Former Prophets — Targum Jonathan
182 renderings documented
Overview
Summary
Targum Jonathan on the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings) is more expansive than Onkelos, offering interpretive paraphrases, theological commentary, and narrative expansion. The Memra, Shekinah, and anti-anthropomorphic patterns continue, but Jonathan adds historical identifications, moral commentary, and eschatological readings not found in Onkelos.
Notable Renderings
The divine commander in Joshua 5 is identified as an angel. Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2 receives Messianic interpretation. The Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7 is rendered with royal-Messianic overtones. Elijah's encounters with God at Horeb parallel the Sinai theophany treatment. Solomon's Temple dedication in 1 Kings 8 features dense Shekinah language.
Theological Themes
Anti-anthropomorphism in theophanies and divine encounters; Memra as agent of salvation and judgment in the conquest and monarchy narratives; Shekinah theology centered on the Temple; Messianic readings in the Davidic covenant and royal psalms embedded in the narrative; moral interpretation of Israel's historical failures.
Hebrew (MT)
כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָךְ בַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר כִּי־שְׁלֹמֹה בְנֵךְ יִמְלֹךְ אַחֲרַי
as I swore to you by the LORD, God of Israel, saying, 'Solomon your son shall reign after me.'
Targum (Aramaic)
כְּמָא דְקַיֵּימִית לִיךְ בְמֵימְרָא דַייָ אֱלָהָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְמֵימָר אֲרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה בְּרֵךְ יִמְלוֹךְ בָּתְרַי
Targum Rendering
as I confirmed by oath to you in the Memra of the LORD God of Israel, saying, 'Solomon your son shall reign after me.'
David's oath to Bathsheba about Solomon. The dynasty-securing oath taken 'in the Memra' — covenantal continuity of the Davidic line is mediated through the Word.
Hebrew (MT)
וְשָׁמַרְתָּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ
you shall keep the charge of the LORD your God.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְתִיטַּר יָת מַטְּרַת מֵימְרָא דַייָ אֱלָהָךְ
Targum Rendering
you shall keep the charge of the Memra of the LORD your God.
David's deathbed charge to Solomon. The 'charge of YHWH' becomes 'charge of the Memra' — covenant obedience is to the divine Word, not to an abstract God.
Hebrew (MT)
וְנָתַתָּ לְעַבְדְּךָ לֵב שֹׁמֵעַ לִשְׁפֹּט אֶת עַמְּךָ
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people.
Targum (Aramaic)
vetitein le'avdakh libba chakima lemeidan yat ammakh
Targum Rendering
Give your servant a wise heart to judge your people.
Solomon's prayer for wisdom at Gibeon. The Targum's libba chakima ('wise heart') anticipates the foundational Wisdom-tradition vocabulary that develops through Proverbs and finds its NT culmination at James 1:5 ('if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God').
Hebrew (MT)
וְהִנְנִי אֹמֵר לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת לְשֵׁם יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי
behold, I propose to build a house for the name of the LORD my God.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְהָא אֲנָא אָמַר לְמִבְנֵי בֵּיתָא לִשְׁמָא דַייָ אֱלָהִי
Targum Rendering
behold, I say I will build a house for the name of the LORD my God.
Solomon to Hiram. Temple-building 'for the Name' — Targum preserves the Deuteronomic Name-theology (the temple houses the Name, not God Himself).
Hebrew (MT)
וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל
And I will dwell among the children of Israel.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'ashrei Shekhineti bego benei Yisrael
Targum Rendering
And I will cause my Shekinah to dwell among the children of Israel.
God's promise during Temple construction mirrors the Tabernacle promise (Ex 25:8). The Temple is the Shekinah's permanent house, replacing the mobile tent.
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּשְׁלַם כָּל־הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה הַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בֵּית יְהוָה
all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was completed.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּשְׁלִים כָּל עֲבִידְתָּא דַּעֲבַד מַלְכָּא שְׁלֹמֹה לְבֵית מַקְדְּשָׁא דַייָ
Targum Rendering
all the work that King Solomon did for the sanctuary of the LORD was completed.
Temple completion. 'House of YHWH' becomes 'sanctuary of the LORD' (בֵּית מַקְדְּשָׁא) — the temple is consistently named as a sanctified place of the divine Name, not God's home.
Hebrew (MT)
וְהֶעָנָן מָלֵא אֶת בֵּית יְהוָה
And a cloud filled the house of the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
va'anana mela yat beit maqdesha deAdonai
Targum Rendering
And the cloud filled the sanctuary house of the LORD.
The dedication of Solomon's temple — the Shekinah-cloud descends. Echoed at Acts 1:9 (the ascension cloud) and Revelation 15:8 (the eschatological glory-cloud).
Hebrew (MT)
יְהוָה אָמַר לִשְׁכֹּן בָּעֲרָפֶל
The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
Targum (Aramaic)
Adonai amar le'ashraah Shekhinteih ba'arafela
Targum Rendering
The LORD said he would cause his Shekinah to dwell in the thick cloud.
Solomon's dedication speech opens with Shekinah theology. God dwells in the Temple's darkness through the Shekinah, not in his essence.
Hebrew (MT)
אֵין־כָּמוֹךָ אֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת שֹׁמֵר הַבְּרִית וְהַחֶסֶד
there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love.
Targum (Aramaic)
לֵית בַּר מִנָּךְ אֱלָהָא דִּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ בִּשְׁמַיָּא מִלְּעֵילָא וְשַׁלִּיט בְּאַרְעָא מִלְּרַע נָטֵיר קְיָמָא וְחִסְדָּא
Targum Rendering
there is none besides you — God whose Shekinah is in the heavens above and who rules on earth beneath, keeping the covenant and the steadfast love.
Solomon's dedication prayer. Standard Shekinah-in-heaven / dominion-on-earth pattern. Pre-Nicene: divine presence (Shekinah) and divine rule are conceptually distinct yet inseparable.
Hebrew (MT)
הִנֵּה הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יְכַלְכְּלוּךָ אַף כִּי הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה
Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you — how much less this house!
Targum (Aramaic)
ha shemayya ushemei shemayya la yekhulun leqodam yeqarakh af arei beita hadein
Targum Rendering
Behold, the heavens and the heavens of heavens cannot contain your glory — how much less this house!
The heavens cannot contain God's glory (yeqar), not God himself. Jonathan adds a layer of abstraction: it is the glory that exceeds all spatial bounds, preserving Solomon's theology of divine transcendence while using the glory concept.
Hebrew (MT)
וְאַתָּה תִּשְׁמַע אֶל־מְכוֹן שִׁבְתְּךָ אֶל־הַשָּׁמַיִם
And you will hear from heaven, your dwelling place.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'att tiqabbeil tzlotehon min atar beit Shekhinetakh min shemayya
Targum Rendering
And you will receive their prayers from the place of the house of your Shekinah, from heaven.
God's 'dwelling place' in heaven becomes 'the house of your Shekinah.' There is a heavenly Shekinah-dwelling that corresponds to the earthly Temple, establishing a two-tiered Shekinah theology: the Temple below mirrors the heavenly abode above.
Hebrew (MT)
לָשׂוּם שְׁמִי שָׁם עַד־עוֹלָם
To put my name there forever.
Targum (Aramaic)
le'ashraah Shekhineti tamman le'alma
Targum Rendering
To cause my Shekinah to dwell there forever.
'My name' dwelling forever becomes 'my Shekinah' dwelling forever. Jonathan equates the divine Name with the Shekinah, both being modes of God's accessible presence.
Hebrew (MT)
יְהִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בָּרוּךְ אֲשֶׁר חָפֵץ בְּךָ
blessed be the LORD your God who has delighted in you.
Targum (Aramaic)
יְהֵי שְׁמָא דַייָ אֱלָהָךְ בְּרִיךְ דְּצָבֵי בָךְ
Targum Rendering
blessed be the name of the LORD your God who delighted in you.
Queen of Sheba's blessing on Solomon. Direct blessing of YHWH softened to blessing of 'the name of the LORD' — even pagan-Gentile praise is mediated through the divine name.
Hebrew (MT)
לְמַעַן הֱיוֹת נִיר לְדָוִיד עַבְדִּי כָּל הַיָּמִים
That David my servant may always have a lamp before me.
Targum (Aramaic)
bedil dey'hi malkhuta lidavid avdi kol yomayya
Targum Rendering
That there may be a kingdom for David my servant always.
The 'lamp for David' Davidic-covenant promise. Cited at 2 Sam 21:17, 1 Kgs 15:4. Foundational for the eschatological-Davidic-lamp theology, culminating in Christ as the unfading lamp (Rev 21:23).
Hebrew (MT)
וְהָיָה אִם־תִּשְׁמַע אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר אֲצַוֶּךָ
if you will hearken to all that I command you.
Targum (Aramaic)
וִיהֵי אִם תְּקַבֵּיל לְמֵימְרִי לְכָל דַּאֲפַקֵּדִינָּךְ
Targum Rendering
if you will receive my Memra in all that I command you.
Ahijah's promise to Jeroboam. 'Hearken to me' → 'receive my Memra' — covenant obedience is to the divine Word, not to abstract instructions. (Jeroboam fails this charge, ch. 12.)
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי מֵאִתִּי נִהְיָה הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה
for this matter is from me.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי מִן קֳדָמַי הֲוָה פִתְגָּמָא הָדֵין
Targum Rendering
for from before me has this matter come.
Shemaiah to Rehoboam re: kingdom-split. Anti-anthropomorphism (קֳדָמַי 'from before me') preserves divine sovereignty over schism without locating its agency 'in' God.
Hebrew (MT)
חַל־נָא אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ
entreat now the favor of the LORD your God.
Targum (Aramaic)
צַלִּי כְעַן קֳדָם יְיָ אֱלָהָךְ
Targum Rendering
pray now before the LORD your God.
Jeroboam after his hand withers. 'Entreat the face of YHWH' (anthropomorphic) becomes 'pray before the LORD' — anti-anthropomorphism: face-language consistently neutralized.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי יְהוָה דִּבֵּר
for the LORD has spoken.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי מֵימְרָא דַייָ גְּזַר
Targum Rendering
for the Memra of the LORD has decreed.
Ahijah's prophecy against Jeroboam. Divine speech/decree mediated through Memra. Pattern recurs throughout Kings prophetic-judgment formulas.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיַּעַשׂ אָסָא הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה כְּדָוִד אָבִיו
Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done.
Targum (Aramaic)
וַעֲבַד אָסָא דְּתַקֵּין קֳדָם יְיָ כְּדָוִד אֲבוּהִי
Targum Rendering
Asa did what was right before the LORD, like David his father.
Standard king-evaluation formula. 'In the eyes of YHWH' → 'before the LORD' (קֳדָם — anti-anthropomorphism). David is the standard against which all Davidic kings are measured.
Hebrew (MT)
וְגַם בְּיַד־יֵהוּא בֶן־חֲנָנִי הַנָּבִיא דְּבַר־יְהוָה הָיָה
the word of the LORD came by the hand of Jehu son of Hanani the prophet.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְאַף בִּידָא דְיֵהוּא בַּר חֲנָנִי נְבִיָּא פִּתְגָּם נְבוּאָה מִן קֳדָם יְיָ הֲוָה
Targum Rendering
and also by the hand of Jehu son of Hanani the prophet a word of prophecy from before the LORD came.
Standard prophetic-formula recasting: 'word of YHWH' → 'word of prophecy from before YHWH.' Mediation pattern.
Hebrew (MT)
חַי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו
As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand.
Targum (Aramaic)
qayyam Adonai elaha deyisrael de'almeshtit qodamohi
Targum Rendering
As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I have stood.
