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Targum

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âš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)

The Targums are Aramaic translations and interpretive expansions of the Hebrew Bible, produced to make the sacred texts accessible to Jewish communities who no longer fluently understood Hebrew following the Babylonian exile.

What is the meaning of Targum in the Bible?

The Targums are Aramaic translations and interpretive expansions of the Hebrew Bible, produced to make the sacred texts accessible to Jewish communities who no longer fluently understood Hebrew following the Babylonian exile.

TEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE

These texts provide essential context for understanding how ancient Jewish communities interpreted and applied biblical narratives, revealing the linguistic and theological landscape of the Second Temple period.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Manuscript & Literary Context: Notice how Targum functions as an authoritative historical witness connecting earlier prophetic promises with scripture's broader fulfillment.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Targum in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Targum clarify?

Source Attribution & Provenance

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.

How to Cite This Entry

"Targum." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/targum/
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