Objection · Case 03 · Reliability of Scripture

The Aramaic Job targum from Qumran ends early and differs from the Hebrew in places. A translation isn’t evidence for the stability of the Hebrew text.

One objection from the free evidence repository at apologetics.pro.

Suggest a correction

Response

The targum is evidence that Job was valued and read, which is what it is cited for. For textual stability the Hebrew fragments (4QJob-a and 4QpaleoJob) are the relevant witnesses, and they align with the Masoretic tradition. The targum’s differences and early ending are interesting for the history of interpretation and should not be counted toward the stability claim.

About this exhibit

This objection is to Job.

About 4 copies of Job were found, including an Aramaic translation known as 11QtgJob.

Under Claim 02: The Dead Sea Scrolls show the Old Testament text was copied with remarkable stability across about a thousand years, alongside a documented plurality of text forms.