Elijah's signature prophetic-presence formula. Echoed by Elisha (2 Kgs 3:14) and at Luke 1:19 (Gabriel: 'I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God').
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּתְמֹדֵד עַל הַיֶּלֶד שָׁלשׁ פְּעָמִים
Then he stretched himself upon the child three times.
Targum (Aramaic)
uta'achim al rivya teli'tat zimnin
Targum Rendering
And he stretched himself out upon the boy three times.
Elijah's resurrection of the widow's son at Zarephath. The first resurrection narrative in the OT. Cited at Luke 4:25-26 by Jesus and at Heb 11:35 ('women received their dead by resurrection').
Hebrew (MT)
עַד מָתַי אַתֶּם פֹּסְחִים עַל שְׁתֵּי הַסְּעִפִּים
How long will you go limping between two different opinions?
Targum (Aramaic)
ad immat atton pelagin lethatrein cheshrayya
Targum Rendering
How long will you be divided between two opinions?
Elijah's challenge at Mount Carmel — the divided-allegiance critique. Echoed at Matthew 6:24 / Luke 16:13 ('no one can serve two masters') and James 1:8 ('a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways').
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּפֹּל אֵשׁ יְהוָה וַתֹּאכַל אֶת הָעֹלָה
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering.
Targum (Aramaic)
unfalat ishshata min qodam Adonai va'akhalat yat alta
Targum Rendering
And fire fell from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering.
The Mount Carmel divine fire — the climactic divine vindication of Elijah. Echoed at 2 Chr 7:1 (Solomon's temple) and Acts 2:3 (Pentecost tongues of fire).
Hebrew (MT)
וְהִנֵּה יְהוָה עֹבֵר... לֹא בָרוּחַ יְהוָה... לֹא בָרַעַשׁ יְהוָה... קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה
And behold, the LORD was passing by... the LORD was not in the wind... the LORD was not in the earthquake... a still small voice.
Targum (Aramaic)
veha Adonai itgeli... la berucha shekhinteih daAdonai... la bezu'a shekhinteih daAdonai... qal memallel berchichut
Targum Rendering
And behold, the LORD revealed himself... not in the wind was the Shekinah of the LORD... not in the earthquake was the Shekinah of the LORD... a voice speaking softly.
The Horeb theophany for Elijah receives full Shekinah treatment. God 'passing by' becomes God revealing himself. The Shekinah was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire — but in the 'voice speaking softly' (qal memallel berchichut). The 'still small voice' becomes an articulate voice whispering, emphasizing verbal communication over numinous experience.
Hebrew (MT)
צֵא וְעָמַדְתָּ בָהָר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְהִנֵּה יְהוָה עֹבֵר
go out and stand on the mount before the LORD; and behold, the LORD passed by.
Targum (Aramaic)
פּוֹק וְתֵיקוּם בְּטוּרָא קֳדָם יְיָ וְהָא יְקָרָא דַייָ מִתְגְּלֵי
Targum Rendering
go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; and behold, the Glory of the LORD will be revealed.
Horeb theophany. 'YHWH was passing by' becomes 'the Glory (Yeqara) of the LORD will be revealed' — anti-anthropomorphism. God Himself does not 'pass by' (a humanlike motion); His Glory is revealed.
Hebrew (MT)
וְאַחַר הָרַעַשׁ אֵשׁ לֹא בָאֵשׁ יְהוָה וְאַחַר הָאֵשׁ קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה
And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
Targum (Aramaic)
uvatar ze'ata ishshata la be'ishshata yeqara deAdonai uvatar ishshata qal demishtatteq
Targum Rendering
And after the earthquake, fire — but the Glory of the LORD was not in the fire — and after the fire, the sound of being silent.
MARQUEE — the qol demamah daqqah ('still small voice') — Elijah's Horeb encounter. The Targum's qal demishtatteq ('sound of being silent') interprets the paradox creatively. The Yeqara is explicitly absent from the violent phenomena and present in the silence — anticipating the Christian contemplative-silence tradition.
Hebrew (MT)
וְיָדַעְתָּ כִּי־אֲנִי יְהוָה
you shall know that I am the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְתִידַּע אֲרֵי אֲנָא יְיָ
Targum Rendering
you shall know that I am the LORD.
Prophet to Ahab before Aphek. Recognition formula preserved literally — emphasizes that even Ahab is a witness to YHWH's sovereignty.
Hebrew (MT)
בֵּרַךְ נָבוֹת אֱלֹהִים וָמֶלֶךְ
Naboth has cursed God and the king.
Targum (Aramaic)
barikh navot qodam Adonai velemalka
Targum Rendering
Naboth blessed God and the king.
The Naboth-injustice scene. The Targum euphemizes 'cursed' as 'blessed' — a typical scribal anti-blasphemy reflex.
Hebrew (MT)
רָאִיתִי אֶת יְהוָה יֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסְאוֹ וְכָל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם עֹמֵד עָלָיו
I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him.
Targum (Aramaic)
chazeit yat yeqara deAdonai yatev al kursei yeqareih vekhol mishirei demarom kayyem aluhi
Targum Rendering
I saw the Glory of the LORD seated upon his throne of glory, and all the host of heaven standing before him.
Micaiah's throne vision. Same Yeqara-substitution as Isaiah 6:1. Cited at Revelation 4-5's cosmic throne-room. The 'host of heaven standing before him' is the divine-council pattern (Job 1-2, Dan 7:9-10, Ps 89:5-7).
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּדֹּר נֶדֶר וַתֹּאמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת
And she vowed a vow and said: O LORD of hosts.
Targum (Aramaic)
uneddat nidra va'amret Adonai tzevaot
Targum Rendering
And she vowed a vow and said: O LORD of hosts.
Hannah's vow at Shiloh. The first appearance of the divine title 'LORD of hosts' (YHWH tzevaot) in the OT — establishing the warrior-God epithet that runs through the prophetic literature. Hannah's vow becomes the structural prototype of Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).
Hebrew (MT)
וְחַנָּה הִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת עַל לִבָּהּ
Hannah was speaking in her heart.
Targum (Aramaic)
vechana hi memallela belibbah
Targum Rendering
And Hannah was speaking in her heart.
Hannah's silent prayer — the OT origin of silent-prayer practice. Echoes through Jewish synagogue practice (the silent Amidah) and Christian inner-prayer traditions.
Hebrew (MT)
אֵין קָדוֹשׁ כַּיהוָה כִּי אֵין בִּלְתֶּךָ
There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you.
Targum (Aramaic)
leit qaddish keAdonai arei leit bar minakh
Targum Rendering
There is none holy as the LORD, for there is none beside you.
Hannah's prayer opens with monotheistic confession rendered literally. The Targum treats Hannah's Song as prophetic poetry.
Hebrew (MT)
יְהוָה מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל
The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
Targum (Aramaic)
Adonai memit umachei machet lishe'ol uma'asseiq
Targum Rendering
The LORD kills and makes alive; he brings down to Sheol and brings up.
Hannah's Song's resurrection-power formula. Echoed at Deut 32:39 (Song of Moses). Foundational for OT resurrection theology.
Hebrew (MT)
יְהוָה יָדִין אַפְסֵי אָרֶץ וְיִתֶּן עֹז לְמַלְכּוֹ וְיָרֵם קֶרֶן מְשִׁיחוֹ
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.
Targum (Aramaic)
Adonai yedun siyyafei ar'a viyitten taqof lemalkeih virom qeren meshicheih
Targum Rendering
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth, and he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his Messiah.
Jonathan renders 'his anointed' (meshicho) as 'his Messiah' (meshicheih) with eschatological force. Hannah's concluding prophecy is read as pointing beyond any immediate king to the ultimate Messianic ruler. This is significant because no king existed yet in Israel when Hannah spoke.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיָּבֹא יְהוָה וַיִּתְיַצַּב
And the LORD came and stood.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'itgeli Adonai veqam
Targum Rendering
And the LORD revealed himself and stood.
God does not 'come' to Samuel's location — he reveals himself. The spatial movement is replaced with revelation, though 'stood' is preserved since the context describes a prophetic vision.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּסֶף יְהוָה לְהֵרָאֹה בְשִׁלֹה
And the LORD appeared again at Shiloh.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'osif Adonai le'itgalu'a beshilo
Targum Rendering
And the LORD continued to reveal himself in Shiloh.
The Shiloh-revelations notice.
Hebrew (MT)
יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים
The LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim.
Targum (Aramaic)
Adonai Tzevaot di Shekhinteih sharyah al keruvayya
Targum Rendering
The LORD of Hosts, whose Shekinah rests upon the cherubim.
God does not sit on the cherubim — his Shekinah rests upon them. The Ark theology is Shekinah theology: the cherubim-throne is the locus of Shekinah presence.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּאמְרוּ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים מִי יַצִּילֵנוּ מִיַּד הָאֱלֹהִים
The Philistines said: Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods?
Targum (Aramaic)
va'amru pelishta'ei man yefatzeyinanna miyada de'elahayya
Targum Rendering
The Philistines said: who will deliver us from the hand of God?
The Philistines' fear of Israel's God.
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּקְרָא לַנַּעַר אִי כָבוֹד לֵאמֹר גָּלָה כָבוֹד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל
And she called the child Ichabod, saying: The glory has departed from Israel.
Targum (Aramaic)
uqrat lerivya iy chevod lemeimar gala yeqara miyisrael
Targum Rendering
And she called the boy 'Ichabod,' saying: the Glory has departed from Israel.
The Ichabod naming. The Yeqara-departure theology runs through Ezekiel 10-11 (departure of the Yeqara from the Jerusalem temple) and is reversed at Ezek 43 (return).
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּכְבַּד יַד־יְהוָה אֶל־הָאַשְׁדּוֹדִים
the hand of the LORD was heavy on the Ashdodites.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּתְקֵיפַת מַחְתָא מִן קֳדָם יְיָ עַל אַשְׁדּוֹדָאֵי
Targum Rendering
the plague from before the LORD pressed heavy upon the Ashdodites.
Ark in Philistine territory. 'Hand of YHWH' systematically replaced with 'plague/blow from before the LORD' — anti-anthropomorphism. Pattern recurs through ch. 5-6.
Hebrew (MT)
אִם־דֶּרֶךְ גְּבוּלוֹ יַעֲלֶה בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ הוּא עָשָׂה לָנוּ אֶת־הָרָעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת
if it goes up by the way of its own territory, to Beth-shemesh, then He has done to us this great harm.
Targum (Aramaic)
אִם אֹרַח תְּחוּמֵיהּ יִסּוֹק לְבֵית שֶׁמֶשׁ הוּא עֲבַד לַנָא יָת בִּישְׁתָּא רַבְּתָא הָדָא
Targum Rendering
if it goes up by the way of its own border, to Beth-shemesh, then He has done to us this great evil.
Philistine diviners' test. Literal preservation — even pagans recognize that Israel's God acts deliberately in history.
Hebrew (MT)
עַד הֵנָּה עֲזָרָנוּ יְהוָה
Till now the LORD has helped us.
Targum (Aramaic)
ad ka'an siyy'anna Adonai
Targum Rendering
Up to here the LORD has helped us.
Samuel's Ebenezer ('stone of help'). The classic OT memorial-stone formula. The Targum preserves the literal phrase. The hymn 'Come Thou Fount' takes its 'Here I raise mine Ebenezer' image directly from this verse.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי לֹא אֹתְךָ מָאָסוּ כִּי אֹתִי מָאֲסוּ מִמְּלֹךְ עֲלֵיהֶם
For they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
Targum (Aramaic)
arei la yatakh kassizu elahein yat meimri kassizu mimellakh aleihon
Targum Rendering
For not you have they rejected, but my Memra they have rejected from reigning over them.
