The Curious History of the Translation of the Hebrew Word תַּנִּים tannîm: Dragons, Jackals, or Crocodiles?
The translation history of תַּנִּים tannîm is reviewed, including the Greek LXX, the Latin Vulgate, and the Aramaic targums. The animal described by the Latin word draco changed in the early mediaeval era from a crocodile into a flying reptile. The use of jackal to translate תַּנִּים tannîm is trace...
| Authors: | ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
|
| In: |
The Bible translator
Year: 2025, Volume: 76, Issue: 3, Pages: 332-362 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Old Testament
/ Translation
/ Crocodile
/ Jackal (motif)
/ Dragon
|
| Further subjects: | B
tannîm
B crocodiles B Climate Change B jackals B Edward Pococke B Dragons |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The translation history of תַּנִּים tannîm is reviewed, including the Greek LXX, the Latin Vulgate, and the Aramaic targums. The animal described by the Latin word draco changed in the early mediaeval era from a crocodile into a flying reptile. The use of jackal to translate תַּנִּים tannîm is traced to Edward Pococke. It is argued that jackals are already described by the word שׁוּעָלִים šûʿālîm. A range of possible animals with which to identify תַּנִּים tannîm is considered and it is concluded that the word תַּנִּים tannîm is used mainly to describe crocodiles. |
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| ISSN: | 2051-6789 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: The Bible translator
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/20516770251387653 |