sb. Also 6–7 thargum. [a. Chaldee targūm interpretation, f. targēm to interpret: see DRAGOMAN.] Each of several Aramaic translations, interpretations, or paraphrases of the various divisions of the Old Testament, made after the Babylonian captivity, at first preserved by oral transmission, and committed to writing from about A.D. 100 onwards.
The extant Targums together comprise all the books except Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxvii. (1592), 427. The Thargum of Hierusalem and the Onkelos which are bookes of cheefe authoritie among the Iewes.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 174. This the Hebrewes call Targum, that is, the Translation, which hath with them no lesse credit then the Text it selfe.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep. V. x. 249. Jonathan who compiled the Thargum, conceives the colours of these banners to answer the pretious stones in the breastplate, and upon which the names of the Tribes were engraven.
1706. A. Bedford, Temple Mus., viii. 159. We find the Targum of Onkelos to be mark’t with the Accents.
1776. Burney, Hist. Mus., I. 228, note. The Targum, or Chaldee Paraphrase, mentions an instrument not to be found in the original, or in any of the translations.
1864. Reader, 16 Jan., 74/1. The Targums are versions of the Old Testament in what has been called Chaldee, but which is, in fact, the language of Aram or Syria.
Hence Targum v. trans., to interpret or paraphrase (Scripture) in the manner of the Targums (also absol.); Targumic, Targumical, adjs., of or pertaining to the Targums; Targumically adv., in the manner of the Targums.
a. 1873. Deutsch, Rem. (1874), 361. The authenticity of the Targumic Texts.
1883. F. Delitzsch, in Athenæum, 26 May, 668/3. A considerable number of Targumic and Talmudic words … occur in the Assyrian and Babylonian language.
1883. Edersheim, Life & Times Jesus, I. II. viii. 206. At that time each one Targumed for himself…. The New Testament writers … when it seemed necessary, literally or Targumically rendered a verse. Ibid., II. V. xiv. 574. S. Matthew, Targuming this prophecy in form as in its spirit.