Israel's request for a king. The Targum's Memra-mediation: Israel rejected God's MEMRA from reigning. This is theologically loaded — the divine kingship is exercised through the Memra. The same pattern appears at 1 Sam 12:12 (kingship rejection) and shapes the theology of the Davidic-Messianic kingship that follows.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי לַנָּבִיא הַיּוֹם יִקָּרֵא לְפָנִים הָרֹאֶה
For he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.
Targum (Aramaic)
arei dimmitqarei keane navi mil'qadmin havu qarein leih chaza
Targum Rendering
For he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.
The seer-to-prophet terminological evolution note. Important for OT prophet history.
Hebrew (MT)
וְצָלְחָה עָלֶיךָ רוּחַ יְהוָה
the spirit of the LORD will rush upon you.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּתְשְׁרֵי עֲלָךְ רוּחָא דִּנְבוּאָה מִן קֳדָם יְיָ
Targum Rendering
the spirit of prophecy from before the LORD will rest upon you.
Samuel anoints Saul. Targum specifies 'spirit of prophecy' — distinguishes this Spirit-empowerment (revelatory) from Samson's 'spirit of might.' Diagnostic of Targumic taxonomy.
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּצְלַח עָלָיו רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים
the spirit of God rushed upon him.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּשְׁרַת עֲלוֹהִי רוּחָא דִּנְבוּאָה מִן קֳדָם יְיָ
Targum Rendering
the spirit of prophecy from before the LORD rested upon him.
Saul prophesies among the prophets. Same recasting confirms the prophetic taxonomy.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי הַיּוֹם עָשָׂה־יְהוָה תְּשׁוּעָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
because today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי יוֹמָא דֵין עֲבַד יְיָ פוּרְקָנָא בְיִשְׂרָאֵל
Targum Rendering
for today the LORD has wrought deliverance in Israel.
Saul after the Ammonite victory. Salvation as פוּרְקָנָא (deliverance/redemption) — same vocabulary as messianic redemption-language.
Hebrew (MT)
גַּם אָנֹכִי חָלִילָה לִּי מֵחֲטֹא לַיהוָה מֵחֲדֹל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בַּעַדְכֶם
Far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you.
Targum (Aramaic)
af ana cholin li mimchav qodam Adonai milmechdal letzala'a aleikhon
Targum Rendering
Also I — far be it from me to sin before the LORD by ceasing to pray for you.
Samuel's farewell pledge of intercession. The classic OT model of prophetic intercessory prayer — the prophet sins by failing to pray for the people. Foundational for James 5:16 ('the effective prayer of a righteous person has great power') and 1 Tim 2:1 ('I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people').
Hebrew (MT)
אַךְ יְראוּ אֶת יְהוָה וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֹתוֹ בֶּאֱמֶת
Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully.
Targum (Aramaic)
berem dechalu min qodam Adonai uflechun qodamohi beqshot
Targum Rendering
Only fear before the LORD and serve before him in truth.
Samuel's parting exhortation.
Hebrew (MT)
בִּקֵּשׁ יְהוָה לוֹ אִישׁ כִּלְבָבוֹ
The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart.
Targum (Aramaic)
tava Adonai gevar avid re'uteih
Targum Rendering
The LORD has sought a man who does his will.
The 'man after God's own heart' formula — applied to David. The Targum's avid re'uteih ('does his will') interprets the Hebrew 'after his heart' as obedience-of-will rather than emotional similarity. Cited at Acts 13:22 by Paul in his Antioch-of-Pisidia sermon.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי אֵין לַיהוָה מַעְצוֹר לְהוֹשִׁיעַ בְּרַב אוֹ בִמְעָט
nothing can hinder the LORD from saving — by many or by few.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי לֵית קֳדָם יְיָ עִכּוּב לְמִפְרַק בְּסַגִּי אוֹ בִזְעֵיר
Targum Rendering
there is no hindrance before the LORD to deliver — by many or by few.
Jonathan at Michmash pass. Salvation language פדק (deliver/redeem) preserved. Theological maxim of David's house: divine deliverance is independent of human numbers.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי חַטַּאת־קֶסֶם מֶרִי וְאָוֶן וּתְרָפִים הַפְצַר
for rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי כְחוֹבֵי קוֹסְמַיָּא חוֹבֵי מָרוֹדַיָּא וּכְעַבְדֵי טָעֲוָון מְמָרְמְרֵי לְמֵימְרָא דַייָ
Targum Rendering
for as the sin of diviners is the sin of rebels, and as those who serve idols are the embitterers of the Memra of the LORD.
Samuel rejects Saul. Targum explicates: rebellion is 'embittering the Memra' — covenant-disobedience is direct offense against the divine speaker, not abstract sin.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי הָאָדָם יִרְאֶה לַעֵינַיִם וַיהוָה יִרְאֶה לַלֵּבָב
For man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.
Targum (Aramaic)
arei enasha chazei legali einaya vaAdonai chazei lerinun delibba
Targum Rendering
For a human sees by what is visible to the eyes, but the LORD sees by the meditations of the heart.
The interior-vs-exterior contrast. Foundational for the prophetic critique of cultic externalism (cf. Hos 6:6, Mic 6:8) and for the Christian heart-religion theology (Rom 2:29, 1 Pet 3:4 'the hidden person of the heart'). The Targum's rinun delibba ('meditations of the heart') anticipates the Hebrew shig'yon vocabulary of inner spiritual life.
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּצְלַח רוּחַ־יְהוָה אֶל־דָּוִד מֵהַיּוֹם הַהוּא וָמָעְלָה
the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּשְׁרַת רוּחָא דִנְבוּאָה מִן קֳדָם יְיָ עַל דָּוִד מִן יוֹמָא הַהוּא וּלְעֵילָא
Targum Rendering
the spirit of prophecy from before the LORD rested upon David from that day forward.
David's anointing by Samuel. Note: a 'spirit of prophecy' resting on David, not 'spirit of might' — the king is also a prophetic figure (cf. 2 Sam 23:2 'the Spirit of the LORD spoke through me').
Hebrew (MT)
וְאָנֹכִי בָא אֵלֶיךָ בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת
But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'ana atei alakh beshema demeimra deAdonai tzevaot
Targum Rendering
And I am coming against you in the name of the Memra of the LORD of hosts.
David's challenge to Goliath. The Targum's Memra-mediation: David's victory is in the name OF THE MEMRA of the LORD. The 'name of the LORD' becomes 'name of the Memra of the LORD' — extending the hypostatic mediation to the warrior-name.
Hebrew (MT)
וְנֶפֶשׁ יְהוֹנָתָן נִקְשְׁרָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ דָּוִד
The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.
Targum (Aramaic)
venafsha dihonatan zammitu benafsha dedavid
Targum Rendering
And Jonathan's soul was bound to David's soul.
The David-Jonathan covenant-friendship. Foundational for biblical covenant-friendship theology.
Hebrew (MT)
וַתְּהִי עָלָיו גַּם־הוּא רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים
the spirit of God came upon him also.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּשְׁרַת עֲלוֹהִי אַף הוּא רוּחָא דִּנְבוּאָה מִן קֳדָם יְיָ
Targum Rendering
the spirit of prophecy from before the LORD rested upon him also.
Saul among the prophets at Naioth. Confirms the 'spirit of prophecy' taxonomy throughout the Saul cycle.
Hebrew (MT)
הִנֵּה יְהוָה בֵּינִי וּבֵינְךָ עַד־עוֹלָם
behold, the LORD is between you and me forever.
Targum (Aramaic)
הָא מֵימְרָא דַייָ סָהֵיד בֵּינִי וּבֵינָךְ עַד עָלַם
Targum Rendering
behold, the Memra of the LORD is witness between me and you forever.
David and Jonathan's covenant. Memra as witness-mediator — the divine Word stands between covenant-partners, guaranteeing the oath.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן קֹדֶשׁ
so the priest gave him the holy bread.
Targum (Aramaic)
וִיהַב לֵיהּ כָּהֲנָא קוּדְשָׁא
Targum Rendering
the priest gave him holy bread.
Cited Mark 2:25-26, Matt 12:3-4, Luke 6:3-4 — Jesus invokes this passage to defend Sabbath grain-eating. The rabbinic principle that 'pikuach nefesh overrides ritual' is rooted here.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי־מִשְׁמֶרֶת אַתָּה עִמָּדִי
for you are safe with me.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי מַטְּרָא אַתְּ עִמִּי
Targum Rendering
you are under my safekeeping.
David to Abiathar. Sanctuary-language — the covenant-king protects the priestly remnant. Foundation of Davidic-priestly partnership.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיְבַקְשֵׁהוּ שָׁאוּל כָּל־הַיָּמִים וְלֹא־נְתָנוֹ אֱלֹהִים בְּיָדוֹ
Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְתָבַע יָתֵיהּ שָׁאוּל כָּל יוֹמַיָּא וְלָא מְסָרֵיהּ מֵימְרָא דַייָ בִּידֵיהּ
Targum Rendering
Saul sought him every day, but the Memra of the LORD did not deliver him into his hand.
Wilderness-of-Ziph protection. Divine providence to David mediated through the Memra — preservation of the messianic line is the work of the Word.
Hebrew (MT)
מְשִׁיחַ יְהוָה
The LORD's anointed.
Targum (Aramaic)
meshicha deAdonai
Targum Rendering
The Messiah of the LORD.
David's refusal to harm Saul. The mashiach YHWH ('LORD's anointed') epithet — the OT origin of the messianic title. The Targum's transliterated meshicha preserves the term that becomes the Christian Christos (Christ). David's reverence for Saul's anointing becomes the foundation of Davidic-messianic typology.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיָּמָת שְׁמוּאֵל וַיִּקָּבְצוּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּסְפְּדוּ לוֹ
Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him.
Targum (Aramaic)
umit shemuel ve'itkenishu kol yisrael u'aspedu alohi
Targum Rendering
And Samuel died, and all Israel gathered and lamented for him.
Samuel's death. Marks the transition from prophet-judge to king-prophet era.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיהוָה יָשִׁיב לָאִישׁ אֶת־צִדְקָתוֹ וְאֶת־אֱמֻנָתוֹ
the LORD will repay every man his righteousness and his faithfulness.
Targum (Aramaic)
וַיְיָ יָתֵיב לִגְבַר יָת צִדְקָתֵיהּ וְיָת הֵימָנוּתֵיהּ
Targum Rendering
the LORD repays each man his righteousness and his faithfulness.
David sparing Saul. Literal preservation — covenant retribution language emphasizes that fidelity (הֵימָנוּתָא) earns its reward.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל־לִבּוֹ עַתָּה אֶסָּפֶה יוֹם־אֶחָד בְּיַד־שָׁאוּל
David said in his heart, 'Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul.'
Targum (Aramaic)
וַאֲמַר דָּוִד בְּלִבֵּיהּ כְּעַן אֶמְסֵיף יוֹמָא חַד בִּידָא דְשָׁאוּל
Targum Rendering
David said in his heart, 'Now I shall be swept away one day by the hand of Saul.'
David's despair before defection to Achish. The internal-soliloquy ('said in his heart') preserved — moment of faltering Memra-trust.
Hebrew (MT)
וְלֹא עָנָהוּ יְהוָה גַּם בַּחֲלֹמוֹת גַּם בָּאוּרִים גַּם בַּנְּבִיאִם
And the LORD did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Targum (Aramaic)
vela atev leih meimra deAdonai af bechelmin af be'uraya af binevuah
Targum Rendering
And the Memra of the LORD did not answer him — neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophecy.
