Language Studies

Aramaic Thoughts

''Son of Man'' in the New Testament - Part 4

The use of "son of man" in the Jewish Aramaic sources (Targums, Midrash, Talmud) require some explanation of sources to begin with. The Targums are Aramaic translations/paraphrases of Biblical material. These perhaps originated as oral performances after the manner described in Nehemiah 8:8. There, Ezra reads the Law and the Levites translate and explain it. Aramaic had become the primary language of the returned exiles, as is clear from Nehemiah 13:24. Apparently out of this background, the practice developed that when the Law was read in Hebrew in the synagogue, it would be accompanied by an Aramaic translation/paraphrase. As time passed, these things became standardized and were written down. This preserving of written Targums did not take place until well after the beginning of the present era, sometime around the 3to 5th centuries AD. Hence, the Aramaic of the Targums is later than the New Testament period and, because it is translation Aramaic, is influenced by its Hebrew source. For a full discussion of the Targums, I would recommend the article in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1988, ed. G. Bromiley, Eerdmans), vol. 4,727-33.

Midrash is a much more fluid term than targum. It refers generally to interpretation of the Law. It also began as an oral enterprise and eventually developed into two types. One type is haggadah (literally: narration). This refers to material that uses Biblical sources, but develops from them stories, songs, prayers, etc. to adapt them to new situations. This material is generally considered to have been non-binding. In the modern period haggadah (often with the spelling aggadah) usually refers to the Passover liturgy. The second type of midrash is called halakah. It involves the application of the principles of Biblical law to specific situations, and has generally been seen as binding to some extent. As with the targums, the midrashic material was not written down until the 2century AD at the earliest. Of the halakic material, the most important have been the Mekilta (on Exodus), and Sifra (on Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). As "midrash" is such a fluid term, and the discussion of it ranges well beyond the area of this column, I would recommend the Wikipedia article on midrash as a good starting place.

The Talmud forms the basis for modern rabbinic Judaism. It consists of two collections: the Mishnah and the Gemarah. The Mishnah (written in Hebrew) records rabbinic discussion of points of law and rulings. The Gemarah (written in Aramaic) is essentially a commentary on the Mishnah. These rabbinic materials have been codified into two forms: the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud. Further reading on Talmud can start with the essay by Jacob Neusner in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (vol. 4,717-24). Neusner is one of the foremost authorities today on these issues and is always well worth reading. See particularly his works The Mishnah: A New Translation, The Talmud: What It Is, and What It Says, and Judaism: An Introduction.

Next week we will return to the substance of the Son of man discussion.

Copyright Statement
'Aramaic Thoughts' Copyright 2024© Benjamin Shaw. 'Aramaic Thoughts' articles may be reproduced in whole under the following provisions: 1) A proper credit must be given to the author at the end of each story, along with a link to https://www.studylight.org/language-studies/aramaic-thoughts.html  2) 'Aramaic Thoughts' content may not be arranged or "mirrored" as a competitive online service.