An Introduction to Biblical Aramaic

Andreas Schuele

• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781611642612
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Reference

The study of biblical Aramaic, an ancient Semitic language from which the Hebrew alphabet was derived, is necessary for understanding texts written during certain periods of early Jewish and Christian history and is especially important for the study of the books of Daniel and Ezra. This new textbook is a thorough guide to learning to read and translate biblical Aramaic and includes an introduction to the language, examples of texts for practice translations, and helpful comparison charts.

Appendix 1:
The Zakkur Inscription

One of the best-preserved Aramaic texts is the inscription of King Zakkur of Hamat (today’s Afis in Syria) from the 8th century BCE. It represents the linguistic stage that preceded Imperial Aramaic. This inscription provides us with some important data about the development of the Aramaic language, especially with regard to Aramaic phonology and grammar. The following transcription includes most of stele I.⁹³

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

….

(5)

… (9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

General Comments

The inscription predates the shift from interdentals to dentals. In line 1 the relative pronoun is written

(dî), not

, as in Imperial Aramaic; the same is the case in line 13:

“Do not fear!” would be written

in later Aramaic.

The inscription also shows that at this earlier stage in the development of the Aramaic script matres lectionis were used at the end of a word but not in the middle: “man” is written

rather than

, and the plural ending of masculine nouns (abs.) shows only the final

without the additional

(

-) (line 12:

“prophets” instead of

).⁹⁴

Finally, the Zakkur inscription seems to use the waw imperfect (impf. consecutive) in line 11 (“and I lifted up,” “and he answered me”).⁹⁵

Notes

(1)

“the stele”;

“Hamat” and

“Luash” (place names);

“Iluwer” (divine name)

(2)

“humble” (adj.)

(4)

“Hadrak” (place name);

pa. of

+ 1 c. sg. suf. “he made me prospe...