I have to say that the Magiera translation of the Aramaic New Testament is one of the best and most reliable out there. Most translations of the Peshitta have some theological bias in them (such as Lamsa, Roth, and Bauscher), while still being fantastic translations. Janet Magiera's Aramaic Peshitta New Testament translation ranks up with John Wesley Etheridge and James Murdock's translations in terms of faithfulness to the source text.
I bought the Messianic version before the original version because of it transliterating the Aramaic names and terminology into English letters. The thing this version of her translation has over the Messianic is the footnotes and idiom tables. Magiera's translation is less in line with the Eastern Peshitta and more in line with the Western Peshitto. Compare Acts 20:28 in Magiera's translation with the translation by Lamsa for an example of a textual variant:
"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood."- Acts 20:28, The Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text.
"Watch, therefore, over yourselves and over all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of God that he purchased with his blood."- Acts 20:28, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation
Another advantage to Magiera's work in this New Testament translation from the Syriac text is the fact that both versions of her translation bring out the distinction between "Mar" (lord, human or divine) and "MarYa" (refers to YHWH alone). The Messianic version transliterates the Syriac version of the Tetragrammaton as Marya, while in this version it is translated more traditionally as "the LORD"). MarYa is a key Aramaic religious word that is not only applied to the Father of our Lord Jesus, but to Jesus Himself:
"For today the deliverer, who is the LORD the Messiah, is born to you in the city of David."- Luke 2:11, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation
"Because of this God also elevated him highly and gave him a name that is greater than all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow that is in heaven and on earth and that is under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is the LORD, to the glory of God his Father."- Philippians 2:9
Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation
http://www.lightofword.org - The ministry that Janet Magiera is affiliated with.
http://www.bible-geeks.com/
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Janet M. Magiera's Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation: Messianic Version
I have to say that the Magiera translation of the Aramaic New Testament is one of the best and most reliable out there. Most translations of the Peshitta have some theological bias in them (such as Lamsa, Roth, and Bauscher), while still being fantastic translations. Janet Magiera's Aramaic Peshitta New Testament translation ranks up with John Wesley Etheridge and James Murdock's translations in terms of faithfulness to the source text.
I bought the Messianic version instead of the original version because of it transliterating the Aramaic names and terminology into English letters. Jesus Christ is Yeshue Meshikha, God is Alaha, LORD/Yahweh/Jehovah/YHWH is Marya, and the Holy Spirit is the Rukha d'Qudsha. I find it interesting that it isn't just a version for Messianics, but only termed such because of the transliterations. The Law is not referred to as the Torah like it is in most Messianic translations, but as "the Namusa".
Magiera's translation is less in line with the Eastern Peshitta and more in line with the Western Peshitto. Compare Acts 20:28 in Magiera's translation with the translation by Lamsa for an example of a textual variant:
"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feedd the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood."- Acts 20:28, The Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text.
"Watch, therefore, over yourselves and over all the flock over which the Rukha d'Qudsha has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Alaha that he purchased with his blood."- Acts 20:28, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation (Messianic Version)
Another advantage to Magiera's work in this New Testament translation from the Syriac text is the fact that both versions of her translation bring out the distinction between "Mar" (lord, human or divine) and "MarYah" (refers to YHWH alone). As stated before, the Messianic version transliterates the Syriac version of the Tetragrammaton as Marya (in the original version it is translated more traditionally as "LORD"). MarYah is a key Aramaic religious word that is not only applied to the Father of our Lord Jesus, but to Jesus Himself:
"For today the deliverer, who is Marya Meshikha, is born to you in the city of Dawid."- Luke 2:11, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation (Messianic Version)
"The first man [was] dust from the earth. The second man [was] Marya from heaven."- I Corinthians 15:47, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation (Messianic Version)
"Because of this Alaha also elevated him highly and gave him a name that is greater than all names, that at the name of Yeshue every knee should bow that is in heaven and on earth and that is under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Yeshue-Meshikha is marya, to the glory of Alaha his Father."- Philippians 2:9-11, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation (Messianic Version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysn6MSR05Ig - A link to a Youtube video I made on the translation.
http://www.lightofword.org - The ministry that Janet Magiera is affiliated with.
http://www.bible-geeks.com/
I bought the Messianic version instead of the original version because of it transliterating the Aramaic names and terminology into English letters. Jesus Christ is Yeshue Meshikha, God is Alaha, LORD/Yahweh/Jehovah/YHWH is Marya, and the Holy Spirit is the Rukha d'Qudsha. I find it interesting that it isn't just a version for Messianics, but only termed such because of the transliterations. The Law is not referred to as the Torah like it is in most Messianic translations, but as "the Namusa".
Magiera's translation is less in line with the Eastern Peshitta and more in line with the Western Peshitto. Compare Acts 20:28 in Magiera's translation with the translation by Lamsa for an example of a textual variant:
"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feedd the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood."- Acts 20:28, The Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text.