Saul's divine silence before Endor. The Targum's Memra-mediation: it is the Memra that does not answer. The three modes of divine communication (dreams, Urim, prophets) all fail Saul. Sets the stage for Saul's necromantic consultation in vv. 7-19.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּאמֶר אִישׁ זָקֵן עֹלֶה וְהוּא עֹטֶה מְעִיל
And he said: an old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.
Targum (Aramaic)
va'amrat gevar saba saleq vehu mit'attaf bemei'la
Targum Rendering
And she said: an old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.
The Endor necromancy — Samuel's appearance. Foundational for OT views of post-mortem existence. The 'wrapped in a robe' detail (the prophet's mantle) preserves Samuel's identity.
Hebrew (MT)
טוֹב אַתָּה בְּעֵינַי כְּמַלְאַךְ אֱלֹהִים
you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God.
Targum (Aramaic)
טַב אַתְּ קֳדָמַי כְּמַלְאֲכָא דַייָ
Targum Rendering
you are good before me as an angel of the LORD.
Achish's rare praise of David. Anti-anthropomorphism even in pagan-spoken passages: 'in my sight' becomes 'before me' (קֳדָמַי). The angel-of-God comparison preserved.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּתְחַזֵּק דָּוִד בַּיהוָה אֱלֹהָיו
But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'ittaqef david bememra deAdonai elahohi
Targum Rendering
And David strengthened himself in the Memra of the LORD his God.
Pre-Nicene Tier S — strengthen-self-in-Memra. The Targum's hypostatic mediation. David's pattern of finding strength in YHWH/Memra is foundational for Pauline 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me' (Phil 4:13).
Hebrew (MT)
וַיָּמָת שָׁאוּל וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת בָּנָיו
Thus Saul died, and his three sons.
Targum (Aramaic)
umit shaul ushloshet benohi
Targum Rendering
And Saul died, and his three sons.
Saul's death narrative. Closes the first king narrative; opens the David-as-king transition. Targum tracks MT literally.
Hebrew (MT)
וּמַלְאַךְ יְהוָה דִּבֶּר אֶל־אֵלִיָּה הַתִּשְׁבִּי
the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּמַלְאֲכָא דַייָ מַלֵּיל עִם אֵלִיָּהוּ תִשְׁבִּיָּא
Targum Rendering
the angel of the LORD spoke with Elijah the Tishbite.
Ahaziah's messengers. Angel-of-YHWH speaks for YHWH directly to Elijah — pre-Nicene Two-Powers locus.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיַּעַל אֵלִיָּהוּ בַּסְעָרָה הַשָּׁמָיִם
And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Targum (Aramaic)
useliqu Eliyahu be'alala lishemayya
Targum Rendering
And Elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven.
Elijah's ascension is rendered literally. Jonathan does not rationalize or spiritualize the bodily translation to heaven.
Hebrew (MT)
חַי־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֲשֶׁר עָמַדְתִּי לְפָנָיו
as the LORD of hosts lives, in whose presence I stand.
Targum (Aramaic)
קַיָּם יְיָ צְבָאוֹת דִּי קָמִית קֳדָמוֹהִי
Targum Rendering
as the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I have stood.
Elisha to Jehoram. Standard 'before him' (קֳדָמוֹהִי) handles the prophetic-stance formula — Elisha stands before the divine presence, not 'in front of' YHWH spatially.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיַּעַל וַיִּשְׁכַּב עַל הַיֶּלֶד וַיָּשֶׂם פִּיו עַל פִּיו
Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth.
Targum (Aramaic)
ushtech veshakhev al rivya veshavi pumeih al pumeih
Targum Rendering
And he went up and lay upon the child and put his mouth upon his mouth.
Elisha's resurrection of the Shunammite's son. The second resurrection narrative in 1-2 Kings. Cited at Heb 11:35.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֵּרֶד וַיִּטְבֹּל בַּיַּרְדֵּן שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים
So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan.
Targum (Aramaic)
unechat utvel beyardna sheva zimnin
Targum Rendering
And he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan.
Naaman's seven-fold immersion. Cited at Luke 4:27 by Jesus to argue that gentile faith was active in the OT. The Jewish tradition of seven-fold immersion shapes the rabbinic mikvah; the Christian parallel develops in baptismal theology.
Hebrew (MT)
אַל תִּירָא כִּי רַבִּים אֲשֶׁר אִתָּנוּ מֵאֲשֶׁר אוֹתָם
Fear not, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.
Targum (Aramaic)
la tidchal arei sagi'in dimebenanna mide'imhon
Targum Rendering
Do not fear, for those with us are more than those with them.
Elisha's encouragement to his servant. Foundational for biblical theology of the unseen divine army (cf. Heb 1:14, 12:22).
Hebrew (MT)
וְהִנֵּה הָהָר מָלֵא סוּסִים וְרֶכֶב אֵשׁ סְבִיבֹת אֱלִישָׁע
And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Targum (Aramaic)
veha tura mali sussvavin uretichin de'eshshata sechor sechor de'elisha
Targum Rendering
And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Elisha's servant has his eyes opened to see the divine army. The Targum preserves the visual literally. Echoes Heb 1:14 ('are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are to inherit salvation?').
Hebrew (MT)
כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה כָּעֵת מָחָר סְאָה־סֹלֶת בְּשֶׁקֶל
thus says the LORD: tomorrow about this time, a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel.
Targum (Aramaic)
כִּדְנַן אֲמַר יְיָ כְּעִדָּן זְמַן מְחַר סְאָה סוֹלְתָּא בְּסֶלַע
Targum Rendering
thus says the LORD: at this time tomorrow, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel.
Elisha's siege-ending prophecy. Specific commerce-prediction preserved literally — concrete fulfillment vindicates the prophet.
Hebrew (MT)
לְמַעַן דָּוִד עַבְדּוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר־לוֹ לָתֵת לוֹ נִיר לְבָנָיו כָּל־הַיָּמִים
for the sake of David his servant, as he had promised him to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
Targum (Aramaic)
בְּדִיל דָּוִד עַבְדֵיהּ כְּמָא דַאֲמַר לֵיהּ לְמִתַּן לֵיהּ מַלְכוּ לִבְנוֹהִי כָּל יוֹמַיָּא
Targum Rendering
for the sake of David his servant, as he had said to him — to give him kingship for his sons all the days.
Targum interprets 'lamp' (נִיר) as 'kingship' (מַלְכוּ) — explicit messianic preservation of the Davidic dynasty against Jehoram's apostasy. Eschatological foundation.
Hebrew (MT)
כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשַׁחְתִּיךָ לְמֶלֶךְ אֶל־עַם יְהוָה אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵל
thus says the LORD, God of Israel: I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.
Targum (Aramaic)
כִּדְנַן אֲמַר יְיָ אֱלָהָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל רַבֵּיתָךְ לְמַלְכָּא עַל עַמָּא דַייָ עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל
Targum Rendering
thus says the LORD God of Israel: I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.
Anointing of Jehu. Targum prefers 'I have made great' (רַבֵּיתָךְ) for messianic-anointing language — the king is divinely elevated, not merely consecrated.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־יֵהוּא יַעַן אֲשֶׁר־הֱטִיבֹתָ לַעֲשׂוֹת הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינַי
the LORD said to Jehu, 'Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes…'
Targum (Aramaic)
וַאֲמַר יְיָ לְיֵהוּא חֳלַף דְּאוֹטֵיבְתָא לְמֶעְבַּד דִּתְקֵין קֳדָמַי
Targum Rendering
the LORD said to Jehu, 'Because you have done well to do what is right before me…'
YHWH's commendation of Jehu. Anti-anthropomorphism — 'in my eyes' becomes 'before me' (קֳדָמַי), preserving divine transcendence.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיָּחָן יְהוָה אֹתָם וַיְרַחֲמֵם וַיִּפֶן אֲלֵיהֶם לְמַעַן בְּרִיתוֹ
the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned toward them for the sake of his covenant.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְחָס יְיָ עֲלֵיהוֹן וְרַחֵים עֲלֵיהוֹן וְאִתְפְּנֵי לְוָתְהוֹן בְּדִיל קְיָמֵיהּ
Targum Rendering
the LORD had compassion on them and showed them mercy and turned to them for the sake of his covenant.
Reign-of-Jehoahaz reflection. Covenantal compassion preserved — divine compassion is anchored in covenant (קְיָמָא), not in sentimental mercy.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּדְבַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר בְּיַד־עַבְדּוֹ יוֹנָה בֶן־אֲמִתַּי הַנָּבִיא
according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet.
Targum (Aramaic)
כְּפִתְגָּמָא דַייָ אֱלָהָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל דְּמַלֵּיל בִּידָא דְעַבְדֵיהּ יוֹנָה בַר אֲמִתַּי נְבִיָּא
Targum Rendering
according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah son of Amittai the prophet.
Reign-of-Jeroboam-II reflection. The historical anchor for the prophet Jonah — his prophecy of Israel's territorial recovery preceded Nineveh-mission. Targum preserves the historical chronology.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֶּחֶטְאוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם
the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְחָבוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל קֳדָם יְיָ אֱלָהֲהוֹן
Targum Rendering
the children of Israel sinned before the LORD their God.
Theological summary of the Northern Kingdom's exile. Sin recast as 'before the LORD' (קֳדָם — anti-anthropomorphism) rather than 'against' God — guards divine impassibility while preserving moral guilt.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיָּעַד יְהוָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִיהוּדָה בְּיַד כָּל נְבִיאֵי כָל חֹזֶה
Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'ashted Adonai beyisrael uvihudah biyad kol nevayya umanaviya
Targum Rendering
And the LORD warned Israel and Judah by all the prophets and all the seers.
The prophetic-warning-was-given formula. Foundational for biblical theology of prophets as covenant-mediators.
Hebrew (MT)
אֶת יְהוָה הָיוּ יְרֵאִים וְאֶת אֱלֹהֵיהֶם הָיוּ עֹבְדִים
They feared the LORD but also served their own gods.
Targum (Aramaic)
qodam Adonai havu dachalin uleta'avathon havu palchin
Targum Rendering
They feared before the LORD, but they served their idols.
The syncretism critique. The textual root of the Christian critique of nominal-faith-without-exclusive-loyalty (Matt 6:24, James 4:4).
Hebrew (MT)
בַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּטָח
He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel.
Targum (Aramaic)
bememra deAdonai elaha deyisrael rachetz
Targum Rendering
He trusted in the Memra of the LORD God of Israel.
Pre-Nicene Tier S — Hezekiah's faith-in-Memra formula. Same pattern as Exod 14:31, Deut 1:32, Jer 17:7.
Hebrew (MT)
יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים אַתָּה־הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים לְבַדְּךָ
O LORD God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone.
Targum (Aramaic)
Adonai Elaha deYisrael di Shekhinteih sharyah al keruvayya att hu Elaha balchudakh
Targum Rendering
O LORD God of Israel, whose Shekinah rests upon the cherubim, you alone are God.
Hezekiah's prayer uses the Shekinah-cherubim formula. Even in desperate prayer, the theological grammar is maintained: God's Shekinah rests on the cherubim.
Hebrew (MT)
וְגַנּוֹתִי אֶל־הָעִיר הַזֹּאת לְהוֹשִׁיעָהּ לְמַעֲנִי וּלְמַעַן דָּוִד עַבְדִּי
I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of David my servant.
