Lexical Consistency in the Peshiṭta of Deuteronomy
Language Differences Explain Variation in Ancient Bible Translation
Theologian Logan Copley’s research on the Syriac translation of Deuteronomy shows that linguistic differences between Hebrew and Syriac largely explain why the same words are translated in different ways. This finding is significant for research into the history of the biblical text and the interpretation of ancient religious texts.
Copley investigated why the Peshitta, an ancient Syriac translation of Deuteronomy, uses different Syriac words for the same Hebrew word. The results show that this variation is often related to linguistic factors, such as the direction and type of movement in the verb “to come.”
The findings qualify the notion that a translation must remain faithful to a consistently identical choice of words. To convey a text naturally and comprehensibly, a translator must take into account the possibilities and limitations of the target language. Researchers should therefore first examine linguistic differences before attributing variations to, for example, theological beliefs or stylistic preferences.
The research contributes to a better understanding of the transmission of the Hebrew Bible and the Syriac biblical tradition. Moreover, ancient translations may contain clues about biblical texts that predate some important Hebrew manuscripts. Because the Peshiṭta is still used in churches today—including in the Netherlands—this research offers insight into how earlier communities understood and transmitted the Bible.
In addition, Copley demonstrates how computational methods offer new possibilities for answering classic research questions within the humanities.
More information about the dissertation