"Watch, therefore, over yourselves and over all the flock over which the Rukha d'Qudsha has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Alaha that he purchased with his blood."- Acts 20:28, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation (Messianic Version)
Another advantage to Magiera's work in this New Testament translation from the Syriac text is the fact that both versions of her translation bring out the distinction between "Mar" (lord, human or divine) and "MarYah" (refers to YHWH alone). As stated before, the Messianic version transliterates the Syriac version of the Tetragrammaton as Marya (in the original version it is translated more traditionally as "LORD"). MarYah is a key Aramaic religious word that is not only applied to the Father of our Lord Jesus, but to Jesus Himself:
"For today the deliverer, who is Marya Meshikha, is born to you in the city of Dawid."- Luke 2:11, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation (Messianic Version)
"The first man [was] dust from the earth. The second man [was] Marya from heaven."- I Corinthians 15:47, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation (Messianic Version)
"Because of this Alaha also elevated him highly and gave him a name that is greater than all names, that at the name of Yeshue every knee should bow that is in heaven and on earth and that is under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Yeshue-Meshikha is marya, to the glory of Alaha his Father."- Philippians 2:9-11, Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation (Messianic Version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysn6MSR05Ig - A link to a Youtube video I made on the translation.
http://www.lightofword.org - The ministry that Janet Magiera is affiliated with.
http://www.bible-geeks.com/
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Glenn David Bauscher's The Original Aramaic New Testament in Plain English
The Aramaic New Testament in Plain English was translated by Reverend Glenn David Bauscher, who has a proficiency in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek. It includes notes that are mainly textual in nature (there are some more theological ones) that compare the Greek texts to the Western Peshitto text he uses. Bauscher's translation is very literal but he occasionally delves into interpretation (but not anywhere near as much as George Lamsa's translation). In Matthew 13:42, he translates the Aramaic word that means "furnace" as "essence", which is a result of his universalist theology. He also translates, "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." in Matthew 5:2 as "Blessed by the Spirit are the poor..." He states, 'See Matthew 22:43, the only other place in The Gospels where the same form of the Aramaic word "b'Rukh" (in, by spirit) is used, refers to the Holy Spirit. See also Luke 6:20: "And He lifted His eyes upon His disciples, and said: Blessed are ye poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours". He was talking about the poor, not "the poor in spirit". God does not want us poor in spirit; He wants us to be spiritually rich.' In his Interlinear version (The Aramaic New Testament Interlinear) he translates it more accurately as "Blessed are they who are poor in The Spirit because theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Bauscher also makes a distinction between the Aramaic words Mar ("Lord") and MarYah ("Lord YHWH") that is not seen in Lamsa's translation.
Luke 2:11, Aramaic New Testament in Plain English- "For today, the The Savior has been born to you, who is the LORD JEHOVAH The Messiah, in the city of David."
Philippians 2:11, Aramaic New Testament in Plain English- "And every tongue shall confess that Yeshua the Messiah is THE LORD JEHOVAH to the glory of God His Father."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSHeCPaheDg - A video review of this translation that I made on Youtube.
http://www.aramaicnt.com - Translator David Bauscher's website.
http://www.bible-geeks.com/
Luke 2:11, Aramaic New Testament in Plain English- "For today, the The Savior has been born to you, who is the LORD JEHOVAH The Messiah, in the city of David."
Philippians 2:11, Aramaic New Testament in Plain English- "And every tongue shall confess that Yeshua the Messiah is THE LORD JEHOVAH to the glory of God His Father."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSHeCPaheDg - A video review of this translation that I made on Youtube.
http://www.aramaicnt.com - Translator David Bauscher's website.
http://www.bible-geeks.com/
George M. Lamsa's Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text (The Lamsa Bible)
The Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text was translated by George M. Lamsa, a native speaker of Syriac from Mar-Bishu in modern day Iraq. His translation is the one that really made the Peshitta a more well-known text in the Western world. He used the style of the KJV/NKJV in his translation. His translation is pretty accurate, but there are several places (mainly in the Gospels and in Acts) where he lets his beliefs interfere with his translation, which includes what I believe to be the main problem with his translation: his not translating the Aramaic word "devana" correctly as demons, he instead translates it as "insane" or "lunatic". Lamsa also makes no distinction between the Aramaic "Mar" (Lord) and "MarYah" (Lord YHWH) except in the Old Testament (MarYah is translated as LORD, as most mainstream translations translate YHWH). The Peshitta New Testament makes a unique distinction between "Lord" and "LORD" that is not made in the Greek. The divine name MarYah is applied to Jesus Christ several times (ex. Luke 2:11 and Philippians 2:11) His translation is by no means a bad translation, it is actually one of my favorite translations.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3lAJhSm-SU -A Youtube video review I did on the Lamsa Bible.
http://www.bible-geeks.com/
 |
| Dr. Lamsa holding a copy of his translation. |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3lAJhSm-SU -A Youtube video review I did on the Lamsa Bible.
http://www.bible-geeks.com/
Andrew Gabriel Roth's Aramaic English New Testament (AENT)
The Aramaic English New Testament (AENT) is translated from the Eastern Peshitta by Andrew Gabriel Roth. It is a more literal translation than Lamsa or Bauscher's and also less interpretive. Roth also makes a distinction between Mar and MarYah by translating Mar as "Master" and MarYah as "Master YHWH". The Semitic names are retained (ex. Jesus is Y'shua, Simon Peter is Shimon Keefa, John is Yochanan). The Aramaic word "Alaha" (God) is translated into the more familiar Hebrew term "Elohim". There are a couple of places, but not very many, where Roth delves into interpretation. Usually when you see bias in his translation, it is pro-Torah observance for Gentiles and Jews alike. This really only effects his translation in one place that I can think of.
Colossians 2:16, Aramaic English New Testament- "Let no (pagan) therefore judge you about food and drink, or about the distinctions of festivals and new moons and Shabbats."
In a footnote on this verse, Roth states, "The Body of Mashiyach must not be concerned with the judgements of those who are outside the Malchut Elohim [Kingdom of God], that is, those who don't know Torah or Mashiyach. It is clear, given the location of this audience and the fact that Rav Shaul always references Jews directly, that Shaul is addressing the local talk of the pagans whose religion dominates this region."
Unfortunately, the context screams that Paul is talking about the judgments the unbelieving Jews were making against the Body of Christ. When Paul deals with stuff like this, he is usually stating that the Jews should not force the Law of Moses onto the Gentiles. Roth's commentary is interesting and he mainly handles his theology in that. His translation is mainly his own edition of the Paul Younan Interlinear of the Peshitta (Matthew 1-Acts 15) and James Murdock's New Testament translation of the Peshitto (Acts 15-Revelations 22). He includes some of Younan's footnotes in his commentary section as well. When Murdock uses the Western reading of the Aramaic, Roth replaces it with the Eastern reading.
Acts 2:38, Murdock New Testament- "Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit hath established you bishops; that ye feed the church of God, which he hath acquired by his blood."
Acts 2:38, Aramaic English New Testament- "Take great care of yourselves, and of all the flock over which the Ruach haKodesh has established you as overseers for; that you feed the assembly of Mashiyach, which He has acquired by His blood."
Roth's translation also includes the Aramaic text he used (a combination of the Eastern Peshitta, Khabouris Codex, and the 1901 Critical Edition Peshitta) in Hebrew lettering (which is only different from the Estrangelo font used in the Peshitta and Peshitto in looks because the alphabets are the same). The left side has the English translation while the right side has the Aramaic text he used. There is also an extensive appendix in the back of the book that causes this New Testament to look almost the size of an average Bible. The AENT is my favorite of the three Peshitta/Peshitto translations I own right now (including this, the Aramaic New Testament in Plain English by David Bauscher and the Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text by George Lamsa).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wa_bJDloPI - A video review on Youtube that I did on the AENT.
Colossians 2:16, Aramaic English New Testament- "Let no (pagan) therefore judge you about food and drink, or about the distinctions of festivals and new moons and Shabbats."
In a footnote on this verse, Roth states, "The Body of Mashiyach must not be concerned with the judgements of those who are outside the Malchut Elohim [Kingdom of God], that is, those who don't know Torah or Mashiyach. It is clear, given the location of this audience and the fact that Rav Shaul always references Jews directly, that Shaul is addressing the local talk of the pagans whose religion dominates this region."
Unfortunately, the context screams that Paul is talking about the judgments the unbelieving Jews were making against the Body of Christ. When Paul deals with stuff like this, he is usually stating that the Jews should not force the Law of Moses onto the Gentiles. Roth's commentary is interesting and he mainly handles his theology in that. His translation is mainly his own edition of the Paul Younan Interlinear of the Peshitta (Matthew 1-Acts 15) and James Murdock's New Testament translation of the Peshitto (Acts 15-Revelations 22). He includes some of Younan's footnotes in his commentary section as well. When Murdock uses the Western reading of the Aramaic, Roth replaces it with the Eastern reading.
Acts 2:38, Murdock New Testament- "Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit hath established you bishops; that ye feed the church of God, which he hath acquired by his blood."
Acts 2:38, Aramaic English New Testament- "Take great care of yourselves, and of all the flock over which the Ruach haKodesh has established you as overseers for; that you feed the assembly of Mashiyach, which He has acquired by His blood."
Roth's translation also includes the Aramaic text he used (a combination of the Eastern Peshitta, Khabouris Codex, and the 1901 Critical Edition Peshitta) in Hebrew lettering (which is only different from the Estrangelo font used in the Peshitta and Peshitto in looks because the alphabets are the same). The left side has the English translation while the right side has the Aramaic text he used. There is also an extensive appendix in the back of the book that causes this New Testament to look almost the size of an average Bible. The AENT is my favorite of the three Peshitta/Peshitto translations I own right now (including this, the Aramaic New Testament in Plain English by David Bauscher and the Holy Bible From the Ancient Eastern Text by George Lamsa).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wa_bJDloPI - A video review on Youtube that I did on the AENT.
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