Who Is This For?
Best For:
Jewish studies, Aramaic students, understanding ancient Jewish interpretation, academic research.
Not Ideal For:
General Bible reading, devotional use, those wanting complete Bible.
Strengths & Limitations
✓ Strengths of the Onkelos
- Access to ancient Jewish exegesis
- Literal faithful translation
- Scholarly introduction
- Historical importance
- Public domain
✗ Limitations to Consider
- Pentateuch only
- 19th-century English
- Very specialized
- Not Bible translation proper
- Academic rather than devotional
Overview
John Wesley Etheridge's translation of the Targum Onkelos and Jonathan ben Uzziel provides English access to these important Aramaic paraphrases of the Pentateuch. These Targums offer insight into ancient Jewish interpretation of Scripture.
Want to read the Onkelos Bible online? Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, or start reading from Genesis.
Notable Features of the Onkelos
- Aramaic Targum translation
- Pentateuch only
- Ancient Jewish interpretation
- Detailed scholarly introduction
- Public domain
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Targum Onkelos (Etheridge)?
John Wesley Etheridge's translation of the Targum Onkelos and Jonathan ben Uzziel provides English access to these important Aramaic paraphrases of the Pentateuch. These Targums offer insight into ancient Jewish interpretation of Scripture.
How can I read the Onkelos Bible online?
You can read and search the Targum Onkelos (Etheridge) online for free at Acts1 Family. Use our Bible search tool to find any verse, chapter, or keyword in the Onkelos translation.
When was the Onkelos Bible published?
The Targum Onkelos (Etheridge) was first published in 1862. It is classified as a Formal Equivalence translation with a 12th Grade reading level.
Who should use the Onkelos Bible?
Jewish studies, Aramaic students, understanding ancient Jewish interpretation, academic research.
How does the Onkelos compare to other Bible translations?
The Targum Onkelos (Etheridge) (Onkelos) is a Formal Equivalence translation. Compare it with other versions like the KJV, ASV, or NIV using our Bible comparison tools to find the best translation for your needs.
Read the Onkelos Online
Search any verse, compare with other translations, or start reading from Genesis.
Start ReadingHistory
Complete History of the Onkelos Translation
John Wesley Etheridge (1804-1866) was an English nonconformist minister and self-taught scholar who mastered Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Syriac, French, and German without attending university. He was the first to translate the four gospels from the Syriac Peshitta into English (1846).
His 'Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan ben Uzziel on the Pentateuch' was published in two volumes (1862 and 1865). The translation, made directly from the Chaldee (Aramaic), is strictly literal, preserving the idiomatic characteristics of the original. The first volume includes an in-depth introduction on the origin, history, and character of the Targums, plus translations of Genesis and Exodus. Volume two includes Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and a 76-page glossary.
Translators
Meet the 1 Key Translators and Contributors
John Wesley Etheridge
Translator
English nonconformist minister and scholar (1804-1866) who, though never attending university, became a notable linguist and translator of ancient texts.
Textual Basis
Manuscript Sources and Translation Methodology
Translated from the Aramaic (Chaldee) Targum Onkelos and Targum Jonathan texts.
Reception
Scholarly Praise
"John Wesley Etheridge's translation of the Targums provides English readers access to these important Aramaic paraphrases that illuminate Jewish interpretation of Scripture."
— Archive.org, Etheridge's Targum Translation (2024) [source]
Scholarly Concerns
Etheridge's 19th-century translation, while pioneering, has been superseded by more recent scholarly translations that benefit from advances in Aramaic studies.
— Aramaic Scholars, Targum Studies (2024) [source]
Revision History
View 2 Major Revisions and Updates
- 1862 Volume 1 (Genesis, Exodus) published.
- 1865 Volume 2 (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) published.
Compare Translations
See how the Onkelos compares to other English Bible translations.
Other Translations
Explore these popular Bible translations: