of the Pentateuch in aramaic palestinian, with paraphrase exegetical own reading sinagogal tardoantigua. Your history handwritten singular (bad cataloged until the mid-TWENTIETH century) and its modern edition from 1968 convert it into a indispensable to understand the diversity of traditions targúmicas in front of Onquelos and Pseudo-Jonathan.