Targum (Aramaic)
וַאֲגֵין עַל קַרְתָּא הָדָא לְמִפְרְקָהּ בְּדִיל מֵימְרִי וּבְדִיל דָּוִד עַבְדִּי
Targum Rendering
I will defend this city to redeem it — for the sake of my Memra and for the sake of David my servant.
YHWH's pledge to Hezekiah. 'For my own sake' becomes 'for the sake of my Memra' — divine self-vindication routed through the Word + the messianic Davidic name. Composite mediation.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיַּךְ בְּמַחֲנֵה אַשּׁוּר מֵאָה שְׁמוֹנִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה אָלֶף
And struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians.
Targum (Aramaic)
umacha bemashryata de'ashshur mei'a temaneyya vachamesha alfin
Targum Rendering
And he struck in the camp of Assyria 185,000.
The angel of the LORD's destruction of Sennacherib's army — the deliverance of Hezekiah's Jerusalem. Foundational for OT views of divine intervention in history. Parallel at Isa 37:36.
Hebrew (MT)
כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי דָּוִד אָבִיךָ שָׁמַעְתִּי אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶךָ רָאִיתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶךָ
thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears.
Targum (Aramaic)
כִּדְנַן אֲמַר יְיָ אֱלָהָא דְדָוִד אֲבוּךְ קַבֵּילִית צְלוֹתָךְ גְּלֵי קֳדָמַי דִמְעָתָךְ
Targum Rendering
thus says the LORD God of David your father: I have received your prayer; your tears are revealed before me.
Hezekiah healed. Anti-anthropomorphism: 'I have seen your tears' becomes 'your tears are revealed before me' — God does not see in humanlike fashion; the tears are simply known to him.
Hebrew (MT)
אָשִׂים אֶת־שְׁמִי לְעוֹלָם
I will put my name forever.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲשַׁוִּי שְׁכִינְתִּי לְעָלַם
Targum Rendering
I will set my Shekinah forever.
Manasseh sets up an Asherah in the temple. YHWH's promise about the temple recalled: 'Name' becomes 'Shekinah' — the temple was meant to house the divine indwelling, which Manasseh's idolatry desecrates.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי־גְדוֹלָה חֲמַת יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר־הִיא נִצְּתָה בָנוּ
for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי רַבָּא רוּגְזָא דַייָ דְּתַקִּיף בָּנָא
Targum Rendering
for great is the wrath of the LORD that has been kindled against us.
Josiah's reaction to the rediscovered Torah. Wrath-language preserved literally — covenantal urgency drives Josiah's reform.
Hebrew (MT)
וְכָמֹהוּ לֹא הָיָה לְפָנָיו מֶלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר שָׁב אֶל יְהוָה
Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
ukhevateih la havva qodamohi malka detuv letzitta deAdonai
Targum Rendering
And before him there was no king like him who returned to the LORD.
The king-like-Josiah formula — closing the highest-praise of any king of Judah. Foundational for biblical king-evaluation theology.
Hebrew (MT)
וְהִגְלָה אֶת־כָּל־יְרוּשָׁלַם וְאֶת־כָּל־הַשָּׂרִים וְאֵת כָּל־גִּבּוֹרֵי הַחַיִל
he carried into exile all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְאַגְלִי יָת כָּל יְרוּשְׁלֵם וְיָת כָּל רַבְרְבַיָּא וְיָת כָּל גִּבָּרֵי חֵילָא
Targum Rendering
he exiled all Jerusalem — all the princes and all the mighty men of valor.
First Jehoiachin-deportation 597 BCE — the deportation that included Ezekiel and Daniel. Historical-anchor preserved literally.
Hebrew (MT)
נָשָׂא אֱוִיל מְרֹדַךְ מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל אֶת־רֹאשׁ יְהוֹיָכִין מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה
Evil-merodach king of Babylon lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah.
Targum (Aramaic)
זְקַף אֱוִיל מְרֹדַךְ מַלְכָּא דְבָבֶל יָת רֵישׁ יְהוֹיָכִין מַלְכָּא דִיהוּדָה
Targum Rendering
Evil-merodach king of Babylon raised the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah.
The book of Kings ends with the Davidic king elevated in exile — a glimmer of dynastic continuity. Pre-Nicene relevance: the Davidic line is preserved (against Babylonian erasure) — the continuous thread that becomes Jesus' genealogy.
Hebrew (MT)
שָׁאוּל וִיהוֹנָתָן הַנֶּאֱהָבִים וְהַנְּעִימִם
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely.
Targum (Aramaic)
shaul vihonatan rachimin uvasimin
Targum Rendering
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasing.
From David's lament for Saul and Jonathan. The Targum preserves the elegiac mood. The lament is one of the OT's great elegies.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי בְּיַד דָּוִד עַבְדִּי הוֹשִׁיעַ אֶת־עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל
for by the hand of David my servant I will save my people Israel.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי בִּידָא דְדָוִד עַבְדִּי אֶפְרוֹק יָת עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל
Targum Rendering
for by the hand of David my servant I will deliver my people Israel.
Abner's quotation of YHWH's word. Salvation language uses פדק (redeem/deliver) — the same root that becomes messianic vocabulary in Targum's prophetic books.
Hebrew (MT)
חַי־יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר־פָּדָה אֶת־נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל־צָרָה
as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity.
Targum (Aramaic)
קַיָּם יְיָ דְּפָרֵיק יָת נַפְשִׁי מִכָּל עַקְתָא
Targum Rendering
as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress.
David to Rechab and Baanah after Ish-bosheth's murder. Personal-redemption testimony from the king who knows YHWH's deliverance.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּלְכֹּד דָּוִד אֵת מְצֻדַת צִיּוֹן הִיא עִיר דָּוִד
Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
Targum (Aramaic)
ukhevash david yat metzuddat tziyyon hi qarta dedavid
Targum Rendering
And David captured the stronghold of Zion — that is, the City of David.
David's capture of Jerusalem. The 'City of David' epithet runs through 1-2 Kings, Chronicles, and is foundational for the eschatological-Jerusalem theology.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד הָלוֹךְ וְגָדוֹל וַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת עִמּוֹ
And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him.
Targum (Aramaic)
va'azal David azala verav uMemra daAdonai Elahei cheilavata besiyyeih
Targum Rendering
And David went on and became great, and the Memra of the LORD God of hosts was in his help.
David's rise to power is attributed to the Memra's help, establishing the same divine-accompaniment pattern used for the patriarchs, Moses, and Joshua.
Hebrew (MT)
אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָא שֵׁם שֵׁם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים עָלָיו
Over which is called the name, the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.
Targum (Aramaic)
di itqeri shema shema daAdonai Tzevaot di Shekhinteih sharyah al keruvayya da'aloi
Targum Rendering
Over which is called the name, the name of the LORD of hosts, whose Shekinah rests upon the cherubim that are upon it.
The Ark procession to Jerusalem brings the Shekinah-cherubim formula again. The Shekinah is what David brings to Jerusalem, establishing the city as the Shekinah's dwelling place.
Hebrew (MT)
וְדָוִד וְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעֲלִים אֶת אֲרוֹן יְהוָה בִּתְרוּעָה
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting.
Targum (Aramaic)
udavid vekhol beit yisrael massequn yat arona deAdonai biyvavva
Targum Rendering
And David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouting.
Ark to Jerusalem with celebration. Foundational for OT temple-music tradition. Echoed in 1 Chr 15-16 with detailed psalm-attribution.
Hebrew (MT)
הַאַתָּה תִּבְנֶה לִּי בַיִת לְשִׁבְתִּי
Would you build me a house to dwell in?
Targum (Aramaic)
ha at tivnei li beit lemishrei shechinti
Targum Rendering
Will you build for me a house for the dwelling of my Shekinah?
Nathan's oracle to David. The Targum's Shekinah-substitution: God's 'dwelling' becomes 'the dwelling of my Shekinah.' Sets the theological framework for the Davidic covenant — the temple is Shekinah-house, not God's residence in any direct sense. Pre-Nicene Tier S adjacent.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי לֹא יָשַׁבְתִּי בְּבַיִת... וָאֶהְיֶה מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּאֹהֶל וּבְמִשְׁכָּן
For I have not lived in a house... but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.
Targum (Aramaic)
arei la ashrei Shekhineti beveita... vahavat Shekhineti mehalikha bemashkena
Targum Rendering
For I have not caused my Shekinah to dwell in a house... and my Shekinah has been moving about in a tent and in a tabernacle.
God's mobility in a tent becomes the Shekinah's mobility. The Shekinah has not been stationary in a permanent house — it has moved with Israel since the Exodus. This is the theological foundation for the Temple's construction.
Hebrew (MT)
כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֲנִי לְקַחְתִּיךָ מִן־הַנָּוֶה
thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture.
Targum (Aramaic)
כִּדְנַן אֲמַר יְיָ צְבָאוֹת אֲנָא דַבָּרְתָּךְ מִן דִּירָא דְרָעֲיָא
Targum Rendering
thus says the LORD of hosts: I myself led you from the dwelling of the shepherds.
Davidic Covenant introduction. Targum strengthens to 'I myself led' (covenantal divine action) — the Davidic dynasty originates in direct divine election, not historical accident.
Hebrew (MT)
וַהֲקִימֹתִי אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ... וְכֹנַנְתִּי אֶת־כִּסֵּא מַמְלַכְתּוֹ עַד־עוֹלָם
And I will raise up your offspring... and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Targum (Aramaic)
va'aqim yat bar'akh... va'atqin yat kurseih demalkhutei le'alma
Targum Rendering
And I will raise up your offspring... and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
The Davidic covenant promise is rendered literally. The eternal throne becomes the basis for all subsequent Messianic expectation. Jonathan treats the 'forever' as genuinely eschatological.
Hebrew (MT)
הוּא יִבְנֶה־בַּיִת לִשְׁמִי וְכֹנַנְתִּי אֶת־כִּסֵּא מַמְלַכְתּוֹ עַד־עוֹלָם
he shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Targum (Aramaic)
הוּא יִבְנֵי בֵּיתָא לִשְׁמִי וַאֲתַקֵּין יָת כֻּרְסֵי מַלְכוּתֵיהּ עַד עָלַם
Targum Rendering
he shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
Davidic Covenant promise. Throne 'forever' (עַד עָלַם) preserved literally — the eschatological dynasty is the foundation of Targumic messianism (cf. Tg. Isa 11, Tg. Mic 5).
Hebrew (MT)
אֲנִי אֶהְיֶה־לּוֹ לְאָב וְהוּא יִהְיֶה־לִי לְבֵן
I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.
Targum (Aramaic)
ana ehei leih le'abba vehu yehei qodamai kevar
Targum Rendering
I will be to him as a father, and he shall be before me as a son.
Jonathan adds 'as' (ke-) to soften the father-son language, rendering 'as a father... as a son' rather than directly 'a father... a son.' This subtle qualification may reflect caution about divine sonship language while preserving the relational content.
Hebrew (MT)
עַל־כֵּן גָּדַלְתָּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים כִּי־אֵין כָּמוֹךָ וְאֵין אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתֶךָ
therefore you are great, O LORD God — for there is none like you, and there is no God besides you.
Targum (Aramaic)
עַל כֵּן רַבָּא אַתְּ יְיָ אֱלָהִים אֲרֵי לֵית בַּר מִנָּךְ וְלֵית אֱלָהָא חוֹלָק מִנָּךְ
Targum Rendering
therefore you are great, O LORD God — for there is none besides you, and there is no God apart from you.
David's prayer. Strict monotheism preserved — yet within the Targum's mediation framework (Memra/Shekinah), this oneness coexists with divine plurality of operation.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיְהִי דָוִד עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה לְכָל עַמּוֹ
So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.
