On the Heart and from the Mouth: Command Syntax in Targum Onkelos on Deuteronomy 6:6

וִיהוֹן פִּתְגָּמַיָּא הָאִלֵּין דִּי אֲנָא מְפַקְּדָךְ יוֹמָא דֵין עַל לִבָּךְ

And these words which I am commanding you today shall be upon your heart.

Why This Verse?

This pivotal line from Targum Onkelos on Deuteronomy 6:6, part of the daily Shema, showcases:

  • Emphatic demonstrative construction: פִּתְגָּמַיָּא הָאִלֵּין
  • Paʿel verb with object suffix: מְפַקְּדָךְ
  • Temporal immediacy: יוֹמָא דֵין
  • Internalization: עַל לִבָּךְ

Targum Onkelos is generally more literal than Targum Jonathan, and this verse is a prime example of its restrained yet precise interpretive style.


Morphological and Syntactic Analysis

Form Root Part of Speech / Stem Structure Meaning
פִּתְגָּמַיָּא פ־ת־ג Noun (pl. emphatic) Emphatic plural of פִּתְגָם The words / statements
הָאִלֵּין Demonstrative pronoun Plural emphatic These
דִּי Relative particle Links the clause That / which
מְפַקְּדָךְ פ־ק־ד Paʿel Imperfect 1cs verb + 2ms object suffix I command you
יוֹמָא דֵין Noun + demonstrative “This day” (temporal phrase) Today
עַל לִבָּךְ ל־ב־ב Prepositional phrase “Upon” + noun + 2ms suffix Upon your heart

Syntax and Structure

1. Demonstrative Chain

פִּתְגָּמַיָּא הָאִלֵּין = “These words”
– This emphatic construction highlights specificity and presentness.
– Targum Onkelos maintains the Hebrew parallelism (הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה), but translates “words” as פִּתְגָּמַיָּא, a formal or legal term.

2. Object Suffix Verb: מְפַקְּדָךְ

Paʿel imperfect adds an ongoing tone of instruction.
– The 2ms suffix (–ךְ) makes the command personal and direct.

3. Temporal Adverbial: יוֹמָא דֵין

– “This day” sets the urgency and relevance of the command.
– Onkelos preserves the Hebrew syntax exactly here (הַיּוֹםיוֹמָא דֵין).

4. Final Placement: עַל לִבָּךְ

– This phrase emphasizes the internalization of divine instruction.
– The use of עַל rather than “in” parallels the Hebrew עַל־לְבָבֶךָ, expressing intellectual and emotional focus.


Upon the Heart, Not in the Air

Targum Onkelos on Deuteronomy 6:6 faithfully mirrors the Hebrew while injecting legal and moral clarity through Aramaic precision. With suffix intimacy, demonstrative weight, and temporal immediacy, this verse is not just about commandments — it’s about implanting them where they must dwell: upon the heart.

About Aramaic Grammar

Easy Aramaic: A Grammar for Readers of the Aramaic translations of the Holy Scriptures
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