Was the bible in Aramaic??

Question

Was the bible in Aramaic??

http://www.myislamweb.com/forum/index.php

or in a different language originally

Answer 1

AR·A·MA´IC was an ancient Semitic language having a close relationship to Hebrew and originally spoken by the Aramaeans. With the passing of time, however, it came to embrace various dialects (some of them viewed as separate languages) and enjoyed wide use, especially in SW Asia. Aramaic was employed particularly from the second millennium B.C.E. to about 500 C.E. It is one of the three languages in which the Bible was originally written.
The Hebrew word ´Ara·mith´ occurs five times and is translated “in the Syrian language” or “in the Aramaic language.”—2Ki 18:26; Isa 36:11; Da 2:4; Ezr 4:7 (twice).
Biblical Aramaic, formerly called Chaldee, is found in Ezra 4:8 to 6:18 and 7:12-26; Jeremiah 10:11; and Daniel 2:4b to 7:28. Aramaic expressions also appear in other parts of the Bible, but many of the attempts of scholars to identify Aramaic sources for Hebrew words are simply conjectural.

The use of some Aramaic expressions is not surprising, for the Hebrews had close contact with the Aramaeans and with the Aramaic language for a long time. Among the earliest renditions of the Hebrew Scriptures into other languages were the Aramaic Targums, though they were not put into writing until several centuries after the production of the Greek Septuagint commenced, about 280 B.C.E.

Commenting further, on the language spoken by Jesus Christ, Professor Wright says: “The language spoken by Jesus has been much debated. We have no certain way of knowing whether he could speak Greek or Latin, but in his teaching ministry he regularly used either Aramaic or the highly Aramaized popular Hebrew. When Paul addressed the mob in the Temple, it is said that he spoke Hebrew (Acts 21:40). Scholars generally have taken this to mean Aramaic, but it is quite possible that a popular Hebrew was then the common tongue among the Jews.”—Biblical Archaeology, 1963, p. 243.

Hence, Jesus Christ as a man on earth could well have used a form of Hebrew and a dialect of Aramaic.

Answer 2

The Old Testament is written mostly in Hebrew, except for the following sections which are written in Aramaic (constituting about one percent of the Old Testament): Genesis 31:47 (two words), Jeremiah 10:11, Ezra 4:8-6:18; 7:12-26, and Daniel 2:4b-7:28.

The New Testament was written completely in Greek, except for the Aramaic words quoted in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34.

I hope this helps. Peace and love in Yeshua.

Answer 3

Portions of Daniel were (and still are) in Aramaic. Most of the rest of the Old Testament was written before before Aramaic existed. And not a single book of the New Testament exist in Aramiac. Plus the majority of the new testament books were written to and for non-Aramaic speaking people. So no, the Bible was not in Aramaic (other than the small section fo Daniel that still is).

Answer 4

The Bible was written in 3 languages, Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.

Answer 5

Yes parts of it were in Aramaic. What we know as the Bible had many language sources. We know that there were numerous dialects amongst people of the region. Parts may have at one time been in Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Greek. There are those who will disagree with the last two, but the "letters" in the New testament were written in Greek (to the Greek Churches) and Latin (to the Romans).

As the western world rediscovered manuscripts following the Dark Ages the Septuagint (Greek) and the Vulgate (Latin) versions of the Bible resurfaced.

Does it surprise you that a document complied at the crossroads of the world would have many language sources?

Answer 6

No. In the book of Daniel, the Babylonian King's decree was written in Aramaic because that was the language in which it was delivered, but the rest of the Tanak (Hebrew scriptures) was written in Hebrew.

There is an Aramaic version of the Bible, but there are internal linguistic evidences that it was not the original language, but a translation.

A few books of the New Testament may have been originally written in Hebrew, but the only extant manuscripts (that I'm aware of) are in Koine Greek.

Don't forget Luke 23:38 where we read: "And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." KJV

If Aramaic were one of the principle languages of the region, it would have been included in this superscription, but it was not.

Answer 7

a few short passages were originally in Aramaic, but most of the Bible was written in Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament)

The phrase "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani" (Jesus says this while on the cross) is Aramaic, for example. Other short passages written in Aramaic are found in the books of Ezra and Daniel in the Old Testament.

Answer 8

The Bible was written in several different languages. The Old Testament was primarily (if not entirely) in Hebrew. The New Testament was mostly in Greek, but I believe that Luke was in Aramaic. I know one of the Gospels was, but can't remember which.

Answer 9

Originally, it was in a combination of Hebrew and Aramaic. Jews still read it in those languages. As for the Christian's "new testament," that was originally in Greek.

There is an explanation from the Greek Orthodox church here:
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7068.asp

Answer 10

Different languages. Aramaic, Greek, Persian, ancient Hebrew, and Latin, I think.

Makes proper translations a *****, yes? Personally, I like the Eastern Bible. The translations are much cleaner.