Targum (Aramaic)
vahava david avid dina utzedaqta lekhol ammeih
Targum Rendering
And David did justice and righteousness for all his people.
The David-as-just-king formula. Foundational for biblical theology of king-as-justice-bringer.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי עָשֹׂה אֶעֱשֶׂה עִמְּךָ חֶסֶד בַּעֲבוּר יְהוֹנָתָן אָבִיךָ
I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי מֶעְבַּד אַעְבֵּיד עִמָּךְ טִיבוּ בְּדִיל יְהוֹנָתָן אֲבוּךְ
Targum Rendering
I will indeed show you covenant-kindness for the sake of Jonathan your father.
David to Mephibosheth. The Davidic ḥesed-fulfillment toward Jonathan's son — covenant fidelity (חֶסֶד = טִיבוּ) preserved, the moral high point of David's reign.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֵּרַע הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה דָוִד בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה
But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
uvi'eish pitgama de'avad david qodam Adonai
Targum Rendering
And the matter that David did was evil before the LORD.
The brief judgment-on-David line. Sets up 2 Sam 12's Nathan-confrontation. Foundational for biblical theology of accountability of kings.
Hebrew (MT)
חָטָאתִי לַיהוָה
I have sinned against the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
chivit qodam Adonai
Targum Rendering
I have sinned before the LORD.
David's confession after Nathan's parable. The simplest, most genuine OT confession of sin (cf. Ps 51's superscription). Three Hebrew words. The Targum preserves the form. Echoed at Luke 15:18 (Prodigal Son's 'I have sinned against heaven').
Hebrew (MT)
וַתְּכַל דָּוִד הַמֶּלֶךְ לָצֵאת אֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם
David the king longed to go out to Absalom.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְשַׁלִּיאוּ נַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּדָוִד מַלְכָּא מִלְּמִפַּק עַל אַבְשָׁלוֹם
Targum Rendering
the soul of David the king ceased from going out against Absalom.
Post-Tamar narrative. Targum interprets: David's anger 'ceased' rather than 'longed for' — the textual ambiguity (consoled himself vs. longed) resolved toward reconciliation.
Hebrew (MT)
וְחָשַׁב מַחֲשָׁבוֹת לְבִלְתִּי יִדַּח מִמֶּנּוּ נִדָּח
but he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְחָשֵׁיב מַחְשְׁבָן בְּדִיל דְּלָא יִתְרְחַק מִנֵּיהּ מַן דְּגָלֵי לָא יִתְמְנַע מִנֵּיהּ
Targum Rendering
he devises plans so that none who is exiled may remain estranged from him.
Wise woman of Tekoa. Foundational for divine restoration-theology: God 'devises means' to bring back the exiled. Echoes in NT prodigal-son and lost-sheep parables.
Hebrew (MT)
אִם־אֶמְצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה וֶהֱשִׁבַנִי
if I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back.
Targum (Aramaic)
אִם אַשְׁכַּח רַחֲמִין קֳדָם יְיָ וִיתִיבִינַּנִי
Targum Rendering
if I find favor before the LORD, He will return me.
David fleeing Absalom. 'In the eyes of YHWH' becomes 'before the LORD' (קֳדָם — anti-anthropomorphism). David's exile-and-return is grounded in divine favor, not military might.
Hebrew (MT)
אוּלַי יִרְאֶה יְהוָה בְּעֵינִי וְהֵשִׁיב יְהוָה לִי טוֹבָה
perhaps the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and the LORD will repay me with good.
Targum (Aramaic)
מָאִים גְּלֵי קֳדָם יְיָ עוּלְבָּנִי וִיתֵיב יְיָ לִי טַבְתָא
Targum Rendering
perhaps my affliction is revealed before the LORD, and the LORD will return good to me.
David's response to Shimei's cursing. Anti-anthropomorphism applied to divine sight; David trusts that vindication is divine prerogative, not personal vengeance.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיהוָה צִוָּה לְהָפֵר אֶת־עֲצַת אֲחִיתֹפֶל הַטּוֹבָה לְבַעֲבוּר הָבִיא יְהוָה אֶל־אַבְשָׁלוֹם אֶת־הָרָעָה
the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring harm upon Absalom.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּמִן קֳדָם יְיָ אִתְגְּזַר לְבַטָּלָא יָת מִלְכָּא דַאֲחִיתֹפֶל טָבָא בְּדִיל לְאַיְתָאָה יְיָ עַל אַבְשָׁלוֹם יָת בִּישְׁתָּא
Targum Rendering
from before the LORD it was decreed to thwart Ahithophel's good counsel, that the LORD might bring upon Absalom the evil.
Hushai's counsel preferred. Divine providence over human counsel — preserved with anti-anthropomorphism (קֳדָם).
Hebrew (MT)
בְּנִי אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנִי בְנִי אַבְשָׁלוֹם
my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom.
Targum (Aramaic)
בְּרִי אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּרִי בְּרִי אַבְשָׁלוֹם
Targum Rendering
my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom.
David's lament. The threefold repetition preserved exactly — emotional climax of the Davidic narrative. Targum does not soften.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי־יָדַע עַבְדְּךָ כִּי אֲנִי חָטָאתִי
your servant knows that I have sinned.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי יְדַע עַבְדָּךְ אֲרֵי אֲנָא חָבִית
Targum Rendering
your servant knows that I have sinned.
Shimei's confession to David at the Jordan. Confession-formula preserved — note the parallel to Ps 51:4 ('against you have I sinned') in David's earlier life.
Hebrew (MT)
הֲשָׁלוֹם אַתָּה אָחִי
is it well with you, my brother?
Targum (Aramaic)
הַשְׁלָם אַתְּ אֲחִי
Targum Rendering
is it well with you, my brother?
Joab to Amasa, immediately before assassinating him. Treacherous-greeting preserved — the brother-language is the irony.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיְהִי רָעָב בִּימֵי דָוִד שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים שָׁנָה אַחֲרֵי שָׁנָה
there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year.
Targum (Aramaic)
וַהֲוָה כַּפְנָא בְיוֹמֵי דָוִד תְּלָת שְׁנִין שַׁתָּא בָתַר שַׁתָּא
Targum Rendering
there was a famine in the days of David — three years, year after year.
Gibeonite-blood famine. The narrative of corporate consequence for Saul's covenant-breaking with Gibeon — preserved literally.
Hebrew (MT)
יְהוָה סַלְעִי וּמְצֻדָתִי
The LORD is my rock and my fortress.
Targum (Aramaic)
Adonai taqfi umetzadati
Targum Rendering
The LORD is my strength and my fortress.
As in the Song of Moses (Deut 32), 'rock' (sela/tzur) is rendered 'strength/mighty one' (taqif). Jonathan follows the same pattern as Onkelos: God is not compared to a physical object.
Hebrew (MT)
אֱלֹהֵי צוּרִי אֶחֱסֶה־בּוֹ
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֱלָהָא תַקִּיפִי דְּבְמֵימְרֵיהּ אִתְרַחִיץ
Targum Rendering
my mighty God, in whose Memra I trust.
David's song of deliverance. 'Rock' anti-anthropomorphism + 'refuge in Memra' — same recasting as Ps 18 parallel. Trust is in YHWH's Word (Memra), not abstractly in YHWH.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּרְכַּב עַל־כְּרוּב וַיָּעֹף
And he rode on a cherub and flew.
Targum (Aramaic)
veashri Shekhinteih al keruvayya vetqif
Targum Rendering
And he caused his Shekinah to rest upon the cherubim, and he was strong.
God does not 'ride' a cherub — the Shekinah rests upon the cherubim. Flying is replaced with strength (tqif). The entire divine-warrior storm theophany is refracted through Shekinah and glory language.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי מִי אֵל מִבַּלְעֲדֵי יְהוָה
For who is God but the LORD?
Targum (Aramaic)
arei leit elaha bar minneih deAdonai
Targum Rendering
For there is no god apart from the LORD.
David's psalm of deliverance, paralleled at Psalm 18:31. The strict-monotheism formula. Echoed at 1 Cor 8:4, 6 ('there is no God but one... yet for us there is one God').
Hebrew (MT)
וְעֹשֶׂה חֶסֶד לִמְשִׁיחוֹ לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד עוֹלָם
And shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'avid teisuva limshicheih lidavid uliv'neih ad alma
Targum Rendering
And he does kindness to his Messiah, to David and to his offspring forever.
The closing-of-David's-psalm Davidic-covenant note. The Targum's Meshicha-translation makes the messianic application explicit.
Hebrew (MT)
רוּחַ יְהוָה דִּבֶּר בִּי וּמִלָּתוֹ עַל לְשׁוֹנִי
The spirit of the LORD spoke by me; his word was on my tongue.
Targum (Aramaic)
ruach nevua deAdonai mallila bi umemra dilei al lishani
Targum Rendering
The spirit of prophecy of the LORD spoke through me, and his Memra was upon my tongue.
David's last words. The Targum frames David's prophetic inspiration as 'the Spirit of prophecy spoke through me' and identifies the speech-content as the Memra. Striking pre-Nicene formulation: prophetic inspiration is structured as Spirit + Memra, with the prophet as the conduit. The closest OT parallel to the Christian theology of inspiration (2 Pet 1:21 'men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit').
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי בְרִית עוֹלָם שָׂם לִי
For he has made with me an everlasting covenant.
Targum (Aramaic)
arei qeyam alma shavi li
Targum Rendering
For an everlasting covenant he has established for me.
The Davidic covenant's everlasting nature. Foundational for biblical messianic eschatology. Cited at Acts 13:34 (the 'sure mercies of David').
Hebrew (MT)
צַר־לִי מְאֹד נִפְּלָה־נָּא בְיַד־יְהוָה כִּי־רַבִּים רַחֲמָיו וּבְיַד־אָדָם אַל־אֶפֹּלָה
I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.
Targum (Aramaic)
עַקְתָא לִי לַחְדָּא נִפֵּל כְּעַן בִּידָא דִמֵימְרָא דַייָ אֲרֵי סַגִּיאִין רַחֲמוֹהִי וּבִידָא דִבְנֵי אֱנָשָׁא לָא אִפֵּל
Targum Rendering
I am in great distress; let us fall now into the hand of the Memra of the LORD, for his mercies are many, and let me not fall into the hand of man.
David's choice after the census. The 'hand of YHWH' becomes 'hand of the Memra' — divine judgment and mercy mediated through the Word. Pre-Nicene relevance: the Memra both judges and shows mercy.
Hebrew (MT)
כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיִיתִי עִם־מֹשֶׁה אֶהְיֶה עִמָּךְ
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
Targum (Aramaic)
kema di havat Memri besiyyeih deMosheh yehei Memri besiyyakhah
Targum Rendering
As my Memra was in the help of Moses, so my Memra shall be in your help.
The divine promise to Joshua is Memra-mediated, continuing the Torah pattern. The transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua is accompanied by the same Memra-presence.
Hebrew (MT)
לֹא יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה מִפִּיךָ וְהָגִיתָ בּוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night.
Targum (Aramaic)
la yeneid sifra de'oraita haden mippumakh utehegei beih yomam veleilei
Targum Rendering
This book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth, and you shall meditate on it day and night.
The Torah-meditation command. Echoed at Psalm 1:2 ('on his law he meditates day and night') as the foundational text of Jewish-Christian meditative-reading practice.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הוּא אֱלֹהִים בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת
for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי יְיָ אֱלָהֲכוֹן הוּא אֱלָהָא דִּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ בִּשְׁמַיָּא מִלְּעֵילָא וְשַׁלִּיט בְּאַרְעָא מִלְּרַע
Targum Rendering
for the LORD your God — He is God whose Shekinah is in the heavens above and who rules over the earth beneath.
