Texts in Conversation
The Hebrew version of Genesis 2:7 describes the human as becoming a “living being,” a phrase also used for animals. The Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos, likely motivated to distinguish humans from animals, interprets this as “a speaking spirit,” emphasizing the unique human capacity for speech.
Share:
Genesis 2:7
Hebrew Bible
6 Springs would well up from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 7 The Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Onkelos Genesis 2:7
Targum
6 And a mist ascended from the earth, and moistened all the face of the ground. 7 And the Lord God created Adam from dust of the ground, and breathed upon his face the breath of lives, and it became in Adam a power of speech. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in a region of pleasantness in the time of the beginning, and He made to dwell there the man whom He had created.
Date: 100-200 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... Scripture's lenefesh chayah, 'a living person,' is explained by our targumist by taking the Hebrew nefesh in its postbiblical sense of 'spirit' or 'power,' and the adjective 'living' as 'speaking.' Rashi explains: animals are also living beings, but humans are more elevated since they also think and speak. Thus, the targumist is telling us that Scripture is highlighting the human uniqueness. Onkelos does not render 2:19 as he does here because the context in that verse requires us to consider the human distinction ..."
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Genesis: Understanding the Bible Text
(p. 13) Gefen, 2006
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.