Wikipedia's first sentence called it “official eastern”. Today it says “primary jewish aramaic targum”.
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The opening as it read in 2005
Targum Onkelos from the British Library .1Targum Onkelos (or Unkelus ), is the official eastern ( Babylonian ) targum to the Torah .2Its early origins, however, are western ( Land of Israel ). It is traditionally attributed to Onkelos (see the history section below for more details).3In Talmudic times (and to this day in Yemenite Jewish communities) Targum Onkelos was recited by heart as a verse-by-verse translation alternatively with the Hebrew verses of the Torah in the synagogue . The Talmud states that "a persion should complete his portions of scripture along with the community, reading the scripture twice and the targum once." This passage is taken to refer to Targum Onkelos .4
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 16495061.
The opening as it stood in 2010 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Interlinear text of Hebrew Numbers 6.3–10 with Aramaic Targum Onkelos from the British Library . ' Targum Onkelos (or Unkelus , "Onqelos"'), is the official eastern ( Babylonian ) targum to the Torah . However, its early origins may have been western, in Israel .Its authorship is attributed to Onkelos .Some identify this translation as the work of Aquila of Sinope in an Aramaic translation ( Zvi Hirsch Chajes ), or believe that the name "Onkelos" originally referred to Aquila but was applied in error to the Aramaic instead of the Greek translation.The translator is unique in that he avoids any type of personification.Luzzatto suggests that the translation was originally meant for the "simple people".This view was strongly refuted by Nathan Marcus Adler in his introduction to Netinah La-Ger . In Talmudic times, and to this day in Yemenite Jewish communities, Targum Onkelos was recited by heart as a verse-by-verse translation alternately with the Hebrew verses of the Torah in the synagogue . The Talmud states that "a person should complete his portions of scripture along with the community, reading the scripture twice and the targum once ." This passage is taken by many to refer to Targum Onkelos .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 354676275.
The opening as it stood in 2015
Interlinear text of Hebrew Numbers 6.3–10 with Aramaic Targum Onkelos from the British Library . Targum Onkelos (or Unkelus ) is the official eastern ( Babylonian ) targum (Aramaic translation) to the Torah . However, its early origins may have been western, in Israel . Its authorship is attributed to Onkelos , , a famous convert to Judaism in Tannaic times (c. 35–120 CE).According to Jewish tradition, the content of Targum Onkelos was originally conveyed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai .However, it was later forgotten by the masses, and rerecorded by Onkelos. Some identify this translation as the work of Aquila of Sinope in an Aramaic translation ( Zvi Hirsch Chajes ), or believe that the name "Onkelos" originally referred to Aquila but was applied in error to the Aramaic instead of the Greek translation. The translator is unique in that he avoids any type of personification. Luzzatto suggests that the translation was originally meant for the "simple people". This view was strongly refuted by Nathan Marcus Adler in his introduction to Netinah La-Ger . In Talmudic times, and to this day in Yemenite Jewish communities, Targum Onkelos was recited by heart as a verse-by-verse translation alternately with the Hebrew verses of the Torah in the synagogue . The Talmud states that "a person should complete his portions of scripture along with the community, reading the scripture twice and the targum once ( Shnayim mikra ve-echad targum )." This passage is taken by many to refer to Targum Onkelos.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 663846861.
The opening as it stood in 2020 11 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Aramaic translation of the Five Books of Moses Interlinear text of Hebrew Numbers 6.3–10 with Aramaic Targum Onkelos from the British Library .Hebrew text (right) and Aramaic Onkelos (left) in a Hebrew Bible dating from 1299 held by the Bodleian Library Halakhic Midrash Aggadic Midrash Targum v t e Targum Onkelos (or Onqelos ), , is the Jewish Aramaic targum ("translation") of the Torah , accepted as an authoritative translated text of the Five Books of Moses and thought to have been written in the early 2nd-century CE.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 961804076.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023
Aramaic translation of the Five Books of Moses Interlinear text of Hebrew Numbers 6.3–10 with Aramaic Targum Onkelos from the British Library . Hebrew text (right) and Aramaic Onkelos (left) in a Hebrew Bible dating from 1299 held by the Bodleian Library Halakhic Midrash Aggadic Midrash Targum v t e Targum Onkelos (or Onqelos ; , Targūm ’Unqəlōs ) is the primary Jewish Aramaic targum ("translation") of the Torah , accepted as an authoritative translated text of the Five Books of Moses and thought to have been written in the early second century CE.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1168682739.
The opening as it stood in 2025 1 passage from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Hebrew text (right) and Aramaic Onkelos (left) in a Hebrew Bible dating from 1299 held by the Bodleian Library Halakhic Midrash Aggadic Midrash Targum v t e Targum Onkelos (or Onqelos ; Jewish Babylonian Aramaic : תַּרְגּוּם אֻנְקְלוֹס , Targūm ’Unqəlōs ) is the primary Jewish Aramaic targum ("translation") of the Torah , accepted as an authoritative translated text of the Five Books of Moses and thought to have been written in the early second century CE.
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1288113814. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “official eastern”. Today it says “primary jewish aramaic targum”. Read the current article and compare.
2005
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2005, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
official eastern
Now
primary jewish aramaic targum
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.