Rahab's confession recast: divine presence (Shekinah) in heaven, divine rule (Shaliṭ) on earth. Pre-Nicene mediation pattern: God is transcendent, but His presence indwells creation.
Hebrew (MT)
נָתַן יְהוָה בְּיָדֵנוּ אֶת־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ
the LORD has given into our hand all the land.
Targum (Aramaic)
מְסַר יְיָ בִּידַנָא יָת כָּל אַרְעָא
Targum Rendering
the LORD has delivered into our hand all the land.
Spies' report. Standard covenantal verb-shift נָתַן→מְסַר (give→deliver/hand-over) marks fulfillment of Abrahamic land-grant.
Hebrew (MT)
הִתְקַדָּשׁוּ כִּי מָחָר יַעֲשֶׂה יְהוָה בְּקִרְבְּכֶם נִפְלָאוֹת
Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
Targum (Aramaic)
qaddishu garmeikhon arei mechar ya'aveid Adonai beineikhon perishayya
Targum Rendering
Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
The Jordan-crossing preparation. Foundational for biblical theology of consecration-before-encounter.
Hebrew (MT)
בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן כִּי אֵל חַי בְּקִרְבְּכֶם
By this you shall know that the living God is among you.
Targum (Aramaic)
beda tide'un arei Elaha chayya Shekhinteih beinekhon
Targum Rendering
By this you shall know that the living God — his Shekinah is among you.
God's presence among Israel at the Jordan crossing is expressed as Shekinah indwelling, continuing the wilderness pattern into the conquest.
Hebrew (MT)
לְמַעַן דַּעַת כָּל עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ
So that all the peoples of the earth may know.
Targum (Aramaic)
bedil deyidd'un kol amemei ar'a
Targum Rendering
That all the peoples of the earth may know.
The universal-witness formula — the conquest serves to make God known among the nations.
Hebrew (MT)
וְאִישׁ עֹמֵד לְנֶגְדּוֹ... אֲנִי שַׂר צְבָא־יְהוָה
And a man was standing opposite him... I am the commander of the LORD's army.
Targum (Aramaic)
vegavra qa'im leqovleih... ana rav cheila daAdonai
Targum Rendering
And a man was standing opposite him... I am the commander of the host of the LORD.
Jonathan preserves the mysterious commander figure without explicit identification as an angel or pre-incarnate appearance, maintaining the Hebrew's deliberate ambiguity.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה אִישׁ עֹמֵד לְנֶגְדּוֹ
He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him.
Targum (Aramaic)
uzqaf einohi vachaza veha gevra qa'em leqovleih
Targum Rendering
He lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, a man stood opposite him.
The Captain-of-the-LORD's-host appearance (preceding 5:14 already covered). Foundational for biblical Christophany readings.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא כִּי אֲנִי שַׂר צְבָא יְהוָה עַתָּה בָאתִי
And he said: No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.
Targum (Aramaic)
va'amar la elahein ana rava demashiriata deAdonai kean atiti
Targum Rendering
And he said: No, but I am the captain of the host of the LORD; now I have come.
PRE-NICENE TIER S — Angel of YHWH passage. The 'angel of the LORD' (mal'akh YHWH) speaks and acts AS God across the Hebrew Bible. The Greek fathers (Justin Martyr, Dial. 56–60; Tertullian; Eusebius) read these passages as Christophanies — pre-incarnate appearances of the Son. The Targum's interpretive choices represent the Jewish counter-position. Some passages preserve the angel-as-YHWH reading; some smooth toward 'an angel sent BY YHWH.' The variation is itself the data.
MARQUEE — Joshua's encounter with the captain of the LORD's host. Joshua removes his sandals (Josh 5:15) — same response as Moses at the bush, suggesting the same divine presence. Christian tradition reads the Captain Christologically; rabbinic tradition (b. Megillah 3a) identifies him as Michael. The Targum preserves the title literally.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ רְאֵה נָתַתִּי בְיָדְךָ אֶת־יְרִיחוֹ
the LORD said to Joshua, 'See, I have given Jericho into your hand.'
Targum (Aramaic)
וַאֲמַר יְיָ לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ חֲזִי דִמְסָרִית בִּידָךְ יָת יְרִיחוֹ
Targum Rendering
the LORD said to Joshua, 'See, I have delivered Jericho into your hand.'
Jericho fall preface. נָתַן→מְסַר conquest-language: divine action is the 'delivery' of the city, the human siege is the means.
Hebrew (MT)
וְעָלָה הָעָם אִישׁ נֶגְדּוֹ
The people shall go up, every man straight ahead.
Targum (Aramaic)
viyseiq amma gevar qa'em qovel
Targum Rendering
The people shall go up, each before him.
The Jericho fall instructions.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיָּרִיעוּ הָעָם וַיִּתְקְעוּ בַּשֹּׁפָרוֹת
So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown.
Targum (Aramaic)
viy'ya'u amma utqeu beshofrayya
Targum Rendering
And the people shouted and blew the rams' horns.
The fall of Jericho. Cited at Hebrews 11:30 ('by faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days').
Hebrew (MT)
וַיְהִי יְהוָה אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ
And the LORD was with Joshua.
Targum (Aramaic)
vahava Memra daAdonai besiyyeih diYehoshua
Targum Rendering
And the Memra of the LORD was in the help of Joshua.
After Jericho's fall, God's presence with Joshua is expressed through the Memra, following the identical formula used for Joseph (Gen 39:2) and Moses.
Hebrew (MT)
חֵרֶם בְּקִרְבְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל
there is a devoted thing in your midst, Israel.
Targum (Aramaic)
חֶרְמָא בֵינֵיכוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל
Targum Rendering
there is a devoted thing in your midst, O Israel.
Achan crisis. Targum preserves the technical חֶרְמָא (devoted/banned thing) rather than paraphrasing — covenant violation is concrete, not abstract.
Hebrew (MT)
אָז יִבְנֶה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ מִזְבֵּחַ לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהַר עֵיבָל
then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal.
Targum (Aramaic)
בְּכֵן בְּנָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ מַדְבְּחָא קֳדָם יְיָ אֱלָהָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּטוּרָא דְעֵיבָל
Targum Rendering
then Joshua built an altar before the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal.
Sacrificial altar relocated 'before the LORD' (קֳדָם — anti-anthropomorphic) rather than 'to the LORD' — guards God's transcendence even in cultic context.
Hebrew (MT)
לְשֵׁם יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ
for the name of the LORD your God.
Targum (Aramaic)
לִשְׁמָא דְמֵימְרָא דַייָ אֱלָהָךְ
Targum Rendering
for the name of the Memra of the LORD your God.
Gibeonites' confession. 'Name of the Memra' — divine name and Memra together as the agent of deliverance. Pre-Nicene mediation.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּדֹּם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵחַ עָמָד
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped.
Targum (Aramaic)
veshatiq shimsha vesahara qam
Targum Rendering
And the sun stood still, and the moon stood.
The cosmic miracle at Joshua's victory over the Amorite kings. Cited at Sirach 46:4 ('did not the sun go back by his hand?'). Foundational for biblical cosmic-miracle theology.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אַל־תִּירָא מִפְּנֵיהֶם
the LORD said to Joshua, 'Do not fear them.'
Targum (Aramaic)
וַאֲמַר יְיָ לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ לָא תִדְחַל מִקֳּדָמֵיהוֹן
Targum Rendering
the LORD said to Joshua, 'Do not fear before them.'
Hazor campaign. Anti-anthropomorphism: the people are not feared 'in themselves' but 'before them' — preserves divine sovereignty over outcome.
Hebrew (MT)
וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים
Joshua was old and advanced in years.
Targum (Aramaic)
וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ סִיב עָאל בְּיוֹמַיָּא
Targum Rendering
Joshua was old and advanced in days.
Joshua's old-age preface. 'Advanced in days' (יוֹמַיָּא) preserved — the same idiom Genesis uses of Abraham (24:1).
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּשָּׁבַע מֹשֶׁה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא
Moses swore on that day.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְקַיֵּים מֹשֶׁה בְיוֹמָא הַהוּא
Targum Rendering
Moses confirmed by oath on that day.
Caleb's inheritance. Targum prefers covenantal קיים (confirm/establish) for oath-language — Moses is a covenant-mediator, not a casual swearer.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיְדַבְּרוּ בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ
the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּמַלִּילוּ בְנֵי יוֹסֵף עִם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ
Targum Rendering
the sons of Joseph spoke with Joshua.
Joseph-tribes' complaint about their inheritance. Tribal-allotment narrative preserved.
Hebrew (MT)
לֹא־נָפַל דָּבָר אֶחָד מִכֹּל הַדָּבָר הַטּוֹב אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֶל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל הַכֹּל בָּא
not one thing failed of all the good things that the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Targum (Aramaic)
לָא בְטֵיל פִּתְגָּמָא חַד מִכָּל פִּתְגָּמַיָּא טָבַיָּא דְּמַלֵּיל יְיָ עִם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כּוֹלָּא אִתְקַיַּים
Targum Rendering
not one word failed of all the good words that the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel — all was confirmed.
Land-grant fulfillment summary. Targum strengthens to 'word-by-word confirmation' — emphasizes Memra-as-spoken-fulfillment.
Hebrew (MT)
הַיּוֹם יָדַעְנוּ כִּי בְּתוֹכֵנוּ יְהוָה
Today we know that the LORD is among us.
Targum (Aramaic)
yoma den yeda'na arei Shekhinteih daAdonai beineina
Targum Rendering
Today we know that the Shekinah of the LORD is among us.
The resolution of the trans-Jordan altar crisis affirms Shekinah presence. National unity is confirmed by the Shekinah remaining among all Israel.
Hebrew (MT)
וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם מְאֹד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם לְאַהֲבָה אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְתִסְּתָּרוּן לַחְדָּא לְנַפְשָׁתֵיכוֹן לְמִרְחַם יָת יְיָ אֱלָהֲכוֹן
Targum Rendering
be very careful for your souls — to love the LORD your God.
Joshua's farewell at Shechem. The Deuteronomic 'love YHWH' command echoed — covenant-loyalty as the supreme obligation.
Hebrew (MT)
וְאָנֹכִי וּבֵיתִי נַעֲבֹד אֶת יְהוָה
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
ve'ana ubeiti nifelach qodam Adonai
Targum Rendering
But I and my house, we will serve before the LORD.
Joshua's covenant-renewal challenge at Shechem. One of the most-quoted OT verses in Christian household-piety tradition. The Targum's qodam Adonai ('before the LORD') softens the direct serving-of-God to standing-before-the-LORD.
Hebrew (MT)
אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשִׁים הוּא אֵל־קַנּוֹא הוּא
He is a holy God; he is a jealous God.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֱלָהָא קַדִּישָׁא הוּא אֱלָהָא קַנַּאי הוּא
Targum Rendering
He is a holy God; He is a jealous God.
Joshua warns Israel. Targum normalizes 'holy gods' (אֱלֹהִים קְדֹשִׁים — plural form) to singular אֱלָהָא קַדִּישָׁא — strict monotheism even where MT has the plurale majestatis.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיַּעַל מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָה מִן־הַגִּלְגָּל אֶל־הַבֹּכִים
And the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim.
Targum (Aramaic)
useliq malakha daAdonai min Gilgala leBokhim
Targum Rendering
And the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim.
