Texts in Conversation
In Exodus 15, Moses and the Israelites ask a rhetorical question comparing God to other gods. In the Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos, the question becomes a more direct declaration that does not acknowledge the existence of other gods.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Exodus 15:11
Hebrew Bible
10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them.
Date: 750–400 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Onkelos Exodus 15:11
Targum
10 You spoke by Your Memra, the sea covered them, they sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 There is none besides You, God, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders. 12 You lifted up Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them.
Date: 50–500 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Our targumist substitutes this lengthy declaration for the 'Who is like You among the gods, Lord, who is like You ...' He avoids the notion that there are other gods. So, too, in Deuteronomy 33:9. Rashi translates eilim, 'gods,' as 'mighty.' Nachmanides and ibn Ezra state that the word refers to 'heavenly angels' ..."
Israel Drazin and Stanley M. Wagner, Onkelos on the Torah, Exodus: Understanding the Bible Text (Jerusalem: Gefen, 2006), 91.
* 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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