Texts in Conversation
The Hebrew version of Exodus 4:14 attributes direct knowledge to God with the phrase “I know,” using language that reflects human-like thinking. The Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos softens this to “it is revealed before Me,” removing the implication that God learns or discovers like humans do.
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Exodus 4:14
Hebrew Bible
13 But Moses said, “O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!” 14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses, and he said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak very well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he will be glad in his heart. 15 “So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And as for me, I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what you must do.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Onkelos Exodus 4:14
Targum
13 And he said, I beseech the Lord to send by the hand of one who is fit to be sent. 14 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Mosheh; and He said, Is not Aharon the Levite, your brother, known before Me as one who can speak well? and also, behold, he is coming to meet you, and will see you, and rejoice in his heart. 15 And you shall speak with him, and put the words in his mouth; and My Memra will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what to do.
Date: 100-200 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The corporeality of God, a notion now rejected by most western religious traditions, was a widely held belief from pre-biblical times through the Middle Ages. Scripture supports this perception by frequently describing God in anthropomorphic terms (ascribing human attributes to God) and anthropopathisms (applying human emotions to God). Our targumist is among the earliest Bible exponents who vigorously rejected the belief that God was in any way corporeal. Among hundreds of changes in the translation to reflect Onkelos' views, we find that in verse 14 of this chapter, the active phrase 'I know,' which suggests the human process of acquiring knowledge, is softened to the passive 'it is revealed before Me' ..."
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Exodus: Understanding the Bible Text
(p. 22) 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.
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