Jonathan preserves the angel of the LORD as the speaker of the covenant lawsuit. The angel functions as God's authorized representative in judgment speeches.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיָּקֶם יְהוָה מוֹשִׁיעַ לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיּוֹשִׁיעֵם
the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them.
Targum (Aramaic)
וַאֲקֵים יְיָ פָּרוֹקָא לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפַרְקִינוּן
Targum Rendering
the LORD raised up a redeemer for the sons of Israel, and he redeemed them.
Othniel raised. The judge-figure recast as 'redeemer' (פָּרוֹקָא — same root as Tg. Isaiah's messianic vocabulary). Pre-Nicene relevance: judge-deliverer-typology informs NT Christology.
Hebrew (MT)
כִּי זֶה הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה אֶת־סִיסְרָא בְּיָדֶךָ הֲלֹא יְהוָה יָצָא לְפָנֶיךָ
for this is the day on which the LORD has given Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲרֵי דֵין יוֹמָא דִּמְסַר יְיָ יָת סִיסְרָא בִּידָךְ הֲלָא מַלְאֲכָא דַייָ נָפֵיק קֳדָמָךְ
Targum Rendering
for this is the day on which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand — has not the angel of the LORD gone forth before you?
Deborah to Barak. 'YHWH gone before you' → 'angel of the LORD gone before you' — Targum routes divine military presence through angelic mediation (anti-anthropomorphism).
Hebrew (MT)
יְהוָה בְּצֵאתְךָ מִשֵּׂעִיר
LORD, when you went out from Seir.
Targum (Aramaic)
Adonai bemiflakhakh miSe'ir
Targum Rendering
O LORD, when you went forth from Seir.
In the Song of Deborah, Jonathan preserves the martial theophany language. As with Onkelos in the Song of the Sea, poetic/hymnic passages receive more literal treatment than prose narratives.
Hebrew (MT)
הָרִים נָזְלוּ מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה
The mountains melted before the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
turayya nazlu min qodam Adonai
Targum Rendering
The mountains flowed from before the LORD.
The cosmic theophany imagery in Deborah's song is rendered literally with the standard 'from before' (min qodam) addition.
Hebrew (MT)
עַד שַׁקַּמְתִּי דְּבוֹרָה
Until I, Deborah, arose.
Targum (Aramaic)
ad deqamtit ana devora
Targum Rendering
Until I, Deborah, arose.
The Song of Deborah's first-person voice. Foundational for biblical women-as-leaders theology.
Hebrew (MT)
אָמַר מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה
said the angel of the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
אֲמַר מַלְאֲכָא דַיְיָ
Targum Rendering
said the angel of the LORD.
Song of Deborah curse on Meroz. Angel-of-YHWH speaks as covenant prosecutor. Pre-Nicene mediation: a heavenly figure pronounces YHWH's verdict.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיָּבֹא מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה וַיֵּשֶׁב תַּחַת הָאֵלָה
Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth.
Targum (Aramaic)
va'ata malakha deAdonai vitiv techot butma
Targum Rendering
And the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth.
PRE-NICENE TIER S — Angel of YHWH passage. The 'angel of the LORD' (mal'akh YHWH) speaks and acts AS God across the Hebrew Bible. The Greek fathers (Justin Martyr, Dial. 56–60; Tertullian; Eusebius) read these passages as Christophanies — pre-incarnate appearances of the Son. The Targum's interpretive choices represent the Jewish counter-position. Some passages preserve the angel-as-YHWH reading; some smooth toward 'an angel sent BY YHWH.' The variation is itself the data.
MARQUEE — Gideon's angel encounter. The angel commissions Gideon (v. 14: 'go in this might of yours') and Gideon recognizes him as YHWH (v. 22: 'alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face'). v. 23: God reassures Gideon directly. The angel and YHWH are identified throughout the chapter. The Targum preserves the angel-form.
Hebrew (MT)
יְהוָה עִמְּךָ גִּבּוֹר הֶחָיִל
The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.
Targum (Aramaic)
Memra daAdonai besiyyakhah gibbara decheila
Targum Rendering
The Memra of the LORD is in your help, O mighty warrior.
The angel's greeting to Gideon uses the Memra formula. God's presence with the judge-deliverer operates through the Word.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיִּפֶן אֵלָיו יְהוָה וַיֹּאמֶר לֵךְ בְּכֹחֲךָ זֶה
the LORD turned to him and said, 'Go in this might of yours.'
Targum (Aramaic)
וְאִתְפְּנֵי לְוָתֵיהּ מַלְאֲכָא דַייָ וַאֲמַר אֵיזֵיל בְּחֵילָךְ הָדֵין
Targum Rendering
the angel of the LORD turned to him and said, 'Go in this strength of yours.'
Gideon's call. MT's bare 'YHWH' is identified with 'angel of the LORD' from earlier in the passage — Targum smooths the YHWH/angel-of-YHWH alternation typical of Two Powers loci.
Hebrew (MT)
שָׁלוֹם לָךְ אַל תִּירָא
Peace be to you. Do not fear.
Targum (Aramaic)
shelama lakh la tidchal
Targum Rendering
Peace to you; do not fear.
The angel-to-Gideon reassurance. Foundational for biblical theology of peace-from-divine-encounter.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיְהִי בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו יְהוָה
it was on that night, and the LORD said to him.
Targum (Aramaic)
וַהֲוָה בְּלֵילְיָא הַהוּא וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ מֵימְרָא דַייָ
Targum Rendering
it was on that night, and the Memra of the LORD said to him.
Night-revelation to Gideon. Memra mediates the divine voice — guards against direct anthropomorphic speech-with-mortals.
Hebrew (MT)
לֹא־אֶמְשֹׁל אֲנִי בָּכֶם וְלֹא־יִמְשֹׁל בְּנִי בָּכֶם יְהוָה יִמְשֹׁל בָּכֶם
I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.
Targum (Aramaic)
לָא אֶשְׁלוֹט אֲנָא בְכוֹן וְלָא יִשְׁלוֹט בְּרִי בְכוֹן יְיָ יִשְׁלוֹט בְכוֹן
Targum Rendering
I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. The LORD shall rule over you.
Gideon's refusal of monarchy. Foundational pre-monarchic theocracy text — Israel's true king is YHWH. Preserved literally.
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּקְצַר נַפְשׁוֹ בַּעֲמַל יִשְׂרָאֵל
he became impatient over the misery of Israel.
Targum (Aramaic)
וְלָא יְכוֹלַת נַפְשֵׁיהּ לְמִסְבַּל בְּעַמְלָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל
Targum Rendering
his soul could not bear Israel's distress.
YHWH's compassion mid-judges-cycle. Anti-anthropomorphism: 'his soul grew short' (Hebrew idiom of impatience) becomes 'his soul could not bear' — divine compassion preserved without humanlike emotional shortness.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיְדַבֵּר יִפְתָּח אֶת־כָּל־דְּבָרָיו לִפְנֵי יְהוָה
Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּמַלֵּיל יִפְתָּח יָת כָּל פִּתְגָּמוֹהִי קֳדָם יְיָ
Targum Rendering
Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD.
Mizpah covenant. Standard לִפְנֵי→קֳדָם handling preserved — Jephthah's covenant-speech is performed before the divine Presence, not in conversation with God.
Hebrew (MT)
וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ אֱמָר־נָא שִׁבֹּלֶת וַיֹּאמֶר סִבֹּלֶת
they said to him, 'Then say, Shibboleth.' And he said, 'Sibboleth.'
Targum (Aramaic)
וַאֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ אֵימַר כְּעַן שִׁבּוֹלֶת וַאֲמַר סִבּוֹלֶת
Targum Rendering
they said to him, 'Now say, Shibboleth.' But he said, 'Sibboleth.'
The Shibboleth-test at the Jordan fords. Famous dialectal-distinction preserved — Targum keeps both Hebrew forms because the linguistic point is untranslatable.
Hebrew (MT)
לָמָּה זֶּה תִּשְׁאַל לִשְׁמִי וְהוּא פֶלִאי
Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?
Targum (Aramaic)
lema dnan at sha'el lishemi vehu mefarash
Targum Rendering
Why do you ask my name? It is too wonderful (mysterious).
PRE-NICENE TIER S — Angel of YHWH passage. The 'angel of the LORD' (mal'akh YHWH) speaks and acts AS God across the Hebrew Bible. The Greek fathers (Justin Martyr, Dial. 56–60; Tertullian; Eusebius) read these passages as Christophanies — pre-incarnate appearances of the Son. The Targum's interpretive choices represent the Jewish counter-position. Some passages preserve the angel-as-YHWH reading; some smooth toward 'an angel sent BY YHWH.' The variation is itself the data.
MARQUEE — Manoah and the angel of the LORD. The angel's name is 'wonderful' (peli) — the same root as Isaiah 9:6's 'Wonderful Counselor' (pele yo'etz) applied to the messianic child. Manoah recognizes the angel as God (v. 22: 'we shall surely die because we have seen God'). Christian tradition links the wonderful-named angel to the wonderful-named messianic child of Isa 9:6.
Hebrew (MT)
מוֹת נָמוּת כִּי אֱלֹהִים רָאִינוּ
We shall surely die, for we have seen God.
Targum (Aramaic)
memat nemut arei malakha daAdonai chazeina
Targum Rendering
We shall surely die, for we have seen the angel of the LORD.
Manoah's claim to have 'seen God' is corrected to 'seen the angel of the LORD.' Jonathan will not allow a human to claim direct vision of God — what they saw was the angelic mediator.
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּצְלַח עָלָיו רוּחַ יְהוָה
the spirit of the LORD rushed on him.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּשְׁרַת עֲלוֹהִי רוּחָא דִגְבוּרָא מִן קֳדָם יְיָ
Targum Rendering
the spirit of might from before the LORD rested on him.
Samson and the lion. Targum substitutes 'spirit of might from before the LORD' for 'spirit of the LORD' — anti-anthropomorphism with mediating language. The empowering force is YHWH's, but reaches Samson at one remove.
Hebrew (MT)
וַתִּצְלַח עָלָיו רוּחַ יְהוָה
the spirit of the LORD rushed on him.
Targum (Aramaic)
וּשְׁרַת עֲלוֹהִי רוּחָא דִגְבוּרָא מִן קֳדָם יְיָ
Targum Rendering
the spirit of might from before the LORD rested on him.
Samson's binding with new ropes. Same anti-anthropomorphic recasting — Spirit-empowerment routed through 'before the LORD' formula throughout the Samson cycle.
Hebrew (MT)
תָּמוֹת נַפְשִׁי עִם פְּלִשְׁתִּים
Let me die with the Philistines.
Targum (Aramaic)
temut nafshi im pelishta'ei
Targum Rendering
Let me die with the Philistines.
Samson's final prayer-act. Cited at Hebrews 11:32 in the heroes-of-faith catalog.
Hebrew (MT)
אִישׁ הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו יַעֲשֶׂה
every man did what was right in his own eyes.
Targum (Aramaic)
גְּבַר דִּכְשַׁר בְּעֵינוֹהִי הֲוָה עָבֵיד
Targum Rendering
every man would do what was right in his own eyes.
Refrain of Judges. Literal preservation — the moral disorder is named, not softened. Note: 'eyes' is human eyes here, so anti-anthropomorphism doesn't apply.
Hebrew (MT)
אִישׁ הַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו יַעֲשֶׂה
Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Targum (Aramaic)
gevar dichshar be'einohi havva avid
Targum Rendering
Each one did what was right in his own eyes.
The closing line of Judges — the moral chaos of the period. Foundational for biblical critique of relativism. Sets up the king-narrative of 1-2 Samuel.