Targumim

Targumim are ancient translations of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic, which was commonly spoken during the Second Temple period. They served as interpretive paraphrases, making the Hebrew Scriptures understandable to Jewish communities who primarily spoke Aramaic. Rather than just translating words directly, Targumim often clarified or expanded on the text to explain its meaning, context, and legal instructions. They played a vital role in religious study and worship, helping people grasp the scriptures’ messages more easily. Essentially, Targumim are scholarly translations that also provide interpretive insights into biblical texts.