Exodus in Syriac
In: The Book of ExodusSearch for other papers by Jerome A. Lund in
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Abstract
Three translations of the Book of Exodus into Syriac are known: the Peshitta, the translation of Paul of Tella termed by present-day scholars the Syrohexapla, and the translation of Jacob of Edessa. This chapter treats the Peshitta version of Exodus since it is a primary version of the Hebrew text. Issues discussed includes the Syriac text of the Peshitta, techniques of translation utilized by the Peshitta, Palestinian Jewish influence on the Peshitta, Hebrew variants indicated by the Peshitta, and interpretations of the Hebrew offered by the Peshitta. The Sebastian Brock divides the text history of the Peshitta into three periods. The translator of Peshitta Exodus rendered his Hebrew source text into good Syriac, seeking clarity in the rendering of Hebrew lexemes and conforming verbal forms and syntagms to Syriac grammatical rules. The study of the Peshitta of Exodus reveals Palestinian Jewish influence on its translation.