The Karaite Tradition of Arabic Bible Translation: A Linguistic and Exegetical Study of Karaite Translations of the Pentateuch from the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries C.E.
edition published: 2019-10-21Z
availability: Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Meira Polliack, The Karaite Tradition of Arabic Bible Translation: A Linguistic and Exegetical Study of Karaite Translations of the Pentateuch from the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries C.E., https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/V2937WNQ, https://www.zotero.org/groups/biblia_arabica/items/V2937WNQ, https://www.zotero.org/groups/538215/items/V2937WNQ, Leiden, Brill, 1997, This volume deals with the medieval Karaite practice and concept of Arabic Bible translation. It is based on a linguistic analysis of Karaite versions of the Pentateuch written in Palestine during the 10th and 11th centuries C.E. Trends and tendencies in the Karaite translations are discussed in the light of individual Karaite statements on the art and purpose of Bible translation, and in comparison with Saadiah Gaon's translation methodology, in an attempt to reconstruct the possible origins and historical background of the Karaite translation tradition. The exegetical study is especially relevant to the Bible scholar and medieval philosopher, while the linguistic study will also interest the comparative Semitist, translation theorist and all those concerned with Judaeo-Arabic language and literature. A revised and expanded version of the author’s PhD dissertation https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/U2B7JG2E. In addition to the plethora of smaller citations offered throughout the book from the Judaeo-Arabic translations of the Qaraites under study, more substantial textual excerpts (dealing with translation issues) are given in the appendices from Yaʿqūb al-Qirqisānī’s Kitāb al-anwār wa-ʾl-marāqib, David b. Abraham’s Kitāb jāmiʿ al-alfāẓ, Yefet b. Eli’s introduction to his translation and commentary on Genesis, Yeshuʿah b. Yehudah’s introduction to his short translation and commentary on the Pentateuch, as well as the full text of Yefet’s and Yeshuʿah’s respective Judaeo-Arabic translations of Gen 2–3 (with an English translation of Yeshuah’s translation).

Polliack, Meira. The Karaite Tradition of Arabic Bible Translation: A Linguistic and Exegetical Study of Karaite Translations of the Pentateuch from the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries C.E. Leiden: Brill, 1997.