Category Archives: Textual Criticism

Textual Criticism

Encircling Holiness: Grammatical Ornamentation in Exodus 30:3

וְצִפִּיתָ֨ אֹתֹ֜ו זָהָ֣ב טָהֹ֗ור אֶת־גַּגֹּ֧ו וְאֶת־קִירֹתָ֛יו סָבִ֖יב וְאֶת־קַרְנֹתָ֑יו וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ לֹּ֛ו זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב׃ Contextual Introduction Exodus 30:3 is situated within YHWH’s instructions to Moshe regarding the construction of the מִזְבַּח קְטֹרֶת (altar of incense). This verse specifically details the gold … Continue reading

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Ketib and Qere: Textual Variants and Oral Tradition in the Masoretic Hebrew Bible

The Masoretic Hebrew Bible stands as one of the most meticulously preserved texts in human history, serving as the authoritative scriptural foundation for Judaism. Among its many intricate features, the system of Ketib (כְּתִיב, “what is written”) and Qere (קְרֵי, … Continue reading

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The Notation of Ketib and Qere in the Masoretic Manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible

The Masoretic Text (MT) of the Hebrew Bible is a product of meticulous textual preservation efforts by Jewish scribes known as the Masoretes. A unique feature of the MT is the system of Ketib (כתיב) and Qere (קרי) notations, which … Continue reading

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Petuchah (פ) and Setumah (ס): The Hidden Structure of the Torah

The Torah is more than just a sacred text filled with divine commandments and historical narratives; it is also a meticulously crafted manuscript, preserved with precision by generations of scribes. One of the most fascinating aspects of the Torah’s structure … Continue reading

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The Role of Matres Lectionis in Preserving Biblical Texts

The Matres Lectionis (Latin for “mothers of reading”) played a crucial role in the preservation, interpretation, and transmission of the biblical texts. These consonantal letters, which began to function as vowel indicators in Hebrew, Aramaic, and other Semitic languages, greatly … Continue reading

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Matres Lectionis in Biblical Hebrew

Matres lectionis (Latin for “mothers of reading”) refers to a system in which certain Hebrew consonants were used to indicate vowels. This innovation emerged as a response to the need for accurate reading of the biblical text, particularly as the … Continue reading

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Jewish Scholars of the Tiberian Schools in the 7th Century A.D.

The Tiberian schools of Jewish scholarship in the 7th century AD played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of Jewish liturgical and textual traditions. Situated in Tiberias, a city that became a hub of Jewish learning after the destruction … Continue reading

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Mastering the Hithpael Stem in Biblical Hebrew

The Hithpael stem in Biblical Hebrew is a dynamic and reflective verbal form, often used to indicate reflexive, reciprocal, or intensive actions. As a derived stem, the Hithpael frequently conveys a subject acting upon itself, performing actions in a repetitive … Continue reading

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Samaritan Hebrew vs. Biblical Hebrew: A Comparative Overview

Samaritan Hebrew is a unique variety of ancient Hebrew used by the Samaritan community, who trace their religious and cultural lineage to the Israelites of the Northern Kingdom. It is the language found in the Samaritan Pentateuch, which is the … Continue reading

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Tanakh : Hebrew Bible Project

Tanakh Hebrew Bible Project is a Polyglot Online Bible that contains the Hebrew Bible and its ancient versions in parallel – Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch, Targum Onkelos, Samaritan Targum, Syriac Peshitta, Septuagint, Old Latin, and Latin Vulgate, and also the Greek versions of Aquila … Continue reading

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