Japheth in the Tents of Shem

Greek Bible Translations in Byzantine Judaism

by Nicholas de Lange

Book cover: Japheth in the Tents of Shem

Extent: 221 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Biblical Studies, Medieval Studies

Series: Texts and Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Judaism

Series volume number: 30

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(January 2016)

ISBN: 9783161540738

Price: $162.00

In stock

This is the first book-length treatment of the reception and transmission of Greek Bible translations by Jews in the Middle Ages. It is the fruit of some 40 years’ research by Nicholas de Lange, who has collected most of the evidence himself, mainly from previously unpublished manuscript sources, such as Cairo Genizah fragments. Byzantine Judaism was exceptional in possessing an unbroken tradition of Biblical translation in its own language that can be traced back to antiquity. This work sheds light not only on Byzantine Jewish life and thought, but also on such subjects as the spread of Rabbinic Judaism in Europe, the Karaite movement, the ancient Greek translations, particularly Akylas/Aquila, as well as the relationship between Jewish and Christian transmission of the Greek Bible. An appendix traces the use of such translations down to the 19th century.

  • By (author) Nicholas de Lange

"De Lange has written a valuable book, a must read for anyone interested in Septuagint, Greek translations of the Bible, Jewish communities in the medieval period, and Jewish Christian interaction." --Robert J. Littman, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Review of Biblical Literature 12.22.16