Targum
(Chald.)
Lit., “Interpretation”, from the root targem to interpret. Paraphrases of Hebrew Scriptures. Some of the Targums are very mystical, the Aramaic (or Targumatic) language being used all through the Zohar and other Kabbalistic works. To distinguish this language from the Hebrew, called the “face ” of the sacred tongue, it is referred to as ahorayim, the “ back part ”, the real meaning of which must be read between the lines, according to certain methods given to students. The Latin word tergum, “back ”, is derived from the Hebrew or rather Aramaic and Chaldean targum. The Book of Daniel begins in Hebrew, and is fully comprehensible till chap. ii., V. 4, when the Chaldees (the Magician‐Initiates) begin speaking to the king in Aramaic — not in Syriac, as mistranslated in the Protestant Bible. Daniel speaks in Hebrew before interpreting the king’s dream to him; but explains the dream itself (chap. vii.) in Aramaic. “ So in Ezra iv., v. and vi., the words of the kings being there literally quoted, all matters connected therewith are in Aramaic ”, says Isaac Myer in his Qabbalah. The Targumim are of different ages, the latest already showing signs of the Massoretic or vowel‐system, which made them still more full of intentional blinds. The precept of the Pirke Aboth (c. i., i), “ Make a fence to the Thorah ” (law), has indeed been faithfully followed in the Bible as in the Targumim ; and wise is he who would interpret either correctly, unless he is an old Occultist‐ Kabbalist. (TG).
A Hebrew and Aramaic word meaning interpretation. It is used in connection with translations or paraphrases of some portion of the Old Testament in the Aramaic of Judea or Galilee, mostly dating in the present form from the Geonic period and later; in part they are based on oral tradition going back to the pre-Christian Roman period (BCW 11:591).
Some links:
- Quotes: H. P. Blavatsky, Zirkoff, Boris
- CTD article in Russian: Таргум
DATA
To show: ; sortable: Targum
Lifetime:
Shortly: Lit., “Interpretation”, from the root targem to interpret. Paraphrases of Hebrew